There's a lot of cave that you're not seeing if you're racking up the "mile markers" between daylight and the EOL in 14 months. I spent 5 years in cave country and dove my ass off and still have yet to see an EOL, or even a majority of most of the systems out there. I'm not saying you're wrong in doing it, Andrew, but not everyone can or wants to pursue cave diving in that fashion.
You're raising a valid concern, but I don't agree completely with the advice you give to address it. I'll offer a slightly different opinion that overlaps somewhat with what I think you're getting at...Originally Posted by Slüdge
I wouldn't encourage the use of an instructor that doesn't do a fairly significant amount of diving (specifically cave diving in this case) that's completely outside of training. My suggestion is intended to address two points:
1. It helps the instructor maintain the personal love of diving that it sounds like we both agree should be a primary motivator, and helps exhibit that he has done so.
2. It allows the instructor to develop, maintain, and exhibit skills and methods beyond those required to simply pass the class. This reinforces the idea that the training is establishing a foundation on which more significant dives can later be built.
I don't live in cave country but I'm lucky enough to travel there pretty often, and I agree with what Skip said. No matter how much open water diving I've been doing, I feel a little awkward and out of practice on the first dive of any trip. My back is sore, my feet hurt from twirling my ankles around, things require little adjustments. I always try to plan something simple for that first dive.
I've heard both arguments on how quickly training should progress. I don't think there's anything wrong with doing the classes consecutively, but whatever level you stop at, you're going to have to backtrack a bit to refresh your memory (and muscle memory) when you get back down there. The fact that you've got a card doesn't mean that you're going to have your act together when you swim in.
Personally I dont agree with a large number of dives in between training stages.Im sure it wouldnt hurt,but some can get the hang of it faster than others.Living in Ohio,and doing 30 dives between certs may take you 10 years to get to full cave.As a diver,youll know when your messing up and if corrections are made swiftly,youll know when your doing good.If bouancy is very good,Id take cavern/intro together.I would not combine apprentice and full.Many do because apprentice only lasts a year.Not a good reason in my opinion.Again,when your messing up youll know it,and when you got it you got it.All opinions are debatable as usual.
Deco procedures
I took deco procedures along with Apprentice Cave and that worked out quite well for me. If you obtain a copy of the NACD "Cavern/Cave Diver Workbook", it will give you a good idea of what is required at each level. For example, you will begin doing limited deco at the Apprentice level and more extensive deco at full cave level.
I've stayed out
I've noticed there has not been a response from any "one Week Wonders" so I guess it's time to jump in. True I would NOT recommend this to anyone that does not live within a couple of hours of cave country.
When I did my class was very hard to fit all the skills in and I'm sure there were short cuts. BUT since I was diving every weekend for the next year in the same buddy team we were able to work on skills and get mentoring from several experienced divers, (Russ Conley, Gene Broome, Mike Bruic) to name a few. If you are not willing to travel to the caves at least monthly for the first year I think you should do Cavern/intro and STICK to intro dives in well traveled sites on Weekends when there are folks you can hook up with to mentor you. If you have the commitment then train continuosly until your instructor feels you have completed the course. Don't fixate on the course being X dives and then over.
I know one instructor that teaches this way. You pay him for a Cave Course and you will dive and dive and dive until you are done. It could be 20 dives it could be 28 dives.
So theres My 2 PSI
I have dived with several "one week wonders", and curtshu is the only one that looked like he had actually taken a course. If there is *ANY* way you can avoid doing it all in one week, then DON"T.
I suspect the cavern/intro then app/cave would be OK, especially if you have had a good deal of other diving experience. Someone just out of OW class won't do well in an accelerated course.
I thought the experience requirement for DPV class was 100 cave dives ?
Bob K
Well Thank you
Thanks Forrest, That is because I did my training and then MENTORed with other good divers. I really can not stress enough how bad it is to see folks come to Florida for a week get Full cave then not come again for a year. If you are going to be a vacation caver save your money. Do Cavern/Intro then do intro dives the rest of your vacation. Then come back and dive some more Intro level. There is a whole lot of cave to see in the first 1000 ft.
I agree. I try never to take the same route. But it took me a while to learn exactly what you're saying and my next trip is going to entirely focus on one of the most negleced areas of the cave, the top left corner around Double Lines, Syphon tunnel, etc.. That's a really cool, close area that not a lot of people visit. It's particularly cool to do it really slowly. Also anywhere that Jeff put a double x on his map is worth visiting (appropriately dressed) - I've really enjoyed those.
Still, it's really tempting to do the big stuff first!! And if you plan properly, you can do a lot of the side passages on the way in or out of EOL type dives.
BobK - the requirement is 50, not 100.
Andrew Ainslie
Almost extinct cave diver
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