denise
08-02-2009, 09:15 PM
NSS Deep Cave Diver
with Dayo Scuba, Orlando, Florida
http://www.dayoscuba.com/images/agencies/nsscds.gif (http://www.nsscds.org/)
The Deep Cave Diver certification by NSS CDS trains students for the safe planning and execution of mixed gas diving in caves to depths not exceeding 300 feet/90 meters.
http://dayo.com/forums/images/forum/cavediver_1.jpg
The Deep Cave Diver course builds on the skills and knowledge the student acquired in their previous cave and technical training, allowing them to go much deeper and see more of the cave.
This course will emphasize precision and accuracy in all aspects of the dive beginning with advanced pre-dive planning. Safety will be a primary focus of this course due to the depths to which dives will be made.
The Deep Cave Diver course is not intended to train divers for all facets of cave or deep diving.
What it is:
The Deep Cave Diver course develops the minimum skills and knowledge for safe deep cave diving. This is essentially the entry level and advanced trimix courses, done in caves. Topics include physics and physiology review in relations in deep diving, psychological aspects, decompression theory and practice, equipment considerations, use of dive computers, tables and available software for advanced cave dive planning, emergency procedures, specific hazards of deep cave diving and gas mixing and blending.
Accident analysis continues to form the basis of the training.
Agencies we teach for:
NSS-CDS
Course Cost:
See Price List for Current Prices
This includes your cave manual, your dive training, a certification card, and photos (above and below water).
Other costs:
What not included is gear hire, gas fills, food, lodging, dive site fees & transportation. Dive site fees range from $15-$30, depending on site. We use a mixed collections of gases including trimix, nitrox, air and oxygen for this course. The student is responsible for their own gas costs, and the Instructors helium costs.
A book called Basic Cave Diving: A Blueprint For Survival by Sheck Exley is also required for all Cave students.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/basiccavediving.jpg
The more you read and prepare for your cave course, the more enjoyable it will be for you!
Gear you need to provide:
You will need to have the following gear:
* Mask (low volume), and backup mask
* Fins (no split fins!, straps must be spring straps or taped)
* 2 regulators (must be high performance, and serviced within the last year)
* Long hose (7 footer) on one of your regulators
* Back plate and wing (with sufficient lift to manage tanks)
* Drysuit strongly recommended due to length of dives
Note: two independent buoyancy methods are required
* Tanks can be doubles or sidemount configuration, depending on students choice/previous experience.
Whatever tanks chosen must supply sufficient gas to complete class dives and equipped with Din valves.
* Properly rigged and labeled stage cylinder(s) of a minimum rated volume of 80 cubic feet/2265 L.
* Properly rigged and labeled decompression cylinder(s) of a minimum rated volume of 40 cubic feet/1130 L.
* Primary Light, Canister Style, minimum 10 Watt HID
* Two Backup Lights
* A primary reel (at least 400 feet of line)
* Safety reel (minimum 75 feet of guideline)
* Jump reels as appropriate
* Computer (used in gage mode)
* Backup Bottom Timer or Computer
* Knife (recommended is a Z knife, to be arm or chest mounted)
* At least three line arrows and three cookies
* Wetnotes or Slate and pencil
Cave diving is a very demanding activity, and a gear intensive pursuit, your life and that of your buddy depends on the gear you use.
Choose your gear wisely!
If you have questions about gear choices call us! We have a wide selection of what is currently on the market, and have been training cave divers for many years, so we know whats good and whats not. Most local dive shops do not know what is appropriate gear for cave diving, and will sell you gear that has no place in a cave. Please call us in advance of your gear purchases.
What the course entails:
The deep cave diver course is an academic and water based course that builds on the students previous training and experience. The diver will be introduced to the proper and safe use of helium as a breathing gas, along with oxygen and nitrox for staged decompression.
This course will emphasize precision and accuracy in all aspects of the dive beginning with advanced pre-dive planning. Safety will be a primary focus of this course due to the depths to which dives will be made.
How we teach it:
There are two parts, the academics and the “wet” portion.
