This course is an introduction to the basic principles of cave diving utilizing a single primary guide line.
Introductory cave diving is the second level in the development of safe techniques for cave diving, directly building upon the cavern diver course. This introduction to cave diving is not intended to train divers for all facets of cave diving. The objective of this course is the perfection of skills taught in the cavern diving program with additional techniques and procedures required for elementary cave dives.

Course Structure and Duration

Water Execution:

Minimum of four (4) single guideline cave dives with a total bottom time of one hundred (100) minutes conducted at two (2) different sites.

TDI allows instructors to structure courses according to the number of students participating and their skill level.

1. The minimum number of classroom and briefing hours is four (4).
2. Course must be taught over 2 days.
3. If this course is combined with a cavern diver course it is a minimum of 3 days and a total of 8 dives and 180 bottom time minutes.

During The Course You will learn the following:

1. How to properly deploy a guideline.
2. How to properly follow a guideline.
3. Use of safety reel in lost diver procedures.
4. Use of safety reel in lost line drill.

The student must perform the following S-drill and skills during all dives:

1. Demonstrate adequate pre-dive planning.
2. Equipment check and gear matching.
3. Bubble check.
4. Demonstrate specialized propulsion techniques in varying types of flow.
5. Demonstrate proper buoyancy control.
6. Demonstrate proper body posture.
7. Demonstrate proper stress analysis (detection and management).

The student must perform the following in-water skills during cave dives:

1. Properly deploy a guideline.
2. Properly use line markers.
3. Properly follow a guideline with eyes open and closed (simulating loss of visibility).
4. Air share with a buddy with eyes open, following the guideline.
5. Air share with a buddy with lights off, eyes closed and use touch contact, following the guideline.
6. Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline.
7. Demonstrate light / hand -signals and touch contact.
8. Conservation and awareness techniques.
9. Referencing as back-up navigation.
10. Demonstrate adequate anti-silting techniques.
11. Simulate a primary light failure, and use back light to exit the cave.
12. Demonstrate lost line and lost diver drills.

Required equipment – Info

1. Primary cylinder (s) - volume appropriate for planned dive and student gas consumption.
2. Dual-orifice (Y) or (H) closed valve or dual valve manifold.
3. 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.
4. Submersible pressure gauge.
5. Buoyancy Compensator with power inflator.
6. Exposure suit adequate for diving environment.
7. Mask and fins - NO snorkel.
8. Line cutting device.
9. Three (3) battery powered lights – one (1) primary and two (2) back-ups, each with a with burn time suitable for the planned dive time.
10. Safety reel with a minimum of thirty (37) meters / one hundred twenty five (125) feet of guideline.
11. One (1) primary cave-diving reel with length appropriate for intended dive.
12. Computer or watch (bottom timer) and depth gauge.
13. Slate or wet notes with a pencil
14. Submersible dive tables or backup dive computer.
15. Three (3) directional line arrows.

Student Prerequisites

• Be a minimum age of eighteen (18) or fifteen (15) with parental consent
• Show proof of a minimum certification of Cavern Diver or equivalent, with a minimum of twenty five (25) dives
• This course is run over three days if taught stand alone