Where's best to learn cave diving?

**Alastair** · November 28th, 2005, 10:09 PM

Given the desire to learn cave diving where and why would people recommend starting out?

Thanks
Al

Rick · November 28th, 2005, 10:19 PM

I would say it's more a matter of who you want to teach you cave diving....but to answer your question in my limited knowledge....

Mexico = warm, shallow, beautifull caves with little or no flow and resisdent instructors and a surrounding mayan culture to boot!

More time in the water due to average depths,more chance to learn

France = Colder water, some shallow, some deep, little or no flow, gas logistics can be a chore

Easy drive or flight from the UK, but the cold can be.....well a bit cold! :D

Florida = Warm, shallow, deep, flow and resident instructors with good diving facilities

Long flight and aligators :D

***ericfine50*** · November 28th, 2005, 10:51 PM

Florida. Hands Down

Phil O · November 29th, 2005, 12:30 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by ericfine50)

Florida. Hands Down

Why? I can drive to France but have to fly to Florida - why should I fly?

***Bob Cooper*** · November 29th, 2005, 12:30 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by ericfine50)

Florida. Hands Down

Yup! Florida.

BUT.......

Don't believe them when they tell you there is no flow in Mexico!

AND.......

If you are a Brit (which you are!) you will probably end up diving in France a fair bit. These days, you can get GUE training there (ask Rick and John!).

Its six of one and half a dozen of the other really.

For the ultimate cave experience and the whole "cave culture" thing, choose Florida. I did.

Having dived in Mexico, Florida and France. I have only ever had cave training in Florida. If I could do it all over again, I'd probably choose CLM to train me in France.

Does that help?

No, I didn't think it would!

Bob

*JohnKendall* · November 29th, 2005, 12:33 AM

My Advice:

Do Cave1 in France with Chris or Danny. They are superb instructors, and since France is the closest place to the UK to dvie caves, you will learn in the caves you are most likely to dive in. Then take a holiday to florida and play with flow.

This is pretty much what I did. I suspect that when I do cave 2 it will be in florida, although I am very tempted by mexico as well as the cave pics I've seen so far look amazing.

HTH
John

fraser · November 29th, 2005, 12:47 AM

Out of interest guys (as I've never actually done it, despite living next to Dover all my life!) how much would you say it costs, with fuel and Channel crossing thrown in, to get to the Lot area? Is it actually much cheaper than a cheap Florida flight?

I got a serious shock going into the flow in Devil's. My fingers are still recovering

21 degrees C in the crystal clear water too.... I know where I want to get trained

Fraser.

lizardland · November 29th, 2005, 12:48 AM

Big problem with France is that you don't really get any experience dealing with complex caves. Most sites tend to be long, straight tunnels with very few side passages. What there are either tend to be blind after a short distance or shunts. You're also unlikely to get any experience of diving in high flow systems. In most French caves, if the flow is high you do not want to be in the water around them.

*JohnKendall* · November 29th, 2005, 12:50 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser)

Out of interest guys (as I've never actually done it, despite living next to Dover all my life!) how much would you say it costs, with fuel and Channel crossing thrown in, to get to the Lot area? Is it actually much cheaper than a cheap Florida flight?

I got a serious shock going into the flow in Devil's. My fingers are still recovering

21 degrees C in the crystal clear water too.... I know where I want to get trained

Fraser.

A cheap flight is about hte same as Cheap Ferry+Fuel. However what you need to account for is Car hire and kit hire in florida.

Also the food is MUCH better in the Lot.

HTH
J

***Bob Cooper*** · November 29th, 2005, 12:51 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

Big problem with France is that you don't really get any experience dealing with complex caves. Most sites tend to be long, straight tunnels with very few side passages. What there are either tend to be blind after a short distance or shunts. You're also unlikely to get any experience of diving in high flow systems. In most French caves, if the flow is high you do not want to be in the water around them.

Yup, very true. For complex navigation you need Florida caves or (bettr still) Mexico.