Academics
The academics are done at home from your NSS-CDS Workbook. This guide is very well structured, informative learning tool, and excellent alternative to multiple day or evening lectures.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/nsscdsworkbook.jpg
After you work through the manual, you will do a written test, either at home or some point before your cave course begins. You need to achieve at least 80% on your written test to pass.
When you meet with your Instructor you will do lots of land drills:
- Proficiency in the use of spools and reels while handling a light and multiple cylinders.
- Team and line placement procedures
- Zero visibility/Touch contact procedures while following a line
- Emergency procedures for lost line, lost buddy and air sharing
You will also do a full review of the academics including (but not limited too):
- Accident Analysis
- Physical, physiological and psychological considerations of deep cave diving.
- Guideline techniques, reel usage
- Equipment and equipment configuration
- Advanced cave dive planning and gas management using computers, tables and software.
- Accident prevention and emergency procedures.
- Decompression theory and practice,
- Specific hazards of deep cave diving.
Wet Training
For the wet training, we typically do four days in the water (at least one open water and 4 cave dives), and complete a series of vital skills.
Prior to the execution of any cave dive, the student shall satisfactorily complete the following open water drills:
- Swim for at least 10 minutes in full equipment (including staged decompression and oxygen cylinders).
- Execute a series of decompression and oxygen cylinder drops and retrievals along a line, in both good visibility conditions and in simulated zero visibility by use of a blacked out mask or other technique.
- Initiate a gas share and swim in full equipment for a period of 10 minutes.
- Simulate an out of gas ascent from a depth of no greater than sixty feet with simulated decompression stops.
- Perform a timed valve shutdown. The diver should be able to complete this exercise in less than 60 seconds.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2008_dec_5/PC043246.jpg
After satisfactory completion of these skills in open water, one shallow cave dive (depth less than 130 feet) will be completed, during which SAC rate and foot per minute travel rates are measured, cylinder drops and retrievals are executed and a gas share procedure is executed.
A minimum of three deep caves dives over the next few days are then planned and executed. General guidelines for depths are as follows: Dive 1 is planned for depths of 170-220 feet, Dive 2 is planned for depths of 220-250 feet, and Dive 3 is planned for depths of 250-300 feet. Maximum depth on any training dive is 300 feet.
As a part of all deep (greater than 130 feet) cave dives, each member of the dive team shall:
- Properly analyze and label all cylinders to be used for the dive.
- Prepare and precisely execute a dive plan.
- Participate in a complete detailed pre-dive briefing.
- Properly calculate gas turns based on pressure and volume of all team members.
- Execute full and complete in-water pre-dive safety checks (s drills, gear matching and gear checks).
- Demonstrate the ability to safely and efficiently execute oxygen and decompression cylinder drops and retrievals.
- Use effective communications with both light and hand signals.
- If stage cylinders are utilized, proper gas planning, cylinder drops and retrievals and contingency planning for cylinder placement for depths greater than the
MOD of stage cylinder gas and gas use at higher than expected rates.
- Demonstrate the ability to safely and efficiently execute required gas switches.
- During the dive, demonstrate above-average execution of cave trim, technique and awareness.
- At the conclusion of each dive, convey to the instructor a level of awareness and confidence consistent with the advanced nature of the dive.
Note: this is not a fully inclusive list, just an overview!
It should be noted that participation in this class does not guarantee certification.
During Deep Cave Diver course each student must demonstrate a high proficiency level in all phases of dive planning and execution. They must also demonstrate a clear awareness and appreciation of the heightened level of risk involved in the activity of deep cave diving. A cavalier or otherwise disrespectful attitude is grounds for incompletion of this course.
For the NSS Deep Cave Diver course, instructors require rigorous precision and accuracy from all students throughout training. Only those students who
demonstrate high proficiency and awareness levels and the utmost respect for the deep cave environment will be issued a training completion card at this level.
After successful completion of your academics and water work, you will awarded your certification as an Deep Cave Diver certification. This is your ticket to explore other caves, with other dive buddies. However, at Dayo Scuba we also “mentor” our students (at no extra cost), so you can gain additional experience in your favorite type of diving.
