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THE NACD PHILOSOPHY:
Quality Training, Safe Techniques, and Respect for the sub aquatic
cave environment.
The goal of the NACD is not to encourage people to cave or cavern dive. The responsibility of the organization is to aid interested divers in becoming safe cavern or cave divers and to discourage those who may not meet minimum standards. The NACD philosophy of safe cave diving is based on a system of checks and balances to insure that NACD standards are maintained in each course. A Strong Diving Partner Philosophy. The NACD strongly advocates diving with a partner as the best approach to safe cave diving. This system is one, which unites two or more individuals into an effective dive team. A partner is a member of a team who, in case of emergency, provides both emergency equipment, and the emergency gas supply. The divers must recognize individual strengths and weaknesses, create an attitude of mutual trust and honesty, and avoid personality differences to maximize team safety. Pre-Dive Planning and Post Dive Critiques. A safe cave dive is totally dependent upon sensible dive planning based on common sense and good judgment. A dive plan does not set objectives; rather it delineates maximum guidelines for each dive. Preparation and planning for a cave dive must take into consideration the equipment, training, experience and abilities of each team member. Constructive critiques after the dives are equally important in order to allow the cave divers to mature as a team. Development of Physical and Mental Capabilities. During a cave diving course, students are trained to avoid stressful situations and anticipate potentially hazardous conditions. Physical abilities of the diver are initially developed in confined and open water exercises. Students lacking the necessary skills and coordination are discouraged at this level. The cave diving student must learn to develop a safe diving philosophy and continually think through the proper application of common sense, good judgment, techniques, skills, and experience. Appreciation of The Cave Environment. The NACD promotes a basic
understanding of this unique environment with its flora and
fauna so that it can be fully enjoyed. Such respect helps establish
the foundation for conservation efforts. |
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| Cavern Diving | |
| The cavern diving course is taught in a minimum of two days and
includes classroom lectures, field exercises, open water line drills
and a minimum of four cavern dives. This course emphasizes planning,
procedures, environment, propulsion techniques, buoyancy skills,
problem solving, equipment modification and the focuses on the specialized
needs of the cavern diver. Purpose: To teach the safe exploration of the cavern environment within specified limits. The course develops and establishes minimum skills, knowledge, dive planning abilities, problem solving procedures and the basic abilities to safely cavern dive. Prerequisites: Advanced open water or equivalent or 15 logged non training open water dives with open water certification. Minimum Equipment: Mask, fins, 60 cubic foot or greater single cylinder, single hose regulator with an octopus and submersible pressure gauge, exposure suit suitable for diving location, BC with power inflator, slate and tables, knife, timing device, appropriate weight, reel, two battery powered lights. |
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| The Introduction to Cave Diving course is taught in a minimum
of two days and includes and a minimum of four single tank cave
dives. This course is designed to help hone those skills previously
learned in cavern. New skills and procedures are taught which are
needed for limited single tank cave penetration. Purpose: To develop a cave diving proficiency within limitations of a single tank. It is for the diver who does not wish the burden of double tanks or is not interested in cave exploration and long decompression dives. It is recreational cave diving course. The course develops and establishes minimum skills, knowledge, dive planning abilities, problem solving procedures and the basic abilities necessary to safely cave dive using single cylinders. Prerequisites: NACD cavern diver of equivalent and a minimum of 25 logged non-training dives. Minimum Equipment: All equipment required for cavern, 71.2 cu. ft. tank with dual orifice, primary reel with 400? of guideline, safety reel, additional first stage with a minimum five foot hose, line markers, clothes pins and an additional light for a total of three. |
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Although the NACD strongly supports and encourages the four-day Full Cave Diver course, it recognizes that some students may benefit from a program that provides for two separate two-day courses to attain the Full Cave Diver level. The Apprentice Cave Diver course is taught in a minimum of two days with a minimum of four dives in double cylinders. The emphasis of this course is an introduction to jump and gap procedures and continual improvement of the procedures, skills and emergency drills previously presented at the Cavern and Intro to Cave courses. The Apprentice Cave Diver is considered a training level only and shall result in the issuance of a time-limited temporary card. Such temporary card shall expire of its own force and effect one year from the date of issuance. Upon expiration, the diver will be required to repeat the Apprentice Cave Diver program in full to subsequently dive at that level. Prerequisites: NACD Introduction to Cave or equivalent. |
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| The cave diver course is one of the most advanced certifications
available today. It is taught in a minimum of four days with a minimum
of eight dives. The emphasis of this course is equipment configuration,
decompression problem solving, jumps, circuits, traverses, and surveying.
Prerequisites: NACD Introduction to Cave or equivalent. Minimum Equipment: All equipment for Introduction to Cave, minimum double 71.2 cu. ft. tanks with manifold, compass, primary light with minimum of 20 watts, two secondary reels and line arrows. |
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| Purpose: The purpose of the specialty cave diver program is to
provide continuing education and experience for the fully trained
cave diver under the supervision of a qualified specialty cave diving
instructor. As more scuba divers pursue training and become certified
cave divers, the interest and demand for training in specialized/advanced
techniques in safe cave diving grows at a steady rate. It is the
intent of the NACD training program to meet this challenge by providing
an organized format that will professionally and safely guide the
interested cave diver in the proper direction using the most current
procedures. Prerequisites: NACD full cave diver or equivalent and must verify the completion of 25 or 50 non-training dives depending on specialty. Specialty courses offered are advanced decompression theory, exploration/survey techniques, stage diving, side mount diving, submersible diver propulsion vehicle techniques, photography and videography. |
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Purpose: To develop a logical progression
into the training leadership of the NACD by establishing levels
of progression. This insures exceptional training and performance
of NACD Instructors.
For more information on NACD training programs, EMail Training Director Larry Green or write to: NACD, Training Director, P.O. Box 14492 Gainesville, FL 32604 |
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| National Association For Cave Diving P.O. Box 14492 Gainesville, FL 32604 Tel: 1-888-565-NACD (6223) Fax: 1-888-565-NACD (6223) |
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