Cave Diving
NASDS Cavern Diver
Profile / Qualification
This is a diver with the required knowledge and skills in the use of the necessary equipment and in the application of the appropriate rules of conduct,
to safely plan and conduct dives in Zone 1 (cavern or daylight area).
Two (2) to a maximum of four (4) certified Cavern Divers may dive together without the accompaniment of a more senior certified Cavern Diver if:
- (a) the cave or cavern has all the mandatory characteristics for Zone 1 (e.g. passage size, line), otherwise they may not dive there.
- b) they are already familiar with the dive site.
- c) the current conditions on site (visibility, current, etc.) are identical or at least very similar to the conditions they have already experienced during their training.
If only requirement b) is not fulfilled, a more senior certified cave diver (from CavernDiver), who is very familiar with the cave or cavern, has to accompany the group.
The same generally applies to groups of more than four members.
If only c) does not apply, a certified cavern or full cave diving instructor must lead the group. The group size is limited to a maximum of 4 divers plus the instructor.
The diving area is in any case limited to the cavern area.
The behaviour of the cave diver is such that the cave and its natural fauna and flora are affected as little as possible and are preserved in their original state.
Course admission
- 16 years
- 2** Diver CMAS or equivalent
- 25 logged dives
- 5 logged night dives
- Valid certificate of fitness for diving
- Successfully passed entry assessment if applicable
- Recommended special brevets
- UW orientation / navigation
- Night diving CMAS or equivalent
Entry assessment (optional, if required)
An entry assessment can be used to ensure that candidates have the necessary theoretical knowledge, practical skills and physical ability. To be admitted to the course, candidates must successfully pass all the requirements of the assessment.
International rating
This certification level corresponds to the CavernDiver classification of organisations such as NACD, NSS, CDAA, PADI, NAUI, SSI, ANDI, TDI, IANTD, incl. Sinkhole Class 1 at CDAA.
NASDS Cave Diver
Profile / Qualification
This is a diver with the required knowledge and skills in the use of the necessary equipment and in the application of the appropriate rules of conduct,
to safely plan and conduct dives in Zone 1 (cavern or daylight area).
Two (2) to a maximum of four (4) certified Cavern Divers may dive together without the accompaniment of a more senior certified Cavern Diver if:
- (a) the cave or cavern has all the mandatory characteristics for Zone 1 (e.g. passage size, line), otherwise they may not dive there.
- b) they are already familiar with the dive site.
- c) the current conditions on site (visibility, current, etc.) are identical or at least very similar to the conditions they have already experienced during their training.
If only requirement b) is not fulfilled, a more senior certified cave diver (from CavernDiver), who is very familiar with the cave or cavern, has to accompany the group.
The same generally applies to groups of more than four members.
If only c) does not apply, a certified cavern or full cave diving instructor must lead the group. The group size is limited to a maximum of 4 divers plus the instructor.
The diving area is in any case limited to the cavern area.
The behaviour of the cave diver is such that the cave and its natural fauna and flora are affected as little as possible and are preserved in their original state.
Course admission
- 18 years
- 2** Diver CMAS or equivalent
- CavernDiver CMAS or equivalent
- NitroxDiver CMAS or equivalent
- 50 logged dives
- 10 logged night dives
- 4 dives since CavernDiver certification in zone 1 in at least 2 different caves
- Valid diving fitness certificate
- If applicable, successfully passed entry assessment
Recommended special brevets
- Gas Blender CMAS or equivalent
- WreckDiver CMAS or equivalent
- Handling of stage cylinders or equivalent
- RescueDiver CMAS or equivalent
Entry assessment (optional, if required)
An entry assessment can be used to ensure that candidates have the necessary theoretical knowledge, practical skills and physical ability.
To be admitted to the course, candidates must successfully pass all the requirements of the assessment.
NASDS Full Cave Diver
Profile / Qualification
This is a cave diver of the highest level with the knowledge in the use of the necessary equipment and the skills required to safely plan and organise dives in Zone 3 and to conduct them in the company of cave divers of at least the same level.
He is competent to accompany cave divers with the same or lower certification levels as a Divemaster in the zones open to them.
Furthermore, he is capable of carrying out individual advances if a backup group is available.
He has the technical competence to set up and use tank depots and carried additional tanks (stage tanks), to plan and carry out long distance dives, to pass bottlenecks, to cross siphons, respectively post-siphon diving, as well as to use nitrox mixtures and to carry out O2 decompression.
However, the use of nitrox mixtures and O2 decompression is only permitted if he holds the corresponding AdvancedNitroxDiver Brevet; however, this is a licensing condition anyway.
The diver must be proficient in all the techniques of line laying, traversing jumps and mending gaps in the guide line in order to be able to orientate himself safely and find his way back to the exit even in conditions of zero visibility or total loss of light.
The dives should be planned and executed in such a way that the impact on the cave, its fauna and flora is reduced to a minimum and the original condition is preserved.
Course admission
- 18 years
- 3*** Diver CMAS or equivalent
- Cave Diver CMAS or equivalent
- AdvancedNitroxDiver CMAS or equivalent certification from a recognised organisation
- RescueDiver or equivalent; if not already integrated in 3* diver training.
- Handling of stage tanks; special course or pre-course to Full Cave Diver
- 100 logged dives
- 20 logged night dives
- 8 dives in since Cave Diver Brevet in Zone 2 in at least 4 different caves
- Valid certificate of fitness for diving
- If applicable, successfully passed assessment
Recommended special brevets
- Gas Blender CMAS or equivalent
- WreckDiver CMAS or equivalent
- valid 1st aid and CPR user certification from a nationally recognised organisation
Entry assessment (optional, if required)
An entry assessment can be used to ensure that candidates have the necessary theoretical knowledge, practical skills and physical ability. To be admitted to the course, candidates must successfully pass all the requirements of the assessment.
International rating
This certification level corresponds to the Full Cave Diver (incl. Stage Diving) classification of organisations such as NACD, NSS, or the Penetration level of CDAA. (incl. Sinkhole Class 3).