Introduction to Cave 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
Introductory Cave 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
2. Introductory Cave 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 Cavern Instructor or equivalent (e.g. NACD, and NSSCDS),
with active teaching status.
4. Provide proof of at least 150 full-cave dives.
5. Provide proof of teaching a minimum of three (3) Cavern Diver Courses and assisting with a
minimum of one (1) complete TDI Introductory Cave Diver Course 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
introductory cave 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. Adequate time to ensure
comprehension and ability to perform skills required.
Program Structure:
1. Candidates must participate in a minimum of two (2) TDI supervised introductory cave dives.
Duration:
1. Minimum time of Fifteen (15) hours.
Limits of Training:
1. Minimum cylinder size: 160 cubic ft.
2. Maximum penetration: one-sixth (1/6) of the double cylinder volume.
3. Minimum starting pressure: 2000 psig / or 52 cubic ft. of volume.
4. Maximum depth: one-hundred (100) ft. /(thirty (30) meters).
5. Minimum starting visibility: thirty (30) feet /( nine (9) meters).
6. 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. Decompression Theory and its application to the special needs of cave diving.
2. Gas Matching Procedures/Management
3. Accident Analysis
4. Psychological Considerations
5. Equipment Considerations
A Cylinder Options
B Regulator Options
C Buoyancy Compensator/Harness Options
D Reel Options
E Equipment Configurations
6. Body Posture and Buoyancy Control
7. Communication
A Hand Signals
B Light Signals
C Touch Contact
8. Swimming Techniques
9. Review of Problem Solving
A Accident Analysis
B Equipment failure scenarios
C Buoyancy Control
D Line Following
E Propulsion Techniques
10. Review of Dive Tables/Computers
11. Physiology
A Breathing Techniques
B Stress Management
12. Cave Environment/Conservation
13. Land Owner Relations
14. Local Access Requirements.
16.10 Required Skill Performance and Graduation Requirements
The Candidates are required to demonstrate the cave diver land/safety drills as described in the TDI
Introductory Cave 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 lost guideline
C lost diver
D line entanglement
E broken or cut guideline
F primary light failure
G valve/regulator failure
H fin and mask failures
3. Communication:
A light
B hand and touch
C use of line arrows and non-directional markers
4. Candidates are required a minimum of two lectures (one prepared and one impromptu) from the
TDI Introductory Cave Diver materials.
Candidate must be proficient with the following in-water skills during introductory cave dives.
Candidates must proficiently 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. Adequate 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 lights/hand signals.
5. Air-sharing drill in full visibility situation.
6. Air-sharing in a lights out, line following, touch contact drill, through a restriction using a singlefile
swimming method.
7. Lost diver and lost line drills.
8. Use of reels and guideline; circuits, traverses, jumps and gaps and emergency drills.
9. Proper use and reading of line arrows and non-directional markers.
10. Demonstrate proper stress identification and countermeasures.
11. Primary light failure drill, exit on back-up light.
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 cave dives.
In addition to the above, the candidate must:
1. Complete the TDI Introductory Cave Instructor written examination with a minimum grade of
80%.
2. Complete all land drills and cave diving 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 Introduction to Cave Diving
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) Cavern or TDI Intro to Cave Divers.
2. Taught a minimum of two (2) complete courses.
3. Logged a minimum of fifteen (15) non-training cave dives.