Cavern Diver Training Package

Private package

$1,400total

One diver.

Private instruction and a private room for three nights.

Buddy package

$950per diver

Two-student instruction.

A shared double-bed room for three nights.

Course weekend

Thu

Arrival

Fri–Sat

Training

Sun

Checkout

Introductory package pricing for selected dates.

Build the skills that matter

Cavern diving introduces the discipline of overhead-environment procedures while sharpening the fundamentals serious divers depend on: buoyancy, trim, propulsion, awareness, gas management, communication and team control.

The course is taught as a PADI Cavern Diver Specialty and follows current PADI standards, site rules, conditions and instructor judgment. Where additional cave-diving best practices are introduced, they're used to increase conservatism and competence, not to exceed the limits of the certification.

Training focus

• Technical configuration and pre-dive procedures
• Trim, buoyancy and controlled non-silting propulsion
• Guideline and reel procedures
• Light and team communication
• Gas planning and emergency awareness
• Cavern-zone limits and overhead discipline

Operating limits taught in the course

• Remain within the cavern daylight zone and keep a continuous guideline to open water.
• No-decompression dive planning only; stay within computer or table limits.
• Rule-of-thirds gas management as a maximum penetration allowance, not a target.
• Conservative depth and penetration limits based on PADI standards, site rules, visibility, gas supply and diver performance.
• A three-minute safety stop when conditions permit.
• End the dive for primary light failure, gas concerns, loss of visibility, loss of team control, equipment issues, or any diver calling it.

What you'll learn

• Cavern versus cave: certification boundaries and prohibited cave-diving activities.
• Cave geology and terminology: solution caves, springs, siphons, sinks, cenotes and sumps.
• ODIGTML dive planning: oxygen, decompression, inert gas, gas, thermal, mission and logistics.
• Equipment configuration: streamlined backmount, no dangling equipment, redundant gas delivery, lights, reels, cutting tools, bolt snaps and wet notes.
• Buoyancy, trim and propulsion: horizontal trim, distributed weighting, frog kick, modified frog kick and modified flutter kick.
• Communication: hand signals, light signals, wet notes and touch-contact procedures.

Required equipment

Bring your own equipment or arrange local rentals in advance. Your training configuration must include:

• Single cylinder or doubles, as approved for training
• Backplate-and-wing buoyancy system
• Regulator with a 7-foot primary long hose
• Appropriate fins (no split fins)
• Three dive lights: one primary and two backups
• Two reels: one standard reel and one jump reel
• A complete personal scuba kit and suitable exposure protection

Three-night schedule

Thu

Evening check-in, orientation and gear preparation

Fri

Land drills, equipment review and in-water training

Sat

Continued dives, scenarios and course activities

Sun

Morning checkout and departure

Not included

Park admission and dive-access fees; cylinders, breathing gas or fill charges; equipment rental; transportation; meals; personal incidentals; and any agency certification or materials fees, unless stated in writing.

Book a cavern training weekend

Pod Diver Lodge · High Springs, Florida · 5 minutes from Ginnie Springs