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PSAI Full Cave Diver

PSAI CAVE DIVING PROGRAMS

Required Prerequisite Certifications

Open Water Diver

 

Suggested Certifications

PSAI Advanced Open Water Diver

PSAI Advanced Buoyancy Control (ABC)

Additional Required Prerequisite Certifications

PSAI Advanced Open Water Diver

PSAI Advanced Buoyancy Control (ABC)

PSAI Deep Sport Diver

PSAI Basic Underwater Navigation

 

 

Suggested Certifications

PSAI Narcosis Management - Level 2

PSAI Twin Set Diver

Equipment Requirements
Equipment Requirements for PSAI Cave Diver Programs

 

  • Twin tank configuration

  • Two regulators, one with a long hose minimum length 1.5 meters (5 feet) connected to primary second stage, SPG

  • LP hoses for BCD inflation and dry suit if used

  • BCD with sufficient lift to adequately support the required dive equipment and tow a fellow diver in an emergency

  • A redundant inflation device in the form of a double bladder wing

  • Back plate and harness or other type BCD

  • Thermal protection suitable for dive environment

  • Three dive lights:
    1. One primary light.
    2. Two backup lights

  • Dive computer plus redundant timing and depth device(s). Computer must be suitable for course i.e. multi gas, and if a computer is not used then backup slates and tables must be carried.

  • Mask plus redundant mask

  • Three reels
    - Primary reel
    - Safety reel
    - Jump / gap reel

  • Two Cutting Devices

  • Fins

  • 2 Slates and pencils

  • Three (3) line arrows

  • Non-directional line markers

Cave diving

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Course Objectives and Qualifications

 

The Full Cave Diver course provides the necessary information for a diver to know the proper procedures to:

 

  • Determine appropriate gas for planned dives.

  • Determine appropriate diving equipment for planned cave environment or cave dives.

  • Plan dives based on established limits and cautions for gas supply, type of gas and penetration objectives.

  • Analyze and verify gases for diving.

  • Properly establish guideline(s) in the cave environment.

  • Understand and explain the hazards associated with the cave environment.

 

A diver that successfully completes the PSAI Full Cave Diver program will be qualified to:

 

  • Plan and conduct cave dives in environments and conditions similar to their training with the gases they are previously qualified to use

  • Determine the risks and hazards of a proposed cave environment

 

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Prerequisites

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  • Minimum age 18

  • Certification: PSAI Apprentice Cave Diver or equivalent internationally recognized Apprentice Cave Diver course
    PSAI Narcosis Management® Level II recommended.

  • minimum of 50 logged dives

 

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Course Contents

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  • Classroom Hours:
    As needed to cover all curriculum requirements listed in Section IX and Section X for the PSAI Full Cave Diver Course if the student is entering as a currently certified PSAI Apprentice Cave Diver (or the equivalent from another internationally recognized Cave Diving certification agency).

    Approximately 20-25 classroom and practical demonstration hours if taught as a complete (7-8 day) course which consists of the PSAI Cavern, Intro to Cave, Apprentice & Full Cave Diver modules.

 

  • Confined Water Dives: At least one (1) confined water session

 

  • Cave Dives:

    PSAI Full Cave Diver Course: A minimum of eight (8) dives, with a combined minimum bottom time of 320 minutes,  if the student is entering as a currently certified PSAI Apprentice Cave Diver (or the equivalent from another internationally recognized Cave Diving certification agency.

    Complete PSAI Overhead Program: When taught as a complete (7-8 day) course which consists of the PSAI Cavern, Intro to Cave, Apprentice & Full Cave Diver modules, a minimum of twelve (12) cave dives with minimum bottom time of 500 minutes. Additional confined water dives may be necessary during course.

 

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Course Materials

 

PSAI Cave Diver manual. Divers are encouraged to add other material sources for cave diving information.

 

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Equipment Requirements

 

Full cave diving equipment. Please see Equipment Requirements for PSAI Cave Diver Programs.

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The Professional Scuba Association International’s (PSAI) Full Cave Diver course is designed for divers who wish to enter the cave environment where vertical access is not possible. This includes a variety of underwater cave zones found throughout the world in both fresh and salt water environments.

 

Full Cave course takes the diver beyond the “daylight zone” of the cave overhead environment using proper techniques.

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How long does it take?

 

If logistics work out, and your dive skills are up to it, you may be able to complete the full PSAI Overhead Program (Cavern, Intro to Cave, Apprentice Cave and Full Cave) in 7-8 days. In most cases, though, divers complete the course requirements in stages spanning over a much longer time.

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Where?

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There are no caves suitable for diving in Hong Kong. All cave dives are conducted abroad. Cave diving trips for training you can join are arranged to caves in China, Philippines, Florida and Mexico several times a year.

 

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How much does it all cost?

 

That depends on how you are doing the courses. As all actual cave dive are conducted abroad, where and how many times you go contributes to the overall cost.

 

We quote the courses as 'Tuition Only', you will then pay for the dives and travel as you go.

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