Cavern Diving Instructor Evaluation

Introduction
The purpose of this program is to evaluate a candidate instructor with respect to the following criteria:
1. Level of knowledge, professionalism and proficiency in presenting a comprehensive TDI Cavern
Diver program.
2. Proficiency in demonstrating the required land and water skills.
3. Overall attitude toward safety, both for the instructor and their student.
4. Reducing the long-term environmental impact of our sport by the developing skilled, efficient and
well educated divers.
5. Possessing a thorough knowledge of the Standards and Procedures of TDI.

Qualifications of Graduates
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be authorized by TDI to teach and certify
students in the following areas:
1. Overhead Environment/ Cavern Diver Course

Who May Teach
Who may teach this course:
1. This program may be conducted by the Headquarters Training Staff and/or Senior Instructor who
has been approved by Headquarters to evaluate instructor candidate evaluations.

Student – Instructor Ratio
Academic:
1. Unlimited, so long as adequate facility, supplies and time are provided to insure comprehensive
and complete training.
Overhead Environment Training:
1. The maximum candidate to instructor ratio, 3:1.

Student Pre-Requisites
1. Be a minimum of twenty-one (21) years of age.
2. Be a certified open water instructor in active teaching status with an internationally recognized
scuba training agency for at least one year.
3. Have a minimum certification of TDI Nitrox Instructor or equivalent. Have a TDI full cave
certification or equivalent (NACD or NSS-CDS).
4. Provide proof of at least 100 full-cave dives.
5. Provide proof of teaching a minimum of four (4) TDI courses and assisting with a minimum of
one (1) complete TDI Cavern Diver Courses with one (1) active TDI Cave Diver Instructor
approved by the Training Director.
6. Provide recommendation from a TDI Cave Instructor with which the candidate has assisted in
cavern training classes and stating that the candidate is prepared for the instructor evaluation
program.

Course Structure and Duration
Water Execution:
1. TDI allows the Training Director to structure programs accordingly.
Program Structure:
1. Candidates must participate in a minimum of two (2) supervised cavern dives
Duration:
1. Minimum time of Fifteen (15) hours.
Limits of Training:
1. Minimum cylinder size: 160 cubic ft.
2. Maximum penetration: one-third (1/3) of a single cylinder.
3. Two hundred (200) linear ft/ sixty-one (61) linear m from the surface.
4. Minimum starting pressure: 2000 psig / or 52 cubic ft. of volume.
5. Maximum depth: one-hundred (100) ft. /(thirty(30) meters).
6. Minimum starting visibility: forty (40) feet ( twelve (12) meters).
7. Daylight zone: within sight of the surface entrance.
8. No restrictions (areas too small for two divers to pass side-by-side).
9. No decompression diving, safety stops as appropriate or necessary.

Administrative Requirements
The following is the administrative tasks:
1. Collect the course fees from all the Instructor Candidates.
2. Ensure that the Candidates have the required equipment.
3. Communicate the training schedule to the Candidates.
4. Have the Candidates complete the Liability Release and Medical history forms.
5. The Instructor must review the Liability Release and Medical History Forms before starting the
course.

Required Equipment
Required reading:
1. TDI Standard & Procedures Instructor Manual.
2. TDI Cavern Diver Course materials.
Suggested reading:
1. NACD Art of Safe Cave Diving
2. Basic Cave Diving – A Blueprint for Survival
3. Caverns Measureless to Man – Sheck Exley
Equipment Requirements
1. Primary cylinders, minimum volume size is 160 cubic ft, a manifold system recommended.
2. Mask, low volume recommended.
3. Fins – straps taped or reversed if applicable.
4. Appropriate cylinder harness and buoyancy compensator with automatic low pressure inflator.
5. Two (2) completely independent first and second stage regulators; one regulator having an
approximately seven (7) foot hose, one first stage regulator having a submersible pressure gauge
and low pressure hose for buoyancy compensator.
6. Three (3) battery powered lights consisting of:
A A primary light with illumination sufficient for the environment and an expected burn
time appropriate for the planned dive.
B Two (2) back up lights, each having an expected burn time suitable for the planned dive.
7. Exposure suit, adequate for the diving environment.
8. Watch or bottom timer and a depth gauge (A dive computer may be used in place of one or both).
9. Computer and/or submersible dive tables (both are recommended).
10. Slate or wet notes and pencil.
11. Small knife or other suitable line cutting device.
12. Safety reel with a minimum of one-hundred (125) ft /(thirty-seven (37)meters) of guideline.
13. One (1) primary cave diving reel with approximately three-hundred fifty (350) ft/(one-hundred
seven (107) meters) per team.
14. Three (3) directional line arrows.
15. One (1) non-directional marker.
16. It is recommended that the instructor have oxygen and a First aid kit for surface support.
Adequate drinking fluids for all students to prevent dehydration is recommended.
NOTE: The Instructor Candidate must be in full cave gear configuration for all water activities.

