cave diving

splodge · July 28th, 2006, 06:58 PM

hi all
new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge

GLOC · July 28th, 2006, 07:02 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge)

hi all
new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge

Rick is probably your closet man, living just south of Warwick, for GUE cave diving. I think your best bet for UK Cave Diving Group (CDG) would be to contact Duncan Price on YD.

HTH

Phil O · July 28th, 2006, 09:21 PM

Not sure if I can help but I have more than a passing interest in training for cave and am looking to do Cave 1 next year. Fancy meeting up sometime for a dive and chat send me a PM

Rick · July 28th, 2006, 09:59 PM

I'm assuming you want GUE Cave training since you've asked the question on DIRE-X?

If your purely interested in UK Cave diving then CDG is probably your best bet for holes in and around the UK.

PM if you wanna know more about it

limeyx · July 28th, 2006, 10:22 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Rick)

...CDG is probably your best bet for holes in and around the UK.

PM if you wanna know more about it

That could be taken the wrong way

lizardland · July 31st, 2006, 12:32 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge)

hi all
new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge

The only real cave diving club in the UK is the CDG. From Birmingham then it would probably be either Welsh or Derbyshire sections that would be closest (I was a member of the Welsh, currently Derbys). The CDG provides training but most people on here would drop a bollock at the methods we use (yet still manage a very good safety record). At the end of training the entire section (or at least those that turn out for the meetings) get to vote on whether or not you have achieved qualified status (it isn't a token gesture, you can get a good grilling) and when you get QD status you know you're qualified. It is probably the hardest cave cert to achieve -- a lot harder than GUE. You can find contact details at www.cavedivinggroup.org.uk -- both sections are very friendly and helpful.

The only person that teaches commercially in the UK (AFAIK) is Martyn Farr.

If you want to train abroad -- and from the question it sounds like UK cave diving isn't what you're into -- then both Martin Robson and Phil Short do courses that are very hard to fault. They are UK based but tend to train in France, Florida, etc.

Failing that, go to Florida and train there. I'd recommend John & shelley at Aquaspeleo. Or go GUE -- I'm not deliberately avoiding mentioning the GUE route, I don't have any direct experience to recommend.

Cheers,

Stuart

*peter_steinhoff* · July 31st, 2006, 12:54 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

If you want to train abroad -- and from the question it sounds like UK cave diving isn't what you're into -- then both Martin Robson and Phil Short do courses that are very hard to fault. They are UK based but tend to train in France, Florida, etc.

Failing that, go to Florida and train there. I'd recommend John & shelley at Aquaspeleo. Or go GUE -- I'm not deliberately avoiding mentioning the GUE route, I don't have any direct experience to recommend.

Cheers,

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Experienced instructors there but not really for those seeking DIR oriented training, wouldn't you agree?

Cheers,
Peter

Rick · July 31st, 2006, 01:49 PM

I thought it might be worthwhile posting the contents of some PM's for others interested in Cave training.
----------------------
Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge)
hi rick
am pretty new to the dir scene but very keen to go down the exploration route have done some dry caving and now want to take the next step in cave diving but not sure where to start,whether learn in the uk or in europe or further.am confused with the cetr system e.g cave 1 ect.at present doing tdi adv nitrox with deepblue diving in plymouth to get the dive experience but could do with meeting up with local divers to show me the ropes.cheers nige.

Hi Nige,

If you plan on going the GUE route, then the first stop would be to hook up with some of the guys for a dive and a chat and see if DIR is for you. There is loads to read about on the web to give you some background history etc.

Step 2 would be to get your self in contact with either Rich Walker or Andy Kerslake to get yourself onto the next DIR-Fundementals course, which is the pre-requisite course for further GUE training.

Having past this, you can either do Cave 1 in France, Mexico or Florida!

I did mine with Christophe Le Maillot in France which was superb and gave me a great insight into the caves I will mostly be diving.

There are other ways to get cave trained outwith the DIR system with the likes of Rick Stanton and Martyn Farr etc. For these guys you could have a look on the CDG (Cave Diving Group) website or have a browse on www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk and ask the likes of Ducan, Stuart & Zak who would be better suiting in giving you advice.

I hope this helps?

Rick

lizardland · July 31st, 2006, 01:57 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff)

Experienced instructors there but not really for those seeking DIR oriented training, wouldn't you agree?

I never said they were, in fact I DID state that I don't have any experience with DIR cave instructors. Someone else mentioned the CDG, Martyn Farr, Phil Short & Martin Robson are all CDG members who are very good instructors.

Quote:

There are other ways to get cave trained outwith the DIR system with the likes of Rick Stanton

Rick Stanton isn't an instructor and doesn't teach.

Rick · July 31st, 2006, 01:59 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

Rick Stanton isn't an instructor and doesn't teach.

Hence I directed him to you guys, who could advise him!

