Cavern and Intro. to Cave training - high or low flow?

[Serota]

At the Cavern and Intro. to Cave levels is training better done in high or low flow? There seem to be at least 2 schools of thought on this issue and I would like to hear some opinions.

Merry Christmas to all....

[Mart]

Low flow.

There is so much new when you start cave diving, you dont want high flow as an extra.

ciao, mart

[Gary]

I would agree training should start with low flow and master the basics there. However, I don't think any card should be issued until a diver can perform adequately under a variety of different conditions (including flow).

[Tegg]

both

[Dave]

Both, without a doubt.
Dalcher made me do a lot of drills just before the chimney at LR, in ripping flow; I learned so much from that experience.

dave

[Rich]

At the Cavern and Intro. to Cave levels is training better done in high or low flow? There seem to be at least 2 schools of thought on this issue and I would like to hear some opinions.

Merry Christmas to all....

If you can cave dive in high flow then low/no flow is easy, but if all you dive is low/no flow then you'll have "issues" when you hit Devil's, Manatee, Little River etc....

An ideal Cavern/Intro class will expose you to both, which can easily be done in N FL.....

Safe diving,

Rich

[Genesis]

Both.

Being able to manage flow is important. I'd say the first day of actual diving should be somewhere with low/no flow (e.g. Peacock) but I believe its important for you to be able to manage flow - because a lot of caves (e.g. JB, Ginnie, Madison, etc) have it, and its important for you to be able to do things like run a reel and keep your trim and buoyancy under those conditions.

LR is a prime example - if you can't keep your act together in high flow you're in trouble coming back up that chimney......

[Signal 20]

I think learning how to tie in gaps or jumps and reel work would be best learned in high flow. If you can get it down in high flow its easy in low flow. BUT, learning finning techniques and bouyancy control should be learned in a low flow cave. It seems that people that only dive Ginnie, Little River, Manatee, etc. sometimes forget how easy it is to silt out a very low or no flow cave.

[Genesis]

Agreed...

Twin is a great example..... and an example of why primaries can be important (the entrance to the shelf is both low and silty, with essentially no flow; one touch and......)

[Rich]

learning finning techniques and bouyancy control should be learned in a low flow cave. ..

Actually, they should be learned in either OW or the Cavern zone before you enter the cave environment......

Safe diving,

Rich