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Lawrence Wooster writes: >I am highly interested in diving caves.... >So the question: "How do I get started?" Full cave training in the USA is available through NSS-CDS, NACD, and (recently) through IANTD. Full cave training through NSS-CDS involves four modules, each of which takes 2-4 days: cavern, intro to cave, apprentice cave, and full cave. Other training agencies divide the course up differently but the scope of training is similar. Basically cavern introduces students to the overhead environment and reel technique, but with open water gear, and lots of limitations (like staying within the zone of natural light). Intro to cave adds some redundant gear and takes students beyond the natural light zone into the cave, but is still done with single tanks, no decompression, and no jumps, gaps, circuits or traverses (advanced line techniques required for all but the simplest cave dives). Apprentice and full cave teach these and other techniques, and also are done using double tanks and full cave gear. Students are discouraged from taking all four modules in succession since there is a lot of gear to become familiar with and a lot of techniques to master. If, however, you are already diving with double tanks and are familiar with reel use (i.e., you are a reasonably experienced wreck penetration diver), some instructors will let you do the entire cave course in a single week. I would suggest going to Florida (Ginnie Springs is popular, if not cheap) and doing a cavern and intro to cave course. You can do these in 4 days or so with gear you probably already have, and see whether you want to spend the time and money for full cave. Mexico is another option, but probably more expensive. If you get hooked, minimum full cave gear includes double tanks connected with an isolation manifold, two regulators (one with a seven foot hose), wings BCD and harness system, primary cave light (50W rechargable with 2-3 hrs burn time), two or three battery powered backup lights, a primary reel, safety reel, jump reels, line arrows, small sharp knives, many yards of rubber tubing and about 10,000 snap hooks and tie-wraps. This is in addition to wetsuit, mask, fins, etc. that you use for open water diving. If you don't have all this stuff expect to spent several thousand dollars. I should note, by the way that this is for Florida-style cave diving; cavers in the UK and elsewhere use different gear configurations. John Heimannj@ma*.nd*.gt*.co*
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