Diving Items of Interest

	NORAD
	Cave Diving

How to take up cave diving

Cave diving in the UK and that abroad can be too quite different sports. In the UK it is essential that you are first an experienced caver, the reason for this being that our flooded section of cave, known as sumps, are mostly to be found within existing cave systems. To reach the dive site you need to be not just good at caving (for your own safety), but also so that you can manoeuvre your equipment in a manner that doesn't damage it. Damaged equipment on a cave dive can lead to a fatality and is something to be very careful of. It is also  likely that the underwater terrain is low and small in size, similar to the air filled passages you navigated to get to the dive site. If you are not at ease caving in the air you will certainly be a liability to your self and others underwater. 

To start cave diving in the UK it is important to spend some years becoming an accomplished caver. Caving experience can be gained by joining one of the many caving clubs, details of which can be found from the British Caving Association, the official body in the UK for the sport. Once adequately trained in caving, the caver can approach the Cave Diving Group for membership and training by their local section in either Somerset, Wales, Derbyshire or Northern (Yorkshire).  

Cave diving within mainland Europe on the other hand, often has cave diving occurring in springs (also known as resurgences). This means that caving experience is not necessary to reach the dive site and as such as long as you are a very competent open water diver you can join training courses that commercial dive schools provide. International diving associations, such as PADI (Professional Association of Dive Instructor) and IANTD (International Association of Nitrox and Technical Divers) provide qualifications, and schools such as Deep Blue Diving and Farr World provide courses.