| Participating in cave dives can be the most exciting | | | | him get to the surface, and vice-versa. That's only one |
| adventure on this planet. If you are the adventurous | | | | example of what having a diving buddy is all about. |
| type that is. Some divers don't care for the | | | | Recreational dives are limited to 130 fsw. More than |
| claustrophobic affect of cave diving. If you do have a | | | | likely you'll be using compressed air. Deeper than 130 |
| touch of claustrophobia on your phobia list, you might | | | | fsw on standard air increases the risk of Nitrogen |
| want to consider spear fishing or just sight seeing. | | | | Narcosis. Your fine to go deeper (if) your advanced in |
| Panic state at 120 fsw(feet sea water) is not healthy. | | | | the application of mixed gases. Mixed gases reduces |
| Tip: 120 fsw is 120 ft, no matter how you measure it. | | | | oxygen toxicity and Nitrogen Narcosis. which leads to |
| The only difference between 120 ft sea water and | | | | safe diving. Tip: If your not certified through training, do |
| 120 ft fresh water is the density factor( I'll have an | | | | not attempt to use mixed gases. Keep your dives at |
| article covering that kind of stuff in an up-coming | | | | the recreational depth, limited to 130 fsw. |
| article). | | | | Battery Powered Lights: You want to be able to see |
| Here are some things you can look forward to in your | | | | inside a cave, the standards for lights, are to carry two |
| quest into cave diving. To conduct a safe cave dive, | | | | battery powered lights. But to be on the safe side, |
| you need to, ( no you must) participate in a cave and | | | | carry three. Lights are very vulnerable and can fail. Tip: |
| cavern training course. Your open water certification | | | | Make sure to care for your lights. If you have |
| does not give you the experience you'll need for cave | | | | rechargeable lights, make sure all three are fully |
| diving, (period). Without proper training, cave diving can | | | | charged prior to a dive. You don't want your dive to be |
| lead to Many dangerous situations. Many cave diving | | | | a dark one. |
| fatalities over the years were due to the fact that | | | | If your planning a collection of artifacts(providing there |
| divers were not cave certified. Here are some things | | | | are any), you'll need to purchase a collection bag. $20 |
| you'll learn in your training for cave diving. | | | | to $50 bucks, depending on size. Collection Bags come |
| Having the right special equipment. | | | | in all sizes and shapes and are usually made of nylon |
| Continuous Guideline: To avoid getting hopelessly lost | | | | mesh. Most bags clip to your waist belt D rings. Tip: |
| inside a cave, you must run a guideline from the cave | | | | Get the kind that rolls up when not in use, that keeps |
| entrance through-out your dive. If you have dove in a | | | | the bag from dangling. |
| particular cave before, don't assume you remember | | | | You'll need to communicate with your buddy or |
| how to get in and out without using a guideline. Things | | | | buddies underwater, and also keep notes and records |
| can change from dive to dive. | | | | of various events. So, you'll need a Dive Slate. $10 to |
| Air Supply: Never use more than a third of your gas | | | | $20 bucks. Tip: Carry your dive slate in your pocket so |
| supply to enter a cave. Reasoning is, you'll need a third | | | | they don't cause drag. I've seen some divers have |
| to exit. Keep the rest of your air for surfacing and for | | | | them dangling from their belt. (Not good), they can |
| any catastrophic events e.g. your buddy had a gas | | | | catch on all sorts of things underwater, so keep them |
| loss due to equipment failure, you would have to help | | | | in your pocket. |