Cave Diving: Your Mindset Matters

Cave divers glide weightlessly through beautiful subterranean passages, lights glancing off stunning geologic formations millions of years old. The images we see and the films we watch excite our imaginations, increasing our desire to explore the earth’s hidden places; what they don’t tell us is that cave diving is a dangerous enterprise. If you’re considering cave diving or are just getting started with training, you’ll find that in addition to the specialized equipment required for cave diving, the correct mindset can be one of your greatest assets.

Overcoming the Challenges Associated with Cave Diving

Before investing in a cave diving course, it’s a very good idea to determine whether cave diving is a good match for you. If you suffer from claustrophobia or dislike the idea of being in complete darkness, relying only on a tiny line to make your way back to the light, you are probably not a good candidate. If the idea of conducting air-sharing and exit drills in total darkness stresses you out just a little but doesn’t seem completely unreasonable, you may very well be someone who will do well in training and enjoy all that cave diving has to offer.

Despite open water training and experience, many people find that cave diving isn’t a good fit for them. Many others go on to enjoy cave diving after having learned navigational skills, gained experience with night diving, and learning special skills. These divers find that they don’t mind carrying a larger amount of gas than most open water dives call for, and they aren’t bothered by the extra equipment required, such as reels and extra lights. 

Task loading increases greatly in a cave environment, so cave diving courses generally require participants to have plenty of experience with open water diving. This, combined with the stresses of the dark environment and the potential for disaster can completely overload the psyche, which is why it is so important to approach cave diving with the right mindset. 

To begin with, it’s vital that you be properly trained before even considering the slightest penetration into a dark overhead environment. As there is no direct access to the surface, and because restrictions often exist, training is vital to your survival. Once you have been properly trained, you’ll find that you are able to successfully coach yourself through tough situations. 

You should also be willing to practice stressful cave diving drills just like those you’ll learn when you take your initial training. Regular practice will improve your mindset greatly while helping you to develop the kind of muscle memory that will help get you through a real emergency safely in the event one should arise. Having a deep commitment to your own safety as well as to the safety of the divers who accompany you into the dark is part of that mindset.

With the right mindset, you will find that you are able to enjoy exploring underwater caves rather than suffering from mind-blowing stress while cave diving. A successful cave dive isn’t just one in which you come out alive, but one that you enjoyed and wouldn’t mind repeating – intense, perhaps but rewarding nevertheless.