Bob

November 28th, 2005, 10:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
Alastair(Offline) DIRX Supporter Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 693	Where's best to learn cave diving? Given the desire to learn cave diving where and why would people recommend starting out? Thanks Al __________________ Helium is our friend - GI3

November 28th, 2005, 10:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	I would say it's more a matter of who you want to teach you cave diving....but to answer your question in my limited knowledge.... Mexico = warm, shallow, beautifull caves with little or no flow and resisdent instructors and a surrounding mayan culture to boot! More time in the water due to average depths,more chance to learn France = Colder water, some shallow, some deep, little or no flow, gas logistics can be a chore Easy drive or flight from the UK, but the cold can be.....well a bit cold! :D Florida = Warm, shallow, deep, flow and resident instructors with good diving facilities Long flight and aligators :D __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

November 29th, 2005, 12:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
Phil O(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 340	Quote: (Originally Posted by ericfine50) Florida. Hands Down Why? I can drive to France but have to fly to Florida - why should I fly? __________________ Phil

November 29th, 2005, 12:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
fraser(Offline) "I'm only late on your timescale" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 463	Out of interest guys (as I've never actually done it, despite living next to Dover all my life!) how much would you say it costs, with fuel and Channel crossing thrown in, to get to the Lot area? Is it actually much cheaper than a cheap Florida flight? I got a serious shock going into the flow in Devil's. My fingers are still recovering 21 degrees C in the crystal clear water too.... I know where I want to get trained Fraser. __________________ Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

November 28th, 2005, 10:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
*ericfine50*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Florida. Hands Down

November 29th, 2005, 12:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
*Bob Cooper*(Offline) Moderator - "Don't stop me now!" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South East London, UK Posts: 680	Quote: (Originally Posted by ericfine50) Florida. Hands Down Yup! Florida. BUT....... Don't believe them when they tell you there is no flow in Mexico! AND....... If you are a Brit (which you are!) you will probably end up diving in France a fair bit. These days, you can get GUE training there (ask Rick and John!). Its six of one and half a dozen of the other really. For the ultimate cave experience and the whole "cave culture" thing, choose Florida. I did. Having dived in Mexico, Florida and France. I have only ever had cave training in Florida. If I could do it all over again, I'd probably choose CLM to train me in France. Does that help? No, I didn't think it would! Bob

November 29th, 2005, 12:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,097	My Advice: Do Cave1 in France with Chris or Danny. They are superb instructors, and since France is the closest place to the UK to dvie caves, you will learn in the caves you are most likely to dive in. Then take a holiday to florida and play with flow. This is pretty much what I did. I suspect that when I do cave 2 it will be in florida, although I am very tempted by mexico as well as the cave pics I've seen so far look amazing. HTH John

November 29th, 2005, 12:48 AM	#8 (permalink)
lizardland(Offline) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 591	Big problem with France is that you don't really get any experience dealing with complex caves. Most sites tend to be long, straight tunnels with very few side passages. What there are either tend to be blind after a short distance or shunts. You're also unlikely to get any experience of diving in high flow systems. In most French caves, if the flow is high you do not want to be in the water around them.

November 29th, 2005, 12:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
JohnKendall(Offline) GUE Instructor/DIRX Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cambridge, UK Posts: 1,097	Quote: (Originally Posted by fraser) Out of interest guys (as I've never actually done it, despite living next to Dover all my life!) how much would you say it costs, with fuel and Channel crossing thrown in, to get to the Lot area? Is it actually much cheaper than a cheap Florida flight? I got a serious shock going into the flow in Devil's. My fingers are still recovering 21 degrees C in the crystal clear water too.... I know where I want to get trained Fraser. A cheap flight is about hte same as Cheap Ferry+Fuel. However what you need to account for is Car hire and kit hire in florida. Also the food is MUCH better in the Lot. HTH J

November 29th, 2005, 12:51 AM	#10 (permalink)
*Bob Cooper*(Offline) Moderator - "Don't stop me now!" Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South East London, UK Posts: 680	Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) Big problem with France is that you don't really get any experience dealing with complex caves. Most sites tend to be long, straight tunnels with very few side passages. What there are either tend to be blind after a short distance or shunts. You're also unlikely to get any experience of diving in high flow systems. In most French caves, if the flow is high you do not want to be in the water around them. Yup, very true. For complex navigation you need Florida caves or (bettr still) Mexico. Bob