Tag Archives: Cave Diving Training

Is cave diving for me?

December 31, 2017Dive trainingCave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Dive CourseDeep Dark Diving

You can think of cave diving as very demanding and more dangerous than reef diving, but when executed properly, cave dives are safe and extremely rewarding. After completing your cave diver training, you will travel to amazing places such as Bahamas islands and the Cenotes of Yucatan in Mexico, discover places only few people have ever seen and get a sense of exploration.

To become a cave diver you will have to go through rigourous training. The steps and levels can slightly differ from one training agency to the other, but your training will strongly depend on the instructors experience in cave diving and teaching. So make sure you get the right instructor for yourself.

Here are a few thoughts…

Can I become a cave diver?

First of all you need the right motivation: an interest for cave and for cave diving. If you’re a thrill seeker: pass your way!

TDI Cave diving course

Any Open water diver with sufficient experience and habilities can start a cave diving training program. You should be confident diving in low-light and low visibility conditions. You should be qualified or comfortable learning in a two-tanks system, either in sidemount or backmount configuration.

Cave diving demands a serious and confident approach, and discipline to meticulously conduct every dive, every time.

What will I learn during my cave diver training?

Air Sharing in Touch Contact

Anti silting swimming techniques
Use a line and reel
Stress management
Dealing with problems safely and calmly
Become an aware and safe cave diver
Geology, cave formations and conservation
a lot more…

What equipment will I need?

Two tanks configuration: sidemount or backmount
Three torches (Primary light source and two backups)
Line cutters
Reels and spools
Personal markers

Make sure to talk to your instructor before purchasing any item, to ensure that you’re getting the right gear.

Where can I learn to cavern dive?

Cenote Kukulkan, cavern dive in the winter morning light

First step of the full cave diver training, you should do your training in a cave diving area, to get real experience, and inspire you to continue your training to cave diver. The Cenotes of Mexico in the Yucatan Peninsula offer amazing training and diving sites, and remain one of the most popular cave diving destination in the world.

Where can I learn to cave dive?

The cave diver training is a two step course. During the first part, the introductory course you will learn to complete simple cave dives following a single continuous guideline.

The final part of cave training is mainly about adding complexity to navigation inside the cave. For that last part of the training we highly recommend the caves of Mexico. These very complex systems offer a large quantity of dive sites and scenarios possibility for training. The warm water and shallow caves will enable you to stay longer underwater, practice and focus on cave related skills.

Where can I cave dive after my cave diver training?

All around the world 🙂

Among popular places to go cave diving for pleasure is Florida, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, France, and the Yucatan Peninsula.

Do you feel ready to become a cave diver?

We might or might not be the right instructors for you, but if you have any doubts or questions don’t hesitate in contacting us.

Most of all, if you are ready, welcome to the amazing world of cave divers.

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Diving Training

Cave and Tech Diving course, Dive trainingAdvanced Nitrox, Cave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Deco Procedures, Deep Diving Playa del Carmen, Dive Course, Dive Shop Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Nitrox, Razor Side Mount, side mount, Side Mount Diving, sidemount cave diving, technical diving, Yucatan

Deep Dark Diving dive training Philosophy

We offer high quality training in technical diving and cave diving in Playa del Carmen, all the Riviera Maya and in Yucatan, Mexico.

We strive to provide the best learning experience. The objective is to achieve the highest level and learn from each moment. Then by using what you learn you will improve your performance and the safety of your diving.

There is a minimum days required by standards for technical and cave diving training, but be aware that you will personnaly need to meet the diving standards.

All training is based on skills mastering. We do our best to share our experience and knowledge with you and ensure the efficiency of your training but technical or cave diving certification is not garanteed.

Bienvenue

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Plongée dans le Yucatan, Mexique – Cours de plongée et Plongées guidées

Deep Dark Diving offre un service personnalisé pour vos plongées dans la Riviera Maya et le Yucatan au Mexique

Dévoués à la sécurité et à la conservation, nous sommes spécialisés dans la plongée Cenote et la plongée souterraine. Nous offrons des plongées guidées ainsi que des formations en plongée souterraine et plongée technique pour plongeurs débutants et confirmés.

