Stage Cave Diver

The NSS-CDS Cave Diver level of training or equivalent is required to take this course. Students must also possess Advanced Open Water Diver and entry-level Nitrox Diver or equivalent certifications from a widely recognized diver training organization, or equivalent experience. This training may take place concurrently with the CDS Basics orientation or Apprentice Cave.

Students participating in any training program involving planned decompression must possess appropriate certification from a widely recognized diver training organization. This training must cover:  Use of pure oxygen or oxygen-rich decompression mixtures and procedures for decompression diving. This training may take place concurrently with NSS-CDS Cave Diver training.

Instructors must screen and evaluate students to ensure they possess the necessary attitude, knowledge and skills before any further in-water training takes place. Instructors must refer students who cannot pass this screening process to opportunities where they can obtain remedial training. Only when students can pass the screening process may they continue their cavern/cave training.

Open-Circuit Equipment Requirements

For programs in which both students and instructors use open-circuit equipment, each participant must have:

• Mask and fins.
• Adequate exposure protection for depth, time and water temperature.
• Sidemount/backmount harness and air cell with sufficient lift to support cylinders used.
• Two sidemount cylinders or set of manifolded doubles capable of providing a starting gas volume of at least 4,200 L/150 ft3.
• Two regulator first-stages, each with a single second stage. At least one first stage must have a 2.0 m/7.0 ft second-stage hose.
• At least two cutting tool capable of dealing with guideline entanglement.
• At least one dive computer capable of monitoring exposure to all gas mixtures used.
• Primary dive light with a rated burn time of 150 percent of expect dive time and 2 backup dive lights.
• One primary reel per team with minimum of 75 m/250 ft of guideline.
• Two safety reels/spools per diver, each with at least 30 m/100 ft of guideline.
• At least two directional and two nondirectional line markers.

Closed-Circuit Equipment Requirements

In lieu of sidemount/backmount cylinders and regulators, students and instructors using closed- rebreathers must have:

• A CCR or eCCR with sufficient absorbent, diluent and oxygen for 150 percent of the planned dive time.
• Open-circuit bailout cylinder(s) with at least 150 percent of the gas required to exit the cave from maximum point of penetration. This must be in the form of either two or more separate cylinders or a single cylinder with an H-valve.
• Additionally, both students and instructors must hold CCR Diver certification for the specific CCR they will use.

Included throughout the course:

• Private instructor.
• Classroom sessions.
• Transport to the cenotes or boat from the shop.
• Speciality equipment.
• Weights.
• Air fills and tanks.
• Certification card.
• Water and snacks.

Not included

• Cenote entrance fee.
• Nitrox or Helium Mixes.
• Training Manual.
• Basic Diving Gear.
• Diving insurance.

Important Information:

Plan carfully your trip to minimize your enviromental impact, please avoid sunscreen / mosquito repellent or other skin products for all water activities. Whenever possible, choose rechargable batteries and aviod to carring things like disposable razors, plastic bags, plastic water bottels, etc. We are in a very fragil and pristine enviroment and is our responsability to keep it that way.

Cave diving is a highly demanding activity with a specific mindset and requeires very good trim, buoyancy, propulsion and awareness. We will do our best to improve your skills and knowledge, also we will set the best training plan according to the skills and experience of each diver to help them to succed in the course, but consider some times we need extra days to achive the goals with a classroom or water sessions and we apply extra rate if is necessary. We strongly recommend to the studens plan at least two extra days just in case.

Notes:

Please bring change of clothes & towels for cenote training days.

All courses are available in English or Spanish.