Age requirements:
You must be at least 21 years old to receive a Deep Cave Diver certification, there is no maximum age.
Minimum # of students per class:
We need 2 or more people to make a Deep Cave Diver class; private, one-on-one classes can be organized for a separate fee.
How many people are in each class?
Our Deep Cave Diver classes range in size, from 1-3 students (3 is the maximum per instructor). As we travel out of town for this class, usually there are at least two instructors, and another cavern/cave class going on at the same time as yours.
Schedule/Timing for Deep Cave Diver Course:
We train all the time, and have multiple instructors on staff (http://www.scubadiver.cc/instructors.htm), many full time, so we do weekday and weekend classes.
Call us or check out our Calendar (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/calendar.php?month=6&year=2009&c=1&do=displaymonth) for dates of upcoming courses.
How long does the course take?
Usually we complete the wet portion of the Deep Cave Diver class in 4 days, with at least four dives. Sometimes it is necessary to be in the water more than 4 days because of learning difficulties or weather issues. If necessary, you can come back, free of charge, and join in another Deep Cave Course to finish your training. We will also train you for any extra days you may need to get you properly certified. It is our mission to make you a safe and competent diver.
Where we do our course:
We usually do our Deep Cave Diver training in North Florida, the caves there are very beautiful, and ideal for training (Peacock 3, Eagles Nest). We are very limited to cave choice around the Orlando area. We dive at least two different cave for the Deep Cave Diver course.
Prerequisites for Course:
* Students must be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age.
* Before participating in the Deep Cave Diver course, you will be asked to fill out a standard liability release form and a medical statement. If you answer YES to anything on the medical form we will require that you get it signed off by a physician.
* Cave Diver (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1388) certification, or equivalent.
* You must be advanced nitrox and decompression certified, having extensive experience with stage cylinders.
* Must be trimix certified from a recognized training agency or taking this course in conjunction with a trimix course.
* This class requires that all student divers have perfect buoyancy skills.
* http://www.dayoscuba.com/images/dan_insurance_sm.jpg (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/) is required for all cave and technical courses.
* Minimum of fifty logged non-training cave dives after completion of your Cave Diver (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1388) course.
* Demonstrate complete comfort and sound motivations with this type of diving.
Standards for the Deep Cave Diver Course:
* Maximum depth shall not exceed 300 feet/90 meters.
* All Deep Cave Diver training dives will be started with at least 20 feet of visibility.
* No major restrictions (tight areas any area smaller than that which can be negotiated by two divers swimming side by side).
* At no time, ever, will life support gear be removed from the diver while in the overhead environment, except for oxygen and decompression cylinders.
* No emergency drills shall be conducted at any time during the course of a deep cave dive.
* Penetrations are limited to a maximum of 1/3 (or less, as designated by the Instructor) of all backgas and stage cylinders.
* Equivalent Narcotic Depth (END) shall not exceed 100-130 feet/30-39 meters.
* Pre-dive planning will provide for a PPO2 not to exceed 1.4 ATA for the working portion of the dive or 1.6 ATA for decompression purposes.
* All dive plans will provide for a 1.5 margin of reserve for decompression gas for the planned dives
* No use of diver propulsion vehicles during training dives.
What you can do afterwards:
* Dive, dive, dive in the MANY caves across the state of Florida, indeed anywhere!!!
* You will be a much safer, more competent and comfortable diver after completion of your Deep Cave Diver course.
* The safe diving practices learned during your Deep cave Diver course will apply to all types of diving you do in the future, including open water recreational diving.
* Continue your diver training with more specialized training.
To Register
Email/Call us (http://www.dayoscuba.com/contact.htm) or Sign up online now (https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=tj@dayo.com&undefined_quantity=1&item_name=Scuba+Training+at+Dayo+Scuba,+Orlando,+F lorida&item_number=Scuba+Training&return=http://www.divetraining.net/)!!