July 28th, 2006, 06:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
splodge(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: birmingham uk Posts: 17	cave diving hi all new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge

July 28th, 2006, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,963	Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge) hi all new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge Rick is probably your closet man, living just south of Warwick, for GUE cave diving. I think your best bet for UK Cave Diving Group (CDG) would be to contact Duncan Price on YD. HTH __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

July 28th, 2006, 09:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phil O(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 340	Not sure if I can help but I have more than a passing interest in training for cave and am looking to do Cave 1 next year. Fancy meeting up sometime for a dive and chat send me a PM __________________ Phil

July 28th, 2006, 09:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	I'm assuming you want GUE Cave training since you've asked the question on DIRE-X? If your purely interested in UK Cave diving then CDG is probably your best bet for holes in and around the UK. PM if you wanna know more about it __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

July 28th, 2006, 10:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
limeyx(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 708	Quote: (Originally Posted by Rick) ...CDG is probably your best bet for holes in and around the UK. PM if you wanna know more about it That could be taken the wrong way __________________ my divelog: http://www.mydivinglife.com/limeyx

July 31st, 2006, 12:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
lizardland (Online) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 593	Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge) hi all new to the forum and wondering how to go about getting in to the cave diving scene e.g training and clubs in the birmingham area,prob not many but some pointers would be appreciated.cheers splodge The only real cave diving club in the UK is the CDG. From Birmingham then it would probably be either Welsh or Derbyshire sections that would be closest (I was a member of the Welsh, currently Derbys). The CDG provides training but most people on here would drop a bollock at the methods we use (yet still manage a very good safety record). At the end of training the entire section (or at least those that turn out for the meetings) get to vote on whether or not you have achieved qualified status (it isn't a token gesture, you can get a good grilling) and when you get QD status you know you're qualified. It is probably the hardest cave cert to achieve -- a lot harder than GUE. You can find contact details at www.cavedivinggroup.org.uk -- both sections are very friendly and helpful. The only person that teaches commercially in the UK (AFAIK) is Martyn Farr. If you want to train abroad -- and from the question it sounds like UK cave diving isn't what you're into -- then both Martin Robson and Phil Short do courses that are very hard to fault. They are UK based but tend to train in France, Florida, etc. Failing that, go to Florida and train there. I'd recommend John & shelley at Aquaspeleo. Or go GUE -- I'm not deliberately avoiding mentioning the GUE route, I don't have any direct experience to recommend. Cheers, Stuart __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

July 31st, 2006, 12:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
peter_steinhoff(Offline) Instructor candidate Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sweden & Florida Posts: 205	Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) If you want to train abroad -- and from the question it sounds like UK cave diving isn't what you're into -- then both Martin Robson and Phil Short do courses that are very hard to fault. They are UK based but tend to train in France, Florida, etc. Failing that, go to Florida and train there. I'd recommend John & shelley at Aquaspeleo. Or go GUE -- I'm not deliberately avoiding mentioning the GUE route, I don't have any direct experience to recommend. Cheers, Stuart Hi Stuart, Experienced instructors there but not really for those seeking DIR oriented training, wouldn't you agree? Cheers, Peter __________________ Peter Steinhoff GUE DIR-F, Tech1, Tech2, Cave1, Cave2, Cave3, RB80-1&2, DIR-F/Cave Instructor Candidate. NAUI Tec Instructor (Trimix, Technical DPV, Technical Wreck Penenetration etc) WKPP Support Diver, Halcyon Product Development Team, Gavinscooter Representative. Various IANTD, NSS-CDS, NACD, PADI & NAUI. ---------------------------------------------- http://dir-diver.com http://peter.steinhoff.se (swedish only)

July 31st, 2006, 01:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	I thought it might be worthwhile posting the contents of some PM's for others interested in Cave training. ---------------------- Quote: (Originally Posted by splodge) hi rick am pretty new to the dir scene but very keen to go down the exploration route have done some dry caving and now want to take the next step in cave diving but not sure where to start,whether learn in the uk or in europe or further.am confused with the cetr system e.g cave 1 ect.at present doing tdi adv nitrox with deepblue diving in plymouth to get the dive experience but could do with meeting up with local divers to show me the ropes.cheers nige. Hi Nige, If you plan on going the GUE route, then the first stop would be to hook up with some of the guys for a dive and a chat and see if DIR is for you. There is loads to read about on the web to give you some background history etc. Step 2 would be to get your self in contact with either Rich Walker or Andy Kerslake to get yourself onto the next DIR-Fundementals course, which is the pre-requisite course for further GUE training. Having past this, you can either do Cave 1 in France, Mexico or Florida! I did mine with Christophe Le Maillot in France which was superb and gave me a great insight into the caves I will mostly be diving. There are other ways to get cave trained outwith the DIR system with the likes of Rick Stanton and Martyn Farr etc. For these guys you could have a look on the CDG (Cave Diving Group) website or have a browse on www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk and ask the likes of Ducan, Stuart & Zak who would be better suiting in giving you advice. I hope this helps? Rick __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

July 31st, 2006, 01:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
lizardland (Online) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 593	Quote: (Originally Posted by peter_steinhoff) Experienced instructors there but not really for those seeking DIR oriented training, wouldn't you agree? I never said they were, in fact I DID state that I don't have any experience with DIR cave instructors. Someone else mentioned the CDG, Martyn Farr, Phil Short & Martin Robson are all CDG members who are very good instructors. Quote: There are other ways to get cave trained outwith the DIR system with the likes of Rick Stanton Rick Stanton isn't an instructor and doesn't teach. __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

July 31st, 2006, 01:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) Rick Stanton isn't an instructor and doesn't teach. Hence I directed him to you guys, who could advise him! __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/