Required Subject Areas
1. Policy of Cavern Diving
2. Gas Matching Procedures/Management
3. Accident Analysis
4. Psychological Considerations
5. Equipment Considerations
A Body Posture and Buoyancy Control
B Communication
C Hand Signals
D Light Signals
6. Touch Contact
7. Swimming Techniques
8. Review of Problem Solving
A Accident Analysis
B Equipment failure scenarios
C Emergency Procedures
D Body Posture/Trim
E Buoyancy control
F Line Following
G Propulsion Techniques
9. Review of Dive Tables/Computers
10. Physiology
A Breathing Techniques
B Stress Management
11. Cave Environment/Conservation
12. Land Owner Relations
13. Local Access Requirements

Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements
The Candidates are required to demonstrate the cave diver land/safety frills as described in the TDI Cavern
Diver materials. Candidates will teach and encourage cave manners and proper etiquette at all times.
1. Proper use of reels; primary, safety.
2. Simulated situations/emergencies including:
A Air sharing
B Line entanglement
C Broken or cut guideline
D Primary light failure
E Valve/regulator failure
F Fin and mask failures
3. Communication:
A Light
B Hand and touch
4. Candidates are required a minimum of two lectures (one prepared and one impromptu) from the
TDI Cavern diver materials.
Candidate must be proficient with the following in-water skills during cavern dives. Candidates must
demonstrate and conduct the student through a selection of the following:
1. Dive planning to include conservative decompression procedures and proper diver etiquette on all
dives.
2. Pre-dive briefing, air supply and equipment matching, bubble check, air-sharing, and post-dive
critique.
3. Buoyancy control, body posture, and propulsion techniques.
4. Communication with use of light/hand signals.
5. Air-sharing drill in full visibility situation.
6. Air-sharing in a lights out, eyes closed situation using a single-file swimming method and touch
contact.
7. Line following, eyes closed, touch contact drill.
8. Use of reels; primary and safety.
9. Demonstrate proper stress identification and countermeasures.
NOTE: All situation/emergency drills are to be conducted during the exit of all dives.
NOTE: A continuous guideline to open water must be maintained on all cavern dives.
In addition to the above, the candidate must:
1. Complete the TDI Cavern Instructor written examination with a minimum grade of 80%.
2. Complete all land drills and course requirements safely and efficiently.
3. Demonstrate mature, sound judgment concerning dive planning and execution.
4. Maintain an appropriate level of awareness and respect for the cave environment.
5. Receive the recommendation for certification by the Training Director.
Note: An irresponsible or cavalier attitude are sufficient grounds to deny certification.

Candidate Ratings
1. Pass: The candidate may teach and certify students for the TDI Cavern Diver Course, after
proper processing of paperwork through TDI Headquarters.
2. Provisional: The candidate needs additional development before teaching courses at this level of
training. The candidate will need to provide proof to the Training Director when he meets
developmental improvements according to TDI Standards. The candidate will not have to repeat
the evaluation program.
3. Failure: It is the opinion of the Training Director that the candidate is not ready to conduct
training courses at this level. The candidate will need to obtain more experience and repeat the
evaluation program. Certification may be denied if it is determined that the program was not
conducted according to the standards established by TDI.

Renewal Requirements
1. Have certified at least four (4) TDI Cavern Divers.
2. Taught a minimum of two (2) complete courses.
3. Logged a minimum of fifteen (15) non-training cave dives.