Cavern & cave diving courses, 02.18 - 02.24
Course fees and expenses
- $700 ($900 private course)Cavern & Introduction to Cave Diving combined course
- $900 ($1200 private course)Apprentice Cave Diver & Cave Diver combined course
- $30NACD Cavern/Cave student workbook (required)
- $12Basic Cave Diving, a blueprint for survival, by Sheck Exley (recommended)
- $35NACD certification card (by successful completion of the course), only the card for the highest level completed will be issued unless requested by a student
Course fees listed above don't include equipment rentals, gas fills, site access/boat fees or travel costs.
In addition to the NACD certification card, a TDI certification card can be issued. The additional cost is the TDI Overhead (Cavern and Cave) Manual, $35, and the TDI certification card, $35. Please notify your instructor prior to beginning of the class of your desire to have TDI card issued to you.
Land drills and check out dives will be conducted in and around High Springs, Florida. There are many options for air travel available. You can fly to Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Tampa or Orlando. Some of the dive sites may be located as far as 50 miles from your lodging, you would need to have an access to or rent a vehicle for the duration of your stay in Florida.
Dive Sites
- $30 per diver per day, two daysGinnie Springs, 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Rd, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-7188, water temperature 72°F
- $15 per vehicle per day, one dayPeacock Springs State Park, Peacock Springs Road, Luraville, Florida, (386) 776-2194, water temperature 70°F
- $15 per vehicle per day, one dayLittle River Springs State Park, , Branford, Florida, (386) 776-2194, water temperature 70°F
Dive sites specified in the schedule below may be changed based on the weather, cavern/cave conditions and specific course demands.
Support
- ¢10 per 1cf of EAN32Cave Excursions East, 4030 NE CR 340, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-7511, full service technical dive center
- ¢10 per 1cf of EAN32Cave Excursions, 20338 180th Trce, Live Oak, FL 32060, (386) 776-2299, full service technical dive center
- ¢10 per 1cf of EAN32Extreme Exposure, 25 S Main Street, High Springs FL, 32643, (800) 574-6341, full service technical dive center
Lodging
- The Rustic Inn Bed & Breakfast, 15529 NW State Road 45, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-1223, mention that you are taking a cave diving course to get a discount
- Chateau H20, 4170 NE 43rd Ave, High Springs, FL 32643, (773) 531-4993
Dining
- Great Outdoors Restaurant, 65 N Main St, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-1288, great place to celebrate completion of your training
- Gator Q, 222 NE First Avenue, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-9823
- Kazbor´s Grille, 16135 NW US Highway 441 #10, Alachua, FL 32615, traditional cave diver´s hangout, come on thursday night for all you can eat wings
- Springs Dinner, 615 NW Santa Fe Blvd, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-5775, another traditional cave diver´s hangout
- Zheng´s First Wok, 1042 Santa Fe Boulevard, High Springs, FL 32643, (386) 454-1935
- Subway, 19975 NW 244th St, High Springs, FL, 32643, (386) 454-5302
There are many options for dinning in High Springs and surrounding areas. Restaurants listed above are closest to where the training will be conducted.
General Rules
- All open balances must be paid prior to reserving your spot.
- All divers are responsible for providing all equipment needed to properly execute training dives.
- All divers are responsible for their own breathing gasses, diving sites access fees, meals, lodging and transportation.
- No solo diving is allowed at Peacock Springs State Park.
- All divers must bring their highest certification card and proof of personal diving insurance.
Cavern / Introduction to Cave Diving Course Schedule
Before the end of a day on Friday, 02.03
- Confirm your intention to complete your training dives in Florida on the dates specified.
- Reserve your cylinders or any other rental equipment.
- Let us know if you would like to carpool or what other plans you have for your travel.
Saturday, 02.18
For students who have already completed their academic and open water session prior to arriving in High Springs:
- Arrive in High Springs no later than 8 PM to get ready for the training the next day, inventory and test your equipment.
- 9 PM - 10 PM: Student´s equipment review with the instructor; complete all required paperwork
For everyone else:
- 5 PM - 9 PM: Cavern/Introduction to Cave Diving academic session at Cave Excursions East
- 9 PM - 10 PM: Student´s equipment review with the instructor; complete all required paperwork
Sunday, 02.19
- 8 AM - 11 AM: Land drills for Cavern & Intro courses at 190 SW Natures Ct, High Springs, FL 32643
- 11 AM - 12 PM: Pick up rental equipment at Cave Excursions East, purchase missing items, lunch, etc
- 12 PM: Meet at Ginnie Springs Outdoors to complete waivers and pay fees
- 1 PM - 5 PM: Check out dives for Cavern course
- 6 PM: Meet at Cave Excursions East to get fills for the next day
- Debriefing, Cavern final exam review
Monday, 02.20
- 9 AM: Arrive at Peacock Springs State Park, parking lot at Peacock I
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Checkout dives for Introduction to Cave Diving course
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions, lunch and debriefing
- 3 PM - 5 PM: Checkout dives for Introduction to Cave Diving course
- 6 PM: Meet at Cave Excursions to get fills for the next day and debriefing
Tuesday, 02.21
- 8 AM: Arrive at Ginnie Springs Outdoors, parking lot at Devil´s system
- 9 AM - 11 AM: Checkout dives for Introduction to Cave Diving course
- 12 PM - 1 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions East, lunch and debriefing
- 2 PM - 5 PM: Checkout dives for Introduction to Cave Diving course
- Debriefing, Introduction to Cave Diving final exam review
Apprentice Cave Diver / Cave Diver Course Schedule
Tuesday, 02.21
For students who have already completed their academic session prior to arriving in High Springs:
- Arrive in High Springs no later than 8 PM to get ready for the training the next day, inventory and test your equipment.
- 10 PM - 11 PM: Student´s equipment review with the instructor; complete all required paperwork
For everyone else:
- 6 PM - 10 PM: Academic session for Cave Diver course at Cave Excursions East
- 10 PM - 11 PM: Student´s equipment review with the instructor; complete all required paperwork
Wednesday, 02.22
- 9 AM: Arrive at Peacock Springs State Park, parking lot at Peacock I
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Checkout dives for Apprentice Cave Diver course
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions, lunch and debriefing
- 3 PM - 5 PM: Checkout dives for Cave Diver course
- 6 PM: Meet at Cave Excursions to get fills for the next day and debriefing
Thursday, 02.23
- 9 AM: Arrive at Ginnie Springs Outdoors, parking lot at Devil´s system
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Checkout dives for Apprentice Cave Diver course
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions East or Extreme Exposure, lunch and debriefing
- 3 PM - 6 PM: Checkout dives for Apprentice Cave Diver course
- 6 PM: Meet at Cave Excursions East to get fills for the next day and debriefing
Friday, 02.24
- 9 AM: Arrive at Little River Springs State Park
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Checkout dives for Cave Diver course
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions, lunch and debriefing
- 2 PM: Arrive at Peacock Springs State Park
- 3 PM - 5 PM: Checkout dives for Apprentice Cave Diver course
- 6 PM: Meet at Cave Excursions East to get fills for the next day and debriefing
Saturday, 02.25
- 9 AM: Arrive at Ginnie Springs Outdoors, parking lot at Devil´s system
- 10 AM - 12 PM: Checkout dives for Cave Diver course
- 1 PM - 2 PM: Fills at Cave Excursions East, lunch and debriefing
- 3 PM - 6 PM: Checkout dives for Cave Diver course
- Debriefing, Cave Diver final exam review