Apprentice Cave Diver



Education of the student in proper cave diving techniques and procedures, cave awareness and conservation, dive planning and dive execution is emphasized at the Apprentice level of training. While the student is introduced to jump and gap procedures, skills and emergency drills previously presented at the Cavern and Intro to Cave courses are reinforced and refined. The student is encouraged to continue to develop safe cave diving techniques and practices, awareness of the cave environment and conservation of the cave environment through personal and dive team planning and technique.

The following equipment is required for each student:
1. Dual cylinders, volume appropriate for planned dive, student gas consumption.
2. Two independent first and second stage regulators. One regulator equipped with a long hose at a recommended minimum length of two (2) meters / seven (7) feet.
3. Submersible pressure gauge.
4. Buoyancy Compensator with power inflator.
5. Exposure suit adequate for diving environment.
6. Mask and fins - straps properly secured -OR- spring straps
7. Two line cutting devices.
8. Three battery powered lights - one primary and two back-ups, each with a with burn time suitable for the planned dive time.
9. Safety reel with a minimum of thirty seven (37) meters / one hundred twenty five (125) feet of guideline.
10. One (1) primary cave-diving reel with length appropriate for intended dive.
11. Computer or watch (bottom timer) and depth gauge.
12. Slate or wet notes with a pencil.
13. Submersible dive tables or back up dive computer.
14. Three (3) directional line arrows.
15. One (1) non- directional line marker.
16. Gap reel with fifteen (15) meter / fifty (50) feet of guideline.
17. It is recommended that the team properly mark decompression cylinders and stage them, in any dive where decompression is planned, at least one (1) stop deeper than the planned decompression obligation.