The “IANTD Cave Diver” course is the third level of cave diving training. Cave diving is one of the most demanding forms of technical diving, as it takes place in a closed environment, often far from the cave entrance. Visibility can be limited in certain areas, and during the course, the focus is on complex navigation away from the exit and main line.

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

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

Classroom Training: The course begins with a theoretical classroom portion where candidates learn the fundamental concepts and principles of cave diving. This includes understanding hydrogeology, cave features, gas management, dive planning, and cave diving-specific safety protocols.

Confined Environment Training: Before diving in actual caves, candidates receive training in confined environments to become familiar with the equipment and skills required for complex cave navigation. They learn to use markers, cookies, guidelines, reels, 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 real cave dives. Under supervision, they explore caves with specific dive profiles and put their complex navigation skills into practice. This includes performing jumps, gaps, circuits, T-junctions, and more, while maintaining a focus on effective team communication and proper gas management.

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 necessary cave diving skills and knowledge. Once they have fulfilled all course requirements, they receive the IANTD Cave Diver certification, allowing them to dive in caves following appropriate safety standards and established protocols.

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