New at this cave stuff. Seeking advice.

[Blaze]

Hello out there!
I'm a relatively new diver (couple of years now), but I'm very new to cavern and cave diving. I'm cavern certified and have taken an Intro to Caves course, but I am very curious and excited to move on. This winter holiday season will be spent up in Northern Virginia visiting family and friends - can anyone recommend where to further my education and experience up there?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Kenny P.]

Hello out there!
I'm a relatively new diver (couple of years now), but I'm very new to cavern and cave diving. I'm cavern certified and have taken an Intro to Caves course, but I am very curious and excited to move on. This winter holiday season will be spent up in Northern Virginia visiting family and friends - can anyone recommend where to further my education and experience up there?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I don't know of any cave training in that part of the world. Most of the cavediving up there is sump diving. You don't want to get into that until fully trained and very comfortable swimming all day in near zero visibility and in sidemount. Where are you from? Don't rush the training. Get plenty of dives at your current level of training and then proceed when you are very comfortable. You say you are Cavern Certified and took an Intro. to Cave Course. Did you pass the Intro. Course? If so then you are Intro. to Cave Certified, If not then I would get lots of dives at my current level and go through that again.
Hope this helps out,
Kenny P.

[DeWayne]

Hello out there!
I'm a relatively new diver (couple of years now), but I'm very new to cavern and cave diving. I'm cavern certified and have taken an Intro to Caves course, but I am very curious and excited to move on. This winter holiday season will be spent up in Northern Virginia visiting family and friends - can anyone recommend where to further my education and experience up there?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

I don't know of any cave training in that part of the world. Most of the cavediving up there is sump diving. You don't want to get into that until fully trained and very comfortable swimming all day in near zero visibility and in sidemount. Where are you from? Don't rush the training. Get plenty of dives at your current level of training and then proceed when you are very comfortable. You say you are Cavern Certified and took an Intro. to Cave Course. Did you pass the Intro. Course? If so then you are Intro. to Cave Certified, If not then I would get lots of dives at my current levle and go through that again.
Hope this helps out,
Kenny P.

I concur with Kenny. Take your time advancing and have fun while doing it. After all, having fun is why we do it in the first place. 8)

[FW]

Hello out there!
I'm a relatively new diver (couple of years now), but I'm very new to cavern and cave diving. I'm cavern certified and have taken an Intro to Caves course, but I am very curious and excited to move on. This winter holiday season will be spent up in Northern Virginia visiting family and friends - can anyone recommend where to further my education and experience up there?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

There are a couple of "cave friendly" shops in the area.

American Watersports Va
6182 A Arlington Blvd
Falls Church, VA 22044
Phone: 703-534-3636
Fax #: 703-534-9563

They did have a couple of cave instructors Dale and Maggie. If they aren't around anymore, ask for Harrison.

SlpashDiveCenter.com (703-823-7680) is up there also. They had a booth at the NACD seminar. I don't know much else about them.

You won't find any Florida type caves, but there are some short, overhead training areas in the local quarries.

[Blaze]

Thanks all for the advice. I didn't really expect to find anything close to Florida's caves in No. VA, but I had to ask. Being from Georgia, I did most of my cert dives down in the Springs (Ginnie, Blue Grotto, Devil's Den, Paradise), so I suppose I've been spoiled.

A friend told me about Splash Dive Center in Alexandria and told me to ask for someone named Kory. I think I'll go by there when I get up to the area. Thanks again for the advice and suggestions. Believe me, I really am having a blast and am just eager to continue the fun!
B