Cave and cavern diving is an incredibly exciting way to take scuba diving to the next level. By becoming qualified to enter overhead environments, you can venture into some of the most amazing caves and caverns in the world, seeing sights most people can only dream about. While cave diving was once the realm of serious technical divers only, today’s improved scuba equipment and the availability of advanced training has made it much more accessible. If you are ready for a new experience that will take you deep into the heart of the earth, consider giving cave diving a try.
Why Try Cave Diving
Cave diving is dangerous. So why is it increasingly popular? There are a number of reasons for this, including the following:
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The water caves contain is often gin-clear, enhancing the feeling of flying and weightlessness that so many divers enjoy.
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Structures inside caves and caverns are fascinating to see. Stalactites, stalagmites, pillars, and other geologic features formed over the course of hundreds of thousands or even millions of years give us a renewed sense of wonder and increase our appreciation of the planet we live on.
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Most caves have calm water conditions that enhance the enjoyment of diving. While a few do have fast currents, and while some are prone to flooding, the majority are quite serene.
The dangers associated with cave diving are real, meaning you should never enter an overhead environment, even for a short distance, unless you have been properly trained and are properly equipped.
Potential Hazards Associated with Cave Diving
Cave diving is hazardous; in fact, hundreds of divers have died while exploring caves. There are a number of potential hazards to keep in mind when considering whether you are truly interested in becoming a certified cave diver. Some of these hazards include:
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Becoming lost inside a cave when a reel breaks, during a silt-out, when lights are lost, or for other reasons.
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Running out of air while cave diving, with no possibility of making it to the surface.
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Claustrophobia and panic can happen inside caves, even to experienced divers.
These are just a few of the main hazards associated with cave diving. The more you learn about this type of diving, and the deeper into the earth you want to go, the more familiar you will become with potential problems that can arise for divers exploring caves and caverns.
Safety Rules for Cave Diving
Needless to say, there are many rules for staying safe while cave diving – and even when these rules are adhered to, to the letter, accidents can happen. Some of the primary safety rules for cave diving include:
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Carry not just one, but two redundant light sources. This means you carry a primary dive light and two backups.
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Plan your air consumption properly so that you will use no more than 1/3 of your air supply to enter the cave, and no more than 1/3 of your air supply to exit the cave. This provides you with a reserve air supply.
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Mark your exit point carefully to avoid becoming lost inside the cave. Even if permanent lines are in place, ensure that you know which way the exit is.
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Never pass warning signs put in place to tell divers to go no further. These signs are in place for a good reason; passing one of them is folly.
These are just a few of the basic safety rules for cave diving. If you decide to give it a try, you will learn many others during the certification process.
Cave Diving Equipment
Much of the dive equipment used for penetrating caves is similar to the gear you use for recreational diving; however, there are some exceptions. While each situation is unique, the following equipment is commonly used during cave diving.
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Drysuits – While drysuits are not necessary for all cave dives, they are quite common. The water inside caves is usually quite cold, and as caves and caverns are very dark, no sunlight penetrates to warm the water even a little. If you are not qualified to dive while wearing a drysuit, it may be beneficial to become a qualified drysuit diver before taking a cave diving course.
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Knives and other accessories – While it’s common for cave divers to carry accessories, everything is normally kept tucked up next to the body to prevent dragging; not only does this help with streamlining and promote better air conservation, it also helps to prevent silt from being stirred up and compromising visibility.
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Weight – Cave divers don’t normally use weights. If you are planning to take a cave diving course, work on using less weight and on carrying your weights in a position that’s close to your body’s natural balance point so that you can more easily maintain a perfectly horizontal position.
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Guidelines – Guidelines are necessary while cave diving. Some caves are equipped with permanent lines, and in others, you will need to provide your own line. Anything that could be accidentally tangled in the line should not be carried.
It might surprise you to discover that most cave divers don’t carry snorkels – but when you stop to think that there is usually no way to use a snorkel inside a cave, this common practice makes sense. In addition, snorkels present potential entanglement hazards.
Getting Started With Cave Diving
If you are considering cave diving, don’t make the mistake of entering a cave without first being properly trained – even if you are a highly experienced recreational scuba diver. Depending on your location, you may need to meet certain standards in order to enroll in a cave diving certification course; for example, you may need to have a certain number of dives under your belt, or you may need to have a certain number of years of diving experience.
While cave diving is fun and exciting, it is challenging. Don’t feel bad if you decide it is not for you; the mental challenges, the emotional challenges, and the psychological challenges are different from those encountered in standard recreational diving. If you do decide to take up cave diving, be prepared – the sights that await you are among the most amazing on the planet.