Dayo Scuba hosts, sponsors and maintains the worlds leading Cave & Cavern Diving Forum. For more information and resources about cave diving, check it out:
http://dayo.com/images/cdf_std_logo.gif (http://www.cavediver.net)
with Dayo Scuba, Orlando, Florida
http://www.dayoscuba.com/images/agencies/nsscds.gif (http://www.nsscds.org/)
The Deep Cave Diver certification by NSS CDS trains students for the safe planning and execution of mixed gas diving in caves to depths not exceeding 300 feet/90 meters.
http://dayo.com/forums/images/forum/cavediver_1.jpg
The Deep Cave Diver course builds on the skills and knowledge the student acquired in their previous cave and technical training, allowing them to go much deeper and see more of the cave.
This course will emphasize precision and accuracy in all aspects of the dive beginning with advanced pre-dive planning. Safety will be a primary focus of this course due to the depths to which dives will be made.
The Deep Cave Diver course is not intended to train divers for all facets of cave or deep diving.
What it is:
The Deep Cave Diver course develops the minimum skills and knowledge for safe deep cave diving. This is essentially the entry level and advanced trimix courses, done in caves. Topics include physics and physiology review in relations in deep diving, psychological aspects, decompression theory and practice, equipment considerations, use of dive computers, tables and available software for advanced cave dive planning, emergency procedures, specific hazards of deep cave diving and gas mixing and blending.
Accident analysis continues to form the basis of the training.
Agencies we teach for:
NSS-CDS
Course Cost:
See Price List for Current Prices
This includes your cave manual, your dive training, a certification card, and photos (above and below water).
Other costs:
What not included is gear hire, gas fills, food, lodging, dive site fees & transportation. Dive site fees range from $15-$30, depending on site. We use a mixed collections of gases including trimix, nitrox, air and oxygen for this course. The student is responsible for their own gas costs, and the Instructors helium costs.
A book called Basic Cave Diving: A Blueprint For Survival by Sheck Exley is also required for all Cave students.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/basiccavediving.jpg
The more you read and prepare for your cave course, the more enjoyable it will be for you!
Gear you need to provide:
You will need to have the following gear:
* Mask (low volume), and backup mask
* Fins (no split fins!, straps must be spring straps or taped)
* 2 regulators (must be high performance, and serviced within the last year)
* Long hose (7 footer) on one of your regulators
* Back plate and wing (with sufficient lift to manage tanks)
* Drysuit strongly recommended due to length of dives
Note: two independent buoyancy methods are required
* Tanks can be doubles or sidemount configuration, depending on students choice/previous experience.
Whatever tanks chosen must supply sufficient gas to complete class dives and equipped with Din valves.
* Properly rigged and labeled stage cylinder(s) of a minimum rated volume of 80 cubic feet/2265 L.
* Properly rigged and labeled decompression cylinder(s) of a minimum rated volume of 40 cubic feet/1130 L.
* Primary Light, Canister Style, minimum 10 Watt HID
* Two Backup Lights
* A primary reel (at least 400 feet of line)
* Safety reel (minimum 75 feet of guideline)
* Jump reels as appropriate
* Computer (used in gage mode)
* Backup Bottom Timer or Computer
* Knife (recommended is a Z knife, to be arm or chest mounted)
* At least three line arrows and three cookies
* Wetnotes or Slate and pencil
Cave diving is a very demanding activity, and a gear intensive pursuit, your life and that of your buddy depends on the gear you use.
Choose your gear wisely!
If you have questions about gear choices call us! We have a wide selection of what is currently on the market, and have been training cave divers for many years, so we know whats good and whats not. Most local dive shops do not know what is appropriate gear for cave diving, and will sell you gear that has no place in a cave. Please call us in advance of your gear purchases.
What the course entails:
The deep cave diver course is an academic and water based course that builds on the students previous training and experience. The diver will be introduced to the proper and safe use of helium as a breathing gas, along with oxygen and nitrox for staged decompression.
This course will emphasize precision and accuracy in all aspects of the dive beginning with advanced pre-dive planning. Safety will be a primary focus of this course due to the depths to which dives will be made.
How we teach it:
There are two parts, the academics and the “wet” portion.
