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NAUI Cave Level I  
NAUI  cave level I is quite an extensive class, and allows you to complete many pleasurable and interesting dives, in fact Cave Level I may be all you need to perform the dives that you want.    It is an intense class taking approximately 6-7 days and at least 10 cave dives.

Class prerequisites: If you are not already a cavern diver or have not at least completed an "intro to tech" or equivalent class then I reccommend doing this prior to taking Cave I.   Cave I is an intense class designed to introduce you to cave diving and bring you to a level where you can accomplish satisfying cave dives while minimising risk. Minimum Age 18 NAUI Cavern or some technical experience or equivalent Age 18. A minimum of 75 logged dives NAUI Advanced and Nitrox Certifications In general I will chat with each individual regarding their diving experience and motivation for the class.  If possible I will try to schedule a review dive or obtain a recommendation from previous instructor(s).

Skills Required to Complete the Class

• Land drills include student demonstration of:

•   Proficiency in the use of spools and reels while handling a light.
  ·                      Team and line placement procedures.
  ·                      Safety spool deployment for lost diver and lost line procedures.
  ·                      Zero visibility/touch contact communications while following a line.
  ·                      Jump/gap reel or spool deployment with navigational aids.

 Diving skills:
·                      The students are to analyze their own breathing gas mixture (if breathing nitrox) and to plan and safely execute each dive.
·                      Dive planning shall include limits for:

• Gas consumption following the rule of thirds
• Oxygen toxicity exposures.
• Inert gas absorption based on depth and time within the no decompression limits.
• Penetration distance within cave diver limits.
• Diver comfort.
•   Safety drills are to be performed at the beginning of every dive to include:
• Equipment check.
• Dive plan and limitation review.
• Bubble check.
• Gas sharing

In open water each student must demonstrate

• Appropriate guideline following, with touch contact communications while sharing gas & simulating zero visibility.
• Comfort while following a line without a mask.
• Proper horizontal buoyancy control and trim while hovering without propulsion.
• The ability to propel backward for 10 feet.
• The ability to turn 360 degrees in a stationary horizontal position.
• A simulated primary regulatory failure, isolation, shutdown and switch over procedure within 15 seconds.
• A diver rescue simulating oxygen toxicity symptoms.

·                      In the cavern each student must demonstrate:

• Guideline deployment & removal techniques including team position responsibilities & roles.
• Modified frog, modified flutter & “pull and glide” propulsion techniques.
• A simulated primary light failure, deployment of a backup light, and exit within the dive team protocol. (While maintaining proper buoyancy and trim)
• Proper performance of a lost teammate drill.
• The proper procedure for a lost line drill.

·                      In the cave each student must:

• Demonstrate the ability to install a jump/gap reel or spool with the proper navigational indicators.
• Share gas with a simulated out of gas teammate for at least 100 feet while maintaining proper buoyancy and trim.
• Simulate a primary light failure and proper deployment of a back up light while maintaining proper buoyancy and trim.
• In a simulated zero visibility situation, with a simulated out of gas teammate, maintain touch contact communications for 100 feet.

 ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

•             Land owner relations and conservation.
  ·                      Accident analysis.
  ·                      Diving limitations including the rule of thirds & dissimilar tank sizes.
  ·                      Dive time management within the no decompression limits.
  ·                      Cave formation and terminology.
  ·                      Hazards associated with cavern/cave diving.
  ·                      The NAUI Technical Equipment Configuration (NTEC).
  ·                      Task loading, stress, perceptual narrowing, and panic.
  ·                      Propulsion techniques, i.e., anti-silting.
  ·                      Guidelines.
  ·                      Communications.
  ·                     Problem solving and emergency planning.
  ·                     Cave navigation with multiple guidelines.
  ·                     The use of maps for dive planning.
  ·                     Single file passage.

It should be noted that participation in the class does not guarantee certification.   Should you not get certified at the end of the class I will provide you with a guide as to which areas require more practice,  and I will happy to assist you with working on this.  In most cases it is not necessary to repeat the class, simply work on the skills that are outlined and then demonstrate you have mastered them.    

Required Equipment:                                                      Basic Cave Diving Equipment Double Steel Tanks with sufficient gas capacity to complete class dives and equipped with Din valves and an isolating manifold.  (having 2 sets is helpful for class but not mandatory).  Minimum Recommended = Dbl 95’s Wing – Sufficient lift to manage tanks + Stages Backplate, either Stainless or Alum as needed Primary Light, Canister Style Minimum 10Watt HID Two Backup Lights Safety Spool Two Jump Spools/reels Primary Reel Min 400ft of line 3 Arrows 2 Cookies Backup Mask Backup Bottom Timer/Depth/Computer Drysuit strongly recommended Cutting Device Wetnotes Computer or decompression software or tables

if you don't have equipment already I strongly recommend you talk to me about what to buy before the class so that you don't wind up getting the wrong things: