Neutrally Buoyant ... simply better diving
So you want to become a cave diver?
A comparison: Open Water Diving versus Cave Diving
There are some truths on SCUBA education that are not so easy to get used to.
Many classes are short, with too many students, often stressful, and focus solely on certain procedures done satisfactorily once. However, skill, ability and comfort do not get developed or maintained without practice.
When open water divers (anybody who is not overhead trained, including OW Instructors) come to take their first overhead class, they often do not realize that cave diving is anything but another specialty. Not done properly, not taken seriously, it can have a poor outcome. Lack of appropriate training and preparation, and casual rule breaking are the main reasons why people die in caves.
On the same token, with requirements fulfilled and maintained, you can enjoy a lifetime and thousands of safe and extraordinary dives in caves. Some of my best friends have been cave diving for 40+ years and counting.
Diving, especially cave diving, is not for everybody.
It is indeed a sport that can be found taxing if one who does not frequently exercise, or lives a lifestyle that does not support physical and mental activities. Your aerobic abilities come into play in many normal settings of cave diving, but especially when you are faced with any emergency. You will also be lifting heavy items that have awkward shapes. Lastly, skin diving through cave diving are largely mental activities, requiring a complex set of personal and team skills. A good instructor will facilitate your learning of all of this, and provide you with honest, respectful, nurturing and early assessments.
Equipment: Since I focus on diving education, I am not involved in retail. I want to save you money where I can, by recommending quality products that have utility and increase your likelihood of success. Many students buy what their local store offers, their friend recomments, or what seems interesting to have on the internet, without knowing that many items will end up for sale at a similar online auction after creating a lot of frustration and dives lost.
Please do discuss any necessary purchases with me well in advance. Diving, especially cave diving, is an equipment-intensive sport. I want to train you for a long lasting enjoyment, and your equipment needs to be up to par for that. Some equipment requires practice before you enroll in advanced training. Other equipment will simply not be safe for use in a particular environment.
Accommodation and transportation: While this is your responsibility, I am happy to recommend ways to efficiently travel during your stay.
Per diem Fees: My fees are per day, cover my time and expertise, and depend on the number of students or team members. I am happy to send you my current pricing and modes of payment.
Dive Site fees: I schedule our dives in a fashion that you get the most for your resources (time, money, energy). Often, we have some freedom and can adjust to your preferences or needs.
Certification / registration fees: At the time of certification, that is when you fulfill the requirements set by agency standards and also receive my recommendation, you may pay for the "c-card" separately.
Learning materials: Most agencies need you to own the student materials on the class taught. I can provide you with these materials and need to charge separately.