Cavern and Intro to Cave course in Playa del Carmen: 4 days, 8 dives

Why take the Cavern + Intro to Cave course?

The Cavern + Intro to Cave (Cave) class introduces diving in an overhead environment. Many underwater caves lie hidden from view, and that makes cave diving an exciting, adventurous activity. Cave diving requires special training, so the course explains the cave environment and its potential dangers in detail. The Intro to Cave course prepares you to go beyond the natural daylight zone. At the same time, a conservative approach to gas management keeps new cave divers within a limited distance of the entrance.

Who is it for?

The Intro to Cave course is a great training opportunity for aspiring cave divers. You will improve your skills and awareness. Then you can enjoy cave diving with your team, with the knowledge you need to get in and dive. Divers new to cave diving should know the specific rules. There is no natural light, and the cave is enclosed. You must return to the entrance at the end of the dive. You also need the self-discipline to follow a line and navigate the cave properly.

What will I learn?

• Principles of cave diving and the skills and knowledge required for limited penetration into underwater caves
• Environmental awareness, dive planning and teamwork
• Understanding of cave environments
• Stress management, navigation, standard and emergency procedures, cave diving techniques
• An appreciation of the hazards of cave diving

How the Intro to Cave course runs

• 4 days, 8 dives at least, 6 cave dives in at least 3 caves, 200 minutes of dive time.
• Classroom lectures, land drills and in-water work. Playa del Carmen or Puerto Aventuras area, transfer from Playa del Carmen included.
• Rate: $298 per training day in a group of two or more, $348 individually.
• Included: professional Advanced Technical Dual CCR Cave Diving instructor, hotel pickup and drop-off in Playa del Carmen, doubles or sidemount tanks with EAN32, weights, and the final examination
• Not included: Students must bring their own tech/cave level diving gear (requirements will be provided) or rent it, Additional sets of Doubles or Sidemount tanks with EAN32, Stages, Drysuit tanks, Sofnolime, Oxygen, Trimix or Argon fills for both students and Instructor / DPV rental for students and Instructor / Cenote entry fee / Any Rental equipment will be charged accordingly, Foto/Video service, Diving insurance, Camera fee (depend on Cenote policy), Fuel or boat surcharges for remote locations out of Playa del Carmen and Puerto Aventuras areas (as per student request), eLearning materials or/and printed manuals, Certification fee ($60 per card), Tips for instructor
• A personalized set of Cave Ha Diving Markers is a gift to every diver who completes the course.

Applicants must

• Be qualified in Advanced Open Water Diver and Nitrox or equivalent
• Be a minimum of 18 years of age, or 15 with a parent or guardian authorization
• Be physically and mentally fit; obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for prescription drugs or any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving
• Be experienced with technical diving configuration and related skills: Basic 5, V-Drill, S-Drill, 6 propulsion techniques including back kicks and helicopter turn, perfect buoyancy, trim no more than 20 degrees out of neutral (see Intro to Tech / Essentials + Nitrox, link /cave-diving/intro-to-tech-essentials-basic-nitrox-course/)
• Have a minimum of 30 logged dives

Equipment

Students must bring or rent sidemount or backmount doubles AL80 DIN equipped with tech-level regulators (long hose). Gases: days 1-4 backgas EAN32. Students cover the cost of all gases and scrubber used by the instructor above EAN32, cenote entrance or boat fees, and certification card fees ($60 per card).

• 1 well-fitted drysuit with front entry zipper, 2 pockets and 1 P-valve, or a well-fitted wetsuit thick enough (5-7 mm preferable) to stay 3-4 hours daily underwater
• 1 undergarment (Thinsulate 100 or equivalent)
• 1 thin neoprene hood plus minimum 1 mm neoprene gloves
• 1 BCD wing or SM style enough to carry 2 tanks
• 1 primary light (canister or handheld, minimum 10 W HID head)
• 2 reserve lights (Scout, Heser or equivalent)
• 1 bottom timer or tec-enabled computer
• 1 wrist-mounted compass
• 1 pair of Jet fins
• 1 mask plus 1 backup mask
• 1 small cutting device (knife on harness webbing)
• 1 penetration reel (120 m) per team
• 2 safety or jump spools per person
• 1 pigtail for a minimum of 3 arrows and 8 cookies (a personalized cookies and arrows set is included in the package if you want them customized)
• 1 wetnotes with pencil

Rental: Tech SCUBA set $50 per day, doubles with EAN32 included in the course price.

Rules of the course

• Medical: every participant completes and signs the standard Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire before the activity. A YES answer to any question in its final section requires written approval from a physician before diving. Without it the guest does not dive.
• Liability: every participant signs the standard diving General Liability Release and Express Assumption of Risk before the activity. Without the signed form the guest does not dive.

Next scheduled weeks

Scheduled weeks and the group rate for a solo student: /cave-diving/season-schedule/

Next step

Tech Cave / Cave / Full Cave and Advanced Cave Multistage, 5 days.