TDI Intro to Cave Diver

Move beyond the daylight zone, master single-line cave procedures, and develop the discipline required for true cave diving

Overview

The TDI Intro to Cave Diver course is the second level of overhead environment training, introducing divers to the fundamental principles of true cave diving beyond the natural light zone.

Building directly on cavern training, this course develops:

• single guideline cave procedures,
• emergency management,
• touch-contact navigation,
• and advanced overhead environment discipline.

Training focuses on the perfection of:

• buoyancy and trim,
• propulsion techniques,
• guideline management,
• gas planning,
• and team communication under restricted visibility conditions.

At N9BO℠, this course is delivered as high-discipline cave training, emphasising procedural precision, awareness, and operational control.

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Course Facts

• Course name: TDI Intro to Cave Diver
• Level: Technical cave diver (entry-level cave certification)
• Minimum prerequisites: Minimum age 18 (15 with parental consent), TDI Cavern Diver (or equivalent), or currently enrolled in a Cavern course
• Ratio: Maximum of 3 students per instructor (small groups recommended for quality training)
• Configuration: Full cave diving equipment including redundant gas systems, primary reel, safety reels, and three lights
• Depth / environment: Maximum depth 40m / 130ft, Single continuous guideline only, No decompression diving, No restrictions or passages too small for 2 divers side-by-side
• Format: Academic development + land drills + cave dives
• Duration: Typically completed in 2 days (Minimum 4 single-guideline cave dives with at least 100 minutes accumulated bottom time, conducted at 2 different sites)

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What You’ll Learn

• Plan and execute single-guideline cave dives
• Deploy and manage primary reels, safety reels/spools, directional markers
• Practice lost line drills, lost diver drills, touch-contact exits, zero visibility procedures
• Conduct air-sharing exits in simulated blackout conditions, primary light failure procedures, conservation and anti-silting techniques
• Maintain precise buoyancy and trim, team communication, situational awareness beyond the light zone

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Prerequisites

• Be at least 18 years old (15 with parental consent).
• Hold TDI Cavern Diver certification (or equivalent)
• Be medically fit for diving.

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FAQ

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Go Pro with TDI Intro to Cave Instructor

Advance into overhead environment instruction and train divers in cave procedures, guideline management, and emergency protocols inside true cave systems.

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