Nous avons une passion pour la plongée, une passion pour les grottes, une passion pour la plongée souterraine que nous aimons partager avec vous afin de vous faire profiter au mieux de votre expérience de plongée sous-marine dans le Yucatan.

PLONGÉES GUIDÉES

COURS DE PLONGÉE SOUTERRAINE

INTRO TO CAVE DIVER

Voilà! C’est parti dans l’obscurité totale et vous pourrez réaliser des plongées simples au-dela de la zone de lumière naturelle

PLONGEUR SOUTERRAIN

Les réseaux souterrains peuvent être très complexes, surtout au Mexique. Vous pourrez maintenant combiner tout ce que vous avez appris avec des navigations complexes et plus encore

INTRO TO TEC & SIDE MOUNT

INTRO TO TECH

Bases de la plongée technique – Plannification – nouvelle configuration et meilleur hydrodynamisme – Améliorer flottabilité et techniques de palmage. Etablir une base solide.

SIDE MOUNT

Premiers pas en configuration Sidemount. Pour plongeurs tec souhaitant transposer leurs aptitudes à la configuration Sidemount. Ou pour débutants ayant choisi la configuration Sidemount.

RAZOR SIDE MOUNT

Un cours de Side Mount plus approfondi. Il couvre les bases necessaires à la plongée technique et la plongée souterraine et constitue une base solide. De plus votre harnais Razor vous suivra à tous les niveaux de plongée technique.

COURS DE PLONGÉE TECHNIQUE

NITROX

Premier pas vers l’utilisation de mélanges. Pour plongeur Nitrox certifié c’est l’occasion de revoir les bases théoriques, la physique et les lois fondamentales en profondeur avant d’aller plus loin.

ADVANCED NITROX

Physique et physiologie de la plongée aux mélanges contenant plus de 40 % d’oxygène. Rallonger votre temps de plongée sans entrer en décompression

DECO PROCEDURES

Plannifier et réaliser des plongées a décompression . Choix des gas et exécution de plan d’urgence.

ENCORE PLUS PROFOND

EXTENDED RANGE

Des plongées superbes à 55m/180ft mais pas d’helium disponible? Vous apprendrez comment plonger en sécurité en utilisant de l’air et des gaz de décompression.

TRIMIX

Rajoutez l’hélium à vos plongées. Allez plus profond, respirez mieux et réduisez la narcose. Ca rend vos plongées beaucoup sûres et offre de nombreuses possibilités jusqu’à 60m/200ft.

TRIMIX AVANCÉ

Félicitations! Vous avez atteint le plus haut niveau de plongée en circuit ouvert. Utilisez des mélanges avec moins de 17% O2 et à des profondeurs de 100m/330ft. Et faites partie de l’élite de la plongée.

Cenote Entrance Fees for Cavern & Cave Diving

Cave Diving, Dive training, Guided DivesCave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Cavern Diving, Cenote Diving, Dive Course, Mexico, scuba diving, sidemount cave diving, Yucatan

Here is the list of the entrance fees to the Cenote for Cavern Diving and Cave Diving in the most comon dive sites and training sites in the Riviera Maya – Mexico All prices are given in $ Mexican Pesos We do our best to keep the list up to date, but there might change on the last minute due to landowner decision.

Cenote Entrance fees

Chac Mool/Kukulkan (2 dives): 250$

Chikin Ha (2 dives): 250$

El Eden-(PondeRosa): 300$

Taj Ma Ha: 250$

Dos Ojos Barbie Line & Bat Cave: 380$

El Pit: 570$

Dos Ojos/Pit combined: 760$

Dreams’ Gate: 300$

Calavera (Temple of Doom): 300$

Gran Cenote

Carwash (Actun Ha): 250$

Angelita: 300$

Zapote: 300$

Kin Ha: 200$

Pet Cemetery (Sac Actun): Closed for divers 🙁 but snorkeling is still worth a go!!

might be accessible to cavern divers on special request, entrance fee: 600$

More about Cavern Diving and Cave Diving in the beautiful Cenotes of Mexico. Or get Cave diver Certified or Technical diver Certified

CONTACT

Contact

Dive InstructorAdvanced Nitrox, Cave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Cavern Diving, Cenote Diving, Deco Procedures, Deep Diving Playa del Carmen, Dive Course, Dive Shop Playa del Carmen, Extended Range, Mexico, Nitrox, Razor Side Mount, riviera maya, Side Mount Diving, sidemount cave diving, sidemount training, Technical dive gear, technical diving, Yucatan

Contact Deep Dark Diving

Scuba Diving in Yucatan, Mexico – Personalized Guiding and Training

Group packages available

Mail: info@deepdarkdiving.com
WhatsApp: +52 1 984 135 7062
Location: Playa del Carmen & Mérida, Mexico
Facebook: Deep Dark Diving

We are passionate instructors offering guided dives and training for Reef diving, Cavern diving, Cave diving, Deep diving

I spend a lot of time underwater and far into the jungle, out of phone signal and internet reach. In fact I am probably underwater somewhere in one of the amazing caves of Yucatan. I really do my best to give the best service possible and assure that we can offer the best dive experience. You probably come a long way for a very special holliday and we’ll garantee a very special experience. I personnaly answer all emails and deal with the organization… so please be patient, it’s worth it 🙂

Thank you, back to you as soon as possible,
Géraldine

Intro to Cave Diver Course

Cave and Tech Diving courseCave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Cenote Diving, Cenotes Tulum, Dive Course, Dive Shop Playa del Carmen, Intro to Cave, Mexico, riviera maya, scuba diving, sidemount cave diving, TDI, technical diving, Yucatan

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Intro to Cave Diver Course — Deploying a guideline

After enjoying your cavern diving course and discovering diving in overhead environment it is now time to move on to the Intro to cave diver course.

Not only you will tune up your skills further into the cave but you will adopt additional techniques and procedures required for simple cave dives.

Of course, upon satisfying with the intro to Cave course requirements you may enroll to the Full Cave Diving Course.

Prerequisites

Cavern Diver certification or equivalent
Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent

Qualifications

“Rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th if using doubles
Maximum depth of 40 metres/130 feet.
Proper cave diving equipment must be used
Maintain a continuous guideline
Progress on to the next level: Full Cave Diver course!

Gears

double cylinders or dual valve manifold
Two independent first and second stage regulators; one regulator equipped with a long hose (2 metres / 7 feet)
Buoyancy compensator device (BCD) with power inflator
Exposure suit adequate for diving environment
Line cutting device
Three battery powered lights; 1 primary and 2 back-ups
Safety reel/spool
One primary reel
Computer, watch or bottom timer and depth gauge
Slate or wet notes with a pencil
Submersible dive tables or backup dive computer
Directional and non directional line markers

Duration

Minimum 3 days
Open water training
minimum 4 cave dives
Theory: minimum 4 hours

What you will learn

Policy for cave diving
Gas management
Psychological considerations of cave diving
Equipment choice and configuration
Communication (light and hand signals, touch contact)
Swimming techniques
- Body posture/trim
- Buoyancy control
- Line following
Physiology
- Breathing techniques
- Stress management
Cave environment
Cave conservation
Problem solving
- Emergency procedures
- Equipment failure
- Silting conditions
Accident analysis
Cave diving etiquette

CAVERN FULL CAVE

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Cavern Diver Course

Cave and Tech Diving course, Cave DivingCave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Cavern Diving, Cenote Diving, Dive Course, Dive Shop Playa del Carmen, Mexico, Razor Side Mount, side mount, Side Mount Diving, sidemount cave diving, TDI, technical diving

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First step in the Overhead Environnment during the TDI Cavern diver course - Cenote Carwash (Actun Ha) Tulum - Mexico

The cavern diver course is your first step in overhead environment diving. Through this course, you will build up the skills to dive safely within the natural daylight and a short distance from the exit. Not only you will learn about proper planning, procedures and techniques for cavern diving but also about the hazards and how to deal with them. And of course, you will now enjoy your cavern diving in the Cenotes to a much higher level of knowledge and safety.

The cavern diver course is the first part of the Cave course. After your training you will know what to expect and decide if you keep going.

Duration

Minimum of 3 days
Open water training
Minimum 4 cavern dives
Theory: minimum 6 hours

Gear

Open water dive gear configured for cavern diving
Twinset (Intro to Tec)
Sidemount
Razor Side Mount

This course will definitely take you a step further in your diver’s life. Once certified as a cavern diver you might of course consider following your training with the Intro to cave or even all the way to Full cave training.

