As Floridians, we are surrounded by karst terrain and as a result, limestone, dolomite, and gypsum minerals create beautiful caverns that we can explore! The Florida springs aren’t the only place you will find these beautiful structures. They also exist in other parts of the world including volcanic walls and limestone coast lines.

Although extremely beautiful, these environments take caution and appropriate training. Knowing how to explore these environments correctly is the key. This course is a perfect introduction to these amazing caverns and will give you all the tools needed to be safe and have a fun day in the cavern zone!

In this course you will learn:

• Cavern navigation and line protocols
• Planning, organization, techniques, problems and hazards of cavern diving
• Special equipment use, such as lights, guidelines, reels and redundant breathing systems
• Air sharing, disorientation, silting, line problems and other emergency procedures specific to cavern diving
• Silt prevention, buoyancy control, air management and emergency procedures
• Depth and distant limits for cavern diving

PADI Cavern Diver Gear Requirements:

• Mask, boots and fins, no snorkel please
• Exposure suit appropriate for the local diving environment and depth, including: hood, boots and gloves, if needed (springs are typically 72 degrees)
• BCD with low-pressure inflator and Weight system. 5′ LP hose for your alternate air source (as cave divers, we do not see a 7′ hose necessary but acceptable).
• Regulator with submersible pressure gauge along with an Alternate air source suitable for sharing air with other divers and which is connected directly to the diver’s primary air supply. Tanks – either Steel or Aluminum (Steel and Nitrox is best)
• Dive computer is required for this course
• Dive tool or knife capable of cutting guideline quickly and effectively
• Slate with pencil
• Log book
• Reel and guideline
• Primary Light and backup light 

Adventure Outfitters also offers the IANTD cavern course. This course is more of a transition from a recreational diver to more of a technical diver. For instance, they require DIN regulators and have more stringent line drills. They require a backup air source, where PADI only requires one tank. PADI was written as a more accessible class, catered towards the recreational diver that wants more of a peak into the cavern world and a peak at what a cave is. This all being said, we all teach this class more like an intro to cave diving course. The IANTD course has a required manual and optional workbook that is given digitally. PADI has no study materials.

IANTD Gear Requirements:

.       2 Primary Regulators – Must be DIN

.       Redundant air source (can do Sidemount or you can use a long hose with a 40cft pony bottle) – these both must have an SPG

.       Long hose has to be at least 5′

.       Lift bag or surface marker buoy of at least 50lb lift and at least one reel, 100 feet long

.       Cutting tool required – backup is recommended

.       Depth gauge and a timer with tables (we can provide copies of the IANTD tables) and a dive computer or two dive computers

.       Primary and backup dive lights

.       Appropriate exposure protection – hood is recommended with an overhead environment

.       Appropriate mask, boots and fins – no snorkel please

.       BCD or sidemount rig

.       Weight

The course includes one classroom session and two days of open water.

A cavern course is a prerequisite to any cave course.

Prior to booking, please review the Cancellation & Deposit Policies on the FAQs Page. Also, please be sure to download and complete the following forms: Medical Questionnaire, Liability Release, and Student Record Folder.

For more information or to book this course, please contact us at info@adventuretampa.com or call 813-832-6669.