IANTD CCR Cave Diver – Minimum 4 days

The IANTD CCR Cave Diver course is the third level of cave diving in Closed Circuit Rebreathers (CCR). Cave diving is one of the most demanding forms of technical diving, taking place in a confined environment often far from the exit. Visibility can be limited in certain areas, and during the course, we focus, among other things, on complex navigation away from the exit and the main line.

The IANTD CCR Cave Diver course is designed for divers who have completed the Introduction to Cave Diving in CCR course and wish to further their cave diving education, thereby eliminating penetration limits in their explorations.

Here is a summary of what the IANTD CCR Cave Diver course involves:

Prerequisites: Before starting the Cave Diver course, candidates must be certified as CCR Intro to Cave divers and demonstrate a good understanding of cave diving techniques.

Classroom training: The course begins with a theoretical part in the classroom, where candidates learn the fundamental concepts and principles of cave diving. This includes understanding hydrogeology, cave features, gas management, dive planning, and cave-specific safety protocols. We also focus on using the rebreather to calculate necessary bailouts for safely conducting cave dives.

Confined environment training: Before diving into actual caves, candidates receive training in controlled environments to familiarize themselves with the equipment and skills needed for complex cave navigation. They learn to use arrows, cookies, lifelines such as reels and spools, communication, and team diving techniques.

Cave dives: Once candidates have acquired basic skills in confined environments, they move on to the practical part of the course by conducting actual cave dives. Under my supervision, they explore caves with specific dive profiles and put their complex navigation skills into practice. We perform jumps, gaps, circuits, Ts, etc., while maintaining a focus on effective team communication and proper gas management.

We calculate our bailout requirements before each dive and also work in semi-closed circuit mode in case of O2 failure.

Safety and protocols: Special attention is given to safety in cave diving, as this environment presents additional risks compared to cavern and open-water diving. Candidates learn emergency rescue protocols and how to manage degraded situations.

Assessment: Candidates are assessed throughout the course to ensure they master the skills and knowledge required for cave diving. Once they fulfill all course requirements, they receive the IANTD CCR Cave Diver certification, allowing them to dive in caves following appropriate safety standards and established protocols.

The IANTD CCR Cave Diver course is rigorous and demanding, but it provides experienced divers with the opportunity to discover and explore a unique and fascinating underwater world in caves, while developing advanced technical diving skills and risk management.