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The Dangers of Cave Diving

The Dangers of Cave Diving without Experience or Proper Training

 

The oceans of the world are truly amazing and wonderful places to visit and explore, for this reason thousands of people every year choose to become certified divers. Not only are the oceans the last true frontier on this planet, they also hold some of the most dangerous environments known to man. Exploring them is not for the light of heart, or the weak of mind. Many experienced scuba divers have lost their lives, including scuba instructs, while cave diving. Cave diving puts the “x” in extreme sports. But for the brave and trained scuba diver, cave diving can be the ultimate life experience.

 

 
Signs of Danger!
 

Some underwater cave systems are vast. Divers have gotten lost, experienced equipment failure and have ultimately lost their lives, even small caves present real dangers to experienced scuba divers. Unfortunately, many ill trained and poorly equipped scuba divers have unknowingly put their lives in danger, venturing into caves and never coming out. Dangerous cave sites around the world where divers have lost their lives; have signs warning all scuba divers to “go no further!”In Florida, for example, many cave diving spots have such signs. The signs posted outside notorious caves in Florida have a sobering image of the Grim Reaper, with a simple message “Prevent Your Death,” “Go no further.” Mexico, the Bahamas, South America and Central America have similar signs warning scuba divers that there is nothing in the caves worth dying for. Unfortunately, the lure of adventure and danger are uncomfortable bed mates, many divers have chosen to ignore such signs. Why?

 

Unknown Dangers of Inexperienced Cave Divers

 

If you are an open water certified scuba diver, then you should recall warnings of “overhead environments.” Any location which does not have a direct line to the surface, including sunken ships, is considered to be an overhead environment. If at any time during a dive you cannot immediately ascend to the surface, then you are in danger, especially if you are not properly equipped and trained in overhead environments. There is a line between recreational diving and technical diving, divers who are unaware of this fact are at great risk when attempting to cave dive.

 

The Line between Recreational Diving and Technical Diving

 

Where cave diving begins, recreational and sports diving ends, it’s that simple. Technical diving, also commonly referred to as Tech diving, is serious business because this type of diving exceeds the recreational diving limits and training. Tech diving includes extended bottom time, deeper depths, the use of mix gases and exposure to overhead environments. Certified divers of all levels should seek additional technical dive training before attempting to enter a cave or sunken ship, or else they unnecessarily put their lives at risk.

There are a number of cave diving schools located around the world for those who have a serious interest in exploring underwater caves. PADI, the Personal Association of Dive Instructor, offers such a course. Instructions you will receive from a PADI Cavern Diver Course will open up these remote and dangerous underwater locations to you, by limiting your risk of injury or death. The rewards are well worth. Exploring cave entrances, where light from the sun can still penetrate, is exciting. It is this area that is referred to as the cavern zone. The cavern zone is where divers experience the tempting lure of adventure to explore further into areas of overhead environment.

 

What Aspiring Cave Divers need to Learn

 

Technical dive instruction courses, such as PADI’s Cavern Divers Course, are challenging and at the same time exciting. Some of the skills divers will learn include:

• Planning and organizing for overhead environments
• Study of the hazards of cave diving and emergency procedures
• Line protocols
• Cavern navigation and lighting
• Silt preventive measures and buoyancy control
• Advanced air sharing and the effects of disorientation
• Special equipment training / redundant breathing systems
• Limits of cave diving / distance and depth

Scuba diving is a wonderful sport, and for those you want to explore the mysteries that is cave diving, take head! Caves are beautiful places to explore; however, overhead environments can become very scary in only a few feet distance. Untrained divers have lost their lives because of stirring up silt and have been unable to find their way back to the light of day. Cave diving is dangerous! It’s that simple, although, for properly trained cave divers who utilize the right equipment like diving watch, knife, mask , cave diving can be the ultimate underwater experience.