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About 40 dives in doubles with cave configuration, including GUE Fundamentals class, prior to Cavern/Intro in Florida December 2008 followed by about 50 dives in cold lake rigorously simulating cave environment- running line, no viz exit, no mask, sharing air, valve failures, etc., as part of a tech class. Apprentice/Full in Mexico September 2009 over 7 days.
Ideally, wish I could have done more real cave dives in between cave classes, but found my simulated experience to be excellent preparation for the full class, especially the mental and team aspects. Plan to make it to Florida or Mexico at least twice a year, hopefully 3-4 times a year. Looking forward to meeting many of you.
Doug
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Gave my best at Intro, struggled a lot and failed in May 2003, passed it in June 2003. Made about 60 dives with some awesome buddies and excellent mentors. Did Full in Feb. 2005 w/ sdenney without much trouble. Still learning and trying to improve.
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Originally planned to do Cavern only, started class in July 2008. A couple others in class were going on to do Basic as well, so I decided to go on with them. Did 18 dives which were a combination of class dives and instructor reviewed (discuss site, dive plan, etc. w/ instructor prior to dive and get approval) dives with classmates. Graduated in November 2008.
Currently have 30+ cave dives at Basic level, planning on taking Apprentice late 2009/early 2010.
John
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I took my cavern/ intro course in Apr '07. At that time I had about 200-300 dives in doubles/ wreck config. I took full cave in Oct 09' and only had 12 intro level dives between. We have no caves here in my neck of the woods so all of my dives are in Mx on vacation. ( hard to convince my non-diving wife to vacation in a FL swamp)although I am gonna try HARD :)
But as said by many others I practice cave skills on almost all dives and certainly in wrecks.
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A quick scan of my log book...
From Cavern to Full
Oct '05 to Aug '08 with 37 overhead dives
Oct 05 Cavern
Nov 06 Adv EANx/Deco (getting square with doubles/drysuit)
Mar 07 Begin Intro in Missouri (Roubidoux)
Dec 07 Finish Intro at Jackson Blue
Jan 08 Begin Full at JB/Twin Cave
Aug 08 Finish Full in Missouri (Roubidoux)
I did cavern dives ( 10 ) during Intro Training period. I did intro dives ( 8 ) during Full Training period.
79 overhead now
RBD, JB, Twin, Mine LaMotte, Peacock(P1, P3, Peanut, Orange), Ginnie (Eye), Cow, Little River, Madison Blue, Hole in the Wall
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From Cavern Class to my taking Intro I took 1 year and about 60 dives.
Its been over 1 year since I took Intro. I'm planning on Full Cave in March of
'10 and so far I've logged well over 100 cave dives on the Intro level.
I never felt the need to rush. The cave isn't going anywhere. I'd rather enjoy the journey.
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Zero to "hero" in 8 days, 17 dives. Plus two cave-specific training dives, as well as line work and theory on land before I went to Florida. But none of the gear/procedures were new to me, and I had been doing decompression dives in the exact same configuration for years. The only thing that really kicked my ass was getting used to Florida's crazy flow. Personally, I don't think that I would have profited a lot from doing Cavern - Intro - Full separately.
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advanced ow to full cave 5 months, 25 dives. still dive at least once a week. every dive still working on skills, not pushing it.
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I was fortunate to have my boyfriend that is a cavern instructor. So I got 25 cavern dives before my cavern/basic cave class.
I counted my cave dives after basic and these are 90.. Probably I will have another 10 until apprentice since we will be spending the last 2 weeks of the year at cave country.
It has been more than a year since I did my cavern/basic class. During this time I took adv. Nitrox and Deco procedures. I do not want to do deco in caves trusting my computers, that is why I wanted to finish these classes and then take apprentice to full.
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I spent 1 year and 73 dives at Cavern before Basic. I have been Basic now for 2 years and a lil over 110+ main line cave dives. I should take App/full this year I hope. It has been been a fun time and have met and dove with a ton of GREAT people. Over the last year i have taken Adv. X/Deco and switched to Sidemount. I have to say I LOVE SideMount!! Worth it
