CCR Cave Diver

Course Description

This course is the closed-circuit equivalent of the Apprentice and full Cave Diver courses combined. It covers largely the same knowledge and skills.

• The chief difference is the fact students learn using closed-circuit rebreathers rather than open-circuit sidemount or backmount.

• The other difference is most students take this program all at once, as opposed to doing so in two separate segments as you generally do with open circuit.

Many students who become CCR Cave Divers complete the first part of the course on open circuit. This is essentially doing the open-circuit Apprentice Cave Diver course. Doing so accomplishes three things:

• It puts you in a better position to answer one of the most important questions any CCR Cave Diver can ask. This is, how much open-circuit bailout gas do I really need to get the Hell out of the cave?

• If your travels take you to places where bringing a CCR is impractical, you will at least know how to dive open circuit.

• You will gain an even greater appreciation for what your CCR does for you.

Course Equipment Requirements

For all NSS-CDS courses in which students and instructors are using closed-circuit equipment, each participant must have:

• Mask and fins

• Adequate exposure protection for depth, time and water temperature

• A harness and air cell with sufficient lift to support the equipment used

• A CCR or eCCR with sufficient absorbent, diluent and oxygen for 150 percent of the planned dive time

• Open-circuit bailout cylinder(s) with at least 150 percent of the gas required to exit the cave from maximum point of penetration. This must be in the form of either two or more separate cylinders or a single cylinder with an H-valve.

• At least one dive computer capable of monitoring exposure to all gas mixtures used

• At least two cutting tools capable of dealing with guideline entanglement

• Primary dive light with a rated burn time of 150 percent of expect dive time

• Two backup dive lights

• One primary reel per team with minimum of 75 m/250 ft of guideline

• Two safety reels/spools per diver, each with least 30 m/100 ft of guideline

• At least two directional and two nondirectional line markers

Additionally, both students and instructors must hold CCR Diver certification for the specific CCR they will use.

Course Prerequisites

• Be at least 18

• Possess a minimum of Advanced Open Water Diver certifications, or equivalent, from one or more widely recognized diver training organizations

• Hold Rebreather Diver certification from a widely recognized training organization

• Have logged at least 50 dives in any configuration

• Have logged at least 25 dives and 35 hours of bottom time using the same rebreather as you will use during the course

How long will this take?

This course generally takes six or more days and at least 600 minutes of bottom time.