Academics
The academics are done at home from your NSS-CDS Workbook. This guide is very well structured, informative learning tool, and excellent alternative to multiple day or evening lectures.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/nsscdsworkbook.jpg
After you work through the manual, you will do a written test, either at home or some point before your cave course begins. You need to achieve at least 80% on your written test to pass.
When you meet with your Instructor you will do lots of land drills:
- Proficiency in the use of spools and reels while handling a light and multiple cylinders.
- Team and line placement procedures
- Zero visibility/Touch contact procedures while following a line
- Emergency procedures for lost line, lost buddy and air sharing
You will also do a full review of the academics including (but not limited too):
- Accident Analysis
- Physical, physiological and psychological considerations of deep cave diving.
- Guideline techniques, reel usage
- Equipment and equipment configuration
- Advanced cave dive planning and gas management using computers, tables and software.
- Accident prevention and emergency procedures.
- Decompression theory and practice,
- Specific hazards of deep cave diving.
Wet Training
For the wet training, we typically do four days in the water (at least one open water and 4 cave dives), and complete a series of vital skills.
Prior to the execution of any cave dive, the student shall satisfactorily complete the following open water drills:
- Swim for at least 10 minutes in full equipment (including staged decompression and oxygen cylinders).
- Execute a series of decompression and oxygen cylinder drops and retrievals along a line, in both good visibility conditions and in simulated zero visibility by use of a blacked out mask or other technique.
- Initiate a gas share and swim in full equipment for a period of 10 minutes.
- Simulate an out of gas ascent from a depth of no greater than sixty feet with simulated decompression stops.
- Perform a timed valve shutdown. The diver should be able to complete this exercise in less than 60 seconds.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2008_dec_5/PC043246.jpg
After satisfactory completion of these skills in open water, one shallow cave dive (depth less than 130 feet) will be completed, during which SAC rate and foot per minute travel rates are measured, cylinder drops and retrievals are executed and a gas share procedure is executed.
A minimum of three deep caves dives over the next few days are then planned and executed. General guidelines for depths are as follows: Dive 1 is planned for depths of 170-220 feet, Dive 2 is planned for depths of 220-250 feet, and Dive 3 is planned for depths of 250-300 feet. Maximum depth on any training dive is 300 feet.
As a part of all deep (greater than 130 feet) cave dives, each member of the dive team shall:
- Properly analyze and label all cylinders to be used for the dive.
- Prepare and precisely execute a dive plan.
- Participate in a complete detailed pre-dive briefing.
- Properly calculate gas turns based on pressure and volume of all team members.
- Execute full and complete in-water pre-dive safety checks (s drills, gear matching and gear checks).
- Demonstrate the ability to safely and efficiently execute oxygen and decompression cylinder drops and retrievals.
- Use effective communications with both light and hand signals.
- If stage cylinders are utilized, proper gas planning, cylinder drops and retrievals and contingency planning for cylinder placement for depths greater than the
MOD of stage cylinder gas and gas use at higher than expected rates.
- Demonstrate the ability to safely and efficiently execute required gas switches.
- During the dive, demonstrate above-average execution of cave trim, technique and awareness.
- At the conclusion of each dive, convey to the instructor a level of awareness and confidence consistent with the advanced nature of the dive.
Note: this is not a fully inclusive list, just an overview!
It should be noted that participation in this class does not guarantee certification.
During Deep Cave Diver course each student must demonstrate a high proficiency level in all phases of dive planning and execution. They must also demonstrate a clear awareness and appreciation of the heightened level of risk involved in the activity of deep cave diving. A cavalier or otherwise disrespectful attitude is grounds for incompletion of this course.
For the NSS Deep Cave Diver course, instructors require rigorous precision and accuracy from all students throughout training. Only those students who
demonstrate high proficiency and awareness levels and the utmost respect for the deep cave environment will be issued a training completion card at this level.
After successful completion of your academics and water work, you will awarded your certification as an Deep Cave Diver certification. This is your ticket to explore other caves, with other dive buddies. However, at Dayo Scuba we also “mentor” our students (at no extra cost), so you can gain additional experience in your favorite type of diving.
Age requirements:
You must be at least 21 years old to receive a Deep Cave Diver certification, there is no maximum age.
