News
Five excellent reasons to learn cavern diving
By: Marco Valera
The majority of recreational scuba divers are not ready to be exposed to an overhead environment, such as the cavern portion of a flooded cave. Darkness, confinement, minimum experience or worse, minimum level of training (since the open water diver certification is a prerequisite), poor buoyancy control skills, lack of a clean equipment configuration, relaying on your guide’s “trust-me-I-know” mindset can and has caused accidents with fatal results in the last couple of years.
Cavern diving is a serious activity. It is not the average recreational scuba dive. You cannot compare your cavern guide’s dive briefing with formal training provided by a Cavern Instructor. Hence, these are five excellent reasons to sign up for a Cavern specialty course through a recognized agency that has outlined and updated standards with a Quality Assurance program.
1. To develop a committed sense of conservation
Cave systems were formed over the course of hundreds of thousands of years. Their unique beauty has no comparison. These fragile environments can be destroyed forever in an instant. Even the silt laying at the bottom is part of the cavern. There is no place for “fin pivot.” So far there’s no means that can repair or replace those delicate formations. Understanding their preservation will allow future generations to study and enjoy.
Remember: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but bubbles, kill nothing but time.”
2. Master your buoyancy
In order to preserve such environments you will need to thoroughly understand how buoyancy works. You will learn how to remain horizontal (trim) during your bottom time, all the time! There is no place for “fin pivot,” remember? Different kicking techniques will allow you to move smoothly without disturbing the surroundings. With enough time to practice you will be capable to deploy your primary reel guideline without bouncing to the bottom, reaching the ceiling, or worse getting entangled with it. Because well developed buoyancy becomes second nature, once you jump back in the ocean you’ll never be the same.
3. Mental and physical challenges
Diving into an overhead environment causes a certain level of discomfort. You will learn how to recognize and manage stress, deal with internal and external doubts and understand why massaging your ego is a negative factor. Suiting up, gearing up and walking to the entrance of the cavern will increase your level of discomfort. New pieces of equipment will demand your muscular memory. Understanding that repetition is going to lead you to mastering any skill is important. Frustration is not prohibited but you need to have what it takes to “bounce-back.”
4. Top-up your situational awareness
Situational awareness becomes a real factor. That time when you were a “passenger” in a scuba guided dive is over. You need to become proactive. Ask questions; gather information concerning the cavern dive. Implement the Accident Analysis rules to your dive plan. Understanding and sticking to those rules can save your life.
While underwater evaluate yourself: is your mind clear enough for ten more minutes into the dive? How about your body? Track your gas consumption, your bottom time, your depth. Are you navigating the guideline properly? Haloclines (almost mixture of fresh and saltwater) are a unique experience but they decrease the visibility. Where is your guide? Where are you in the group? How far is the diver behind you? Do you still see any daylight? Is there any silt-out ahead? How far are you from the guideline?
Remember this: there’s no direct access to the surface, your senses have to be sharp every second and every minute of your cavern dive in order to get back to the entrance/exit.
5. Mature as a solid reliable recreational diver
There is no “in future dives remember to do this skill this way” debriefings. It’s either, you do master the skill or retry until you are capable of executing so you can overcome a situation and get yourself out of there. Then you earn your Cavern diver certification.
Cavern training has some sort of awakening. You evolve as a scuba diver. You won’t be the same. You are going to be better. You’ll notice that once you jump back in the ocean, lake or a quarry.
Lately, if it happens that you appreciate and value the intrinsic beauty of caverns and their flooded cave systems you may have the calling to enrol in the Intro to Cave diver level, the second step into the Full Cave diver program, the elite, the astronauts of the inner space.
To find out more about International Training, visit www.tdisdi.com.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
Excellent performance with the TR-80
Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.
Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.
Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
Octopus OP-30
The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.
The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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