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CAVE TRAINING

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GUE Cave Diver Level 1

The GUE Cave Level 1 is the ideal training class for aspiring cave divers. It bolsters personal skills and awareness, and it gives divers the required knowledge to go out and enjoy cave diving with their teams.

New cave divers need to be aware of specific requirements--no natural light sources, closed spaces, the need to return to the cave entrance to finish the dive, and self-discipline to follow a line and navigate the cave properly.

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The Cave Diver Level 1 course is normally conducted over 5 days. It requires a minimum of 12 dives (including 10 cave dives that are conducted in at least three different caves) and at least 40 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom lectures, land drills and in-water work.

What you will learn

  • Introduction to principles of cave diving and the skills and knowledge required for limited penetration into underwater caves

  • Increasing environmental awareness

  • Cultivating proficiency in dive planning and teamwork

  • Promoting an understanding of cave environments

  • Teaching stress management, navigation, standard and emergency procedures, cave diving techniques

  • Instilling an appreciation of the hazards of cave diving.

Prerequisites:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age.

  • Be physically and mentally fit.

  • Be a non-smoker.

  • Be able to swim.

  • Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.

  • Have earned a GUE Fundamentals - Technical certification.

  • Have a minimum of 100 logged dives beyond autonomous entry-level scuba diver.

  • For a full list of course prerequisites, click here.

Cave 1

GUE Cave Diver Level 2

As their experience expands, active divers soon realize that Level 1 certification should be augmented by more training. Then, as divers become more comfortable in cave environments, and as caves reveal their beauty, versatility, and complexity, divers long to penetrate further.
 

Divers are expected to have acquired a high level of awareness and solid fundamental skills in order to master the demands of this class.

The training builds upon the skills, knowledge, and experience acquired during the GUE Cave 1 class as well as divers’ own experiences in cave-dives after completion of GUE Cave Diver 1.

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The Cave Diver Level 2 course is normally conducted over 6 days. It requires a minimum of 10 cave dives that are conducted in at least 2 different caves systems and at least 40 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom lectures, land drills, and in-water work. 

What you will learn:

  • ​Increased environmental awareness

  • Increased capacity with extended penetration dives

  • Advanced navigation 

  • Use of jump spools

  • Enhanced team awareness

  • Advanced problem resolution

  • Stress management

  • Use of a stage and/or decompression cylinder

Prerequisites:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age.

  • Be physically and mentally fit.

  • Be a non-smoker.

  • Be able to swim.

  • Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.

  • Have passed the GUE Cave 1 course.

  • Must have a minimum of 25 logged Cave 1 level dives beyond GUE Cave 1 certification.

  • For a full list of course prerequisites, click here.

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GUE Cave Triox Upgrade

One of the most neglected risks in scuba diving is hypercapnia (excessive production and accumulation of CO2) that can lead to narcosis and discomfort, especially when diving deeper and in challenging and strenuous conditions.  

GUE’s Triox Primer is a course designed to teach divers the use of triox 30/30 as a GUE standard gas to reduce the effects of increased gas density in recreational divers.

 

Divers wishing to use triox as a breathing gas are required to review all Triox Primer academics, including the exam, with their instructor and perform at least two dives using triox 30/30.

 

Successful completion of these objectives results in the addition of triox 30/30 to the allowed post-certification breathing gases and will be noted on the Cave 1 or Cave 2 certification card.

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The GUE Cave Triox Upgrade is usually completed as part of the Cave 1 or Cave 2 class but can be also scheduled as an additional day. The upgrade includes 2 dives in the overhead environment with Triox 30/30 breathing gas.

What you will learn:​

  • Skill cultivation and refinement

  • Familiarity with the theory and practice of decompression

  • Correct ascent procedures and practice

  • Use of Helium to minimize narcosis, CO2, gas density, and post-dive “nitrogen stress”.

Cave 2
Cave Triox
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