Minimum # of students per class:
We need 2 or more people to make a Deep Cave Diver class; private, one-on-one classes can be organized for a separate fee.
How many people are in each class?
Our Deep Cave Diver classes range in size, from 1-3 students (3 is the maximum per instructor). As we travel out of town for this class, usually there are at least two instructors, and another cavern/cave class going on at the same time as yours.
Schedule/Timing for Deep Cave Diver Course:
We train all the time, and have multiple instructors on staff (http://www.scubadiver.cc/instructors.htm), many full time, so we do weekday and weekend classes.
Call us or check out our Calendar (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/calendar.php?month=6&year=2009&c=1&do=displaymonth) for dates of upcoming courses.
How long does the course take?
Usually we complete the wet portion of the Deep Cave Diver class in 4 days, with at least four dives. Sometimes it is necessary to be in the water more than 4 days because of learning difficulties or weather issues. If necessary, you can come back, free of charge, and join in another Deep Cave Course to finish your training. We will also train you for any extra days you may need to get you properly certified. It is our mission to make you a safe and competent diver.
Where we do our course:
We usually do our Deep Cave Diver training in North Florida, the caves there are very beautiful, and ideal for training (Peacock 3, Eagles Nest). We are very limited to cave choice around the Orlando area. We dive at least two different cave for the Deep Cave Diver course.
Prerequisites for Course:
* Students must be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age.
* Before participating in the Deep Cave Diver course, you will be asked to fill out a standard liability release form and a medical statement. If you answer YES to anything on the medical form we will require that you get it signed off by a physician.
* Cave Diver (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1388) certification, or equivalent.
* You must be advanced nitrox and decompression certified, having extensive experience with stage cylinders.
* Must be trimix certified from a recognized training agency or taking this course in conjunction with a trimix course.
* This class requires that all student divers have perfect buoyancy skills.
* http://www.dayoscuba.com/images/dan_insurance_sm.jpg (http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/) is required for all cave and technical courses.
* Minimum of fifty logged non-training cave dives after completion of your Cave Diver (http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/showthread.php?t=1388) course.
* Demonstrate complete comfort and sound motivations with this type of diving.
Standards for the Deep Cave Diver Course:
* Maximum depth shall not exceed 300 feet/90 meters.
* All Deep Cave Diver training dives will be started with at least 20 feet of visibility.
* No major restrictions (tight areas any area smaller than that which can be negotiated by two divers swimming side by side).
* At no time, ever, will life support gear be removed from the diver while in the overhead environment, except for oxygen and decompression cylinders.
* No emergency drills shall be conducted at any time during the course of a deep cave dive.
* Penetrations are limited to a maximum of 1/3 (or less, as designated by the Instructor) of all backgas and stage cylinders.
* Equivalent Narcotic Depth (END) shall not exceed 100-130 feet/30-39 meters.
* Pre-dive planning will provide for a PPO2 not to exceed 1.4 ATA for the working portion of the dive or 1.6 ATA for decompression purposes.
* All dive plans will provide for a 1.5 margin of reserve for decompression gas for the planned dives
* No use of diver propulsion vehicles during training dives.
What you can do afterwards:
* Dive, dive, dive in the MANY caves across the state of Florida, indeed anywhere!!!
* You will be a much safer, more competent and comfortable diver after completion of your Deep Cave Diver course.
* The safe diving practices learned during your Deep cave Diver course will apply to all types of diving you do in the future, including open water recreational diving.
* Continue your diver training with more specialized training.
To Register
Email/Call us (http://www.dayoscuba.com/contact.htm) or Sign up online now (https://www.paypal.com/xclick/business=tj@dayo.com&undefined_quantity=1&item_name=Scuba+Training+at+Dayo+Scuba,+Orlando,+F lorida&item_number=Scuba+Training&return=http://www.divetraining.net/)!!
Dayo Scuba hosts, sponsors and maintains the worlds leading Cave & Cavern Diving Forum. For more information and resources about cave diving, check it out:
http://dayo.com/images/cdf_std_logo.gif (http://www.cavediver.net)