Cave Diving

Cave diving brings a whole new aspect to the scuba diving experience. It allows individuals to explore an underwater and hidden world full of interesting life forms and sites. Before you embark on any cave diving adventure, there are some important tips to remember. Open water and cave diving are two very different realms. You should take such a course and preferably use an experienced guide before attempting any cave diving. Proper training is available if you desire to dive caves. Perhaps warning signs at the entrance to some of the more popular sites convey this best by stating, "There is nothing in there worth your life".

After certification, divers need to stay wet! Reading all of the articles on cave diving you can set your eyes on is a great way to increase your knowledge, but the only way to improve your individual skills is to put the fins on and get "kickin". A cave diver with buoyancy problems or lack of familiarity with the basic scuba equipment will be frustrated. Go to dive sites that you are comfortable with and simply put in some "bottom time". Work on skills like hovering, this ability is necessary for cave diving. Pretend to photograph a posing creature while paying attention to your positioning. Evaluate yourself; did you sink like a rock when you stopped to shoot? Kick up the bottom? Unnecessary delays due to gear dangling or dragging? The bottom line . . . the more dives you log, the more experience you have in preparing yourself for cave diving. If you are going to go on a cave diving adventure, the ability to hover is crucial for your safety and the preservation of the cave.

There are many risks involved with any cave diving experience. Assessing the risks along with making risk decisions and implementing controls to eliminate cave diving mishaps are crucial.

Prior to cave diving certification, get a thorough physical.
Obtain a cave diving certification from one of the following organizations: National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), the National Association of Diving Instructor (PADI), National Association of Scuba Diving Schools (NASDS), Scuba Schools International (SSI) or the YMCA. Do not attempt cavern, wreck or cave diving with these certifications.
Always go with a buddy who is certified and have a dive plan.
Check all your equipment thoroughly prior to the dive.
Spend a few minutes before the dive reviewing hand signals with your partner, the dive plan, conducting a final equipment check and an air sharing drill.
Keep a close watch on your air supply during each cave diving experience.
Schedule your deepest dive first. Consult the diving tables for the appropriate schedule. Every dive increases the amount of nitrogen in your body's tissue. Allow time for your body to breathe nitrogen out of your system to prevent decompression sickness - known as the bends. When you make consecutive dives, account for the residual nitrogen still in your body prior to making your next dive.
Know the depth of the cave and water and the deepest depth you will reach. Frequently cave divers do not pay close enough attention to the depths they attain. An exact accounting of depth

With all of these recommendations in place, you should be able to safely navigate through your next adventure. Remember to check back with AdventureDrop to see new cave diving experiences and locations posted every day by your fellow cave divers.