Course prerequisites

Minimum age 18, 15 with parental consent
Open Water Scuba Diver
Proof of 25 logged dives

Qualifications

Daylight zone
Penetration is limited to 1/3 of a single diving cylinder or 1/6th if using double cylinders
61 linear metres / 200 linear feet from the surface
40 metres / 130 feet maximum depth
No decompression diving
No restrictions
Maintain a continuous guideline
Qualified to enroll in: Introductory Cave course

What you will learn during the Cavern diver course

Policy for cavern diving
Gas management procedures
Psychological considerations of cavern diving
Equipment considerations
Communication (light and hand signals, touch contact)
Body posture/trim
Buoyancy control
GuideLine use (deploy, follow with eyes opened and closed)
Propulsion and anti-silting techniques
Physiology
Cavern environment and conservation
Problem solving
- Emergency procedures (Air share, light failure…)
- Equipment failure
- Silting conditions
Accident analysis
Predive planning

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in Intro to Cave training

Side Mount Intro to Tech Intro to Cave

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Cave Diving Training in the Cenotes of Mexico

Cave and Tech Diving course, Dive trainingCave Diving, Cave Diving Training, Cavern Diving, Cenote Diving, Dive Course, Dive Shop Playa del Carmen, Razor Side Mount, side mount, Side Mount Diving, sidemount cave diving, sidemount training, technical diving

All passionate cave divers will some day travel to Mexico. And of course we did too! And we liked it so much that to fulfill our passion for Cave diving we chose to live and dive in Yucatan.

The penninsula of Yucatan hosts the longest underwater caves in the world. A lifetime would not be enough to know it all and there is much more to be discovered. We love sharing our passion and guide you in the most amazing passages in the Cenotes. And we provide high quality cave diving training with a high commitment to security and conservation. If you are a serious adventure seeker wishing to explore overhead environments, then Cave Diving Training is for you!

Cavern and Caves are amazing, beautiful and ever fascinating places on earth. But they are very challenging environments to explore. Even more challenging is when you decide you really want to explore the underwater caverns and caves, and decide to be among the very lucky few!

Be aware that your cave diving in Mexico might be addictive 🙂 And we’ll do our best to make that happen safely and share our passion

Cave diving training is a 3 steps course

CAVERN DIVER

Duration

2-3 days
4 Cavern dives

Limitations

Daylight zone
“Rule of thirds,” OR 1/6th with doubles
Max depth: 40m/130 ft
Penetration limited to 61m/200 ft
No restrictions

CAVERN

The Cavern Diver training course introduces the “minimum” skills, task loading, problem solving, knowledge, and the ability to dive within the “cavern” zone. You will also get familiar with the dangers and risks involved while diving in the overhead environment. The Cavern course is in no way intended to provide instruction for Cave Diving.

include gas management
emergency procedures
buoyancy
trim
propulsion techniques
line and reel use
equipment management.

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INTRO TO CAVE DIVER

Duration

2-3 days
4 Cave dives

Limitations

1/3 of a single diving cylinder or 1/6th if using double cylinders
Maximum depth: 40 metres / 130 feet

Cavern + Intro to cave Diver Course combined: 4-5 days

INTRO TO CAVE

The Intro-to-Cave Diver training course will further develop the skills and knowledge required to dive in the overhead environment. The course explains the dangers and risks involved while diving in the overhead environment and going beyond the daylight zone. Skills in the Intro to Cave course include line navigation, zero visibility training, gas management, touch contact, emergency procedures, and a higher level of prior courses skills.

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CAVE DIVER

Duration

4 days
8 Cave dives

Limitations

1/3 of a double cylinders or 2 single
Maximum depth: 40 metres / 130 feet

Cavern + Intro to cave + Full Cave Diver Course combined: 8-10 days (16 cave dives)

FULL CAVE

The Cave Diver training course fine-tunes the skills and knowledge required to dive in the overhead environment. The course explains the dangers and risks involved while cave diving beyond the daylight zone. Skills in the Cave Diver course include passing restrictions, complex navigation, zero visibility, emergency procedures, gas management…

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Keywords: Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Penninsula, Cenotes, Private service, personalized service, Variety of cave dives, TDI, Technical Diving International – TDI, Razor – Go Sidemount