I remember my first dive into a flooded cave as if it were yesterday. I was standing in front of an inconspicuous opening in the ground, surrounded only by trees and the silence of the Florida wilderness. But beneath the surface hid a completely different world – endless corridors, halls with stalactites, and crystal-clear water never touched by rain or wind. That’s when I understood why some people are willing to risk their lives for this experience.
But cave diving isn’t for everyone. It’s a discipline that requires absolute precision, special equipment, and most importantly – safety thinking perfected to the highest degree. I always say: “In a cave, there’s no room for ego or improvisation. You either follow the rules to the letter, or you have no business being underwater.”
Specific Equipment Requirements for Cave Diving
Cave diving has its specific equipment. It’s not just about having a regulator and a tank – you need gear that is redundant, streamlined, and adapted to an environment where one scrape against the ceiling can mean disaster.
Breathing Systems
While a regular technical diver might have “just” two independent breathing assemblies, in a cave the absolute minimum is a double independent system. Most experienced cave divers use:
- Twins with an isolation manifold or sidemount configuration (two independent tanks on the sides)
- Two completely separate first stages (never connected via manifold)
- Two second stages on each first stage (primary and backup regulator)
- At least one long-hose (2m long medium-pressure hose) for sharing air in tight spaces
Some teams add a third “safety” tank with gas for decompression or for solving emergency situations. In more complex systems, four or more tanks are not uncommon.
Lighting
In a cave, there is no sunlight. Literally not a single ray. Therefore, one golden rule applies – three lights or no dive:
- Primary light – a powerful flashlight with a burn time at least 1.5× longer than the planned dive
- Two backup lights – smaller, but still strong enough to safely guide you to the exit
- Extra batteries for long dives
Every reasonable cave diver invests in quality lights. I’ve seen colleagues who have lights worth 50 thousand Czech crowns (about $2,000). And when I asked them why, the answer was simple: “Because my eyes are worth much more.”
Navigation Equipment
Getting lost in a cave is a nightmare from which you might never wake up. Therefore, the absolute basics include:
- Primary guideline (main line) – permanently installed in the main corridors of some caves
- Personal reel with at least 50-100 meters of line for connecting to the main line
- At least one safety reel (30m) for solving emergency situations
- Personal markers for marking junctions and the direction to the exit
- Slate with a map of the cave (if one exists)
It’s important to have everything prepared so that you can find it even in the dark. Practicing setting up a jump line or finding markers blindfolded is among the basic exercises in training.
Body Coverage
In caves, the water is often colder and dives last longer, so insulation is key:
- Quality drysuit with good seals (permeability = risk)
- Sufficient thermal protection under the suit
- Gloves are debatable – they protect hands but reduce feeling when manipulating equipment
But remember: every layer you put on increases your volume. And a bigger diver means a higher risk of getting stuck in narrow passages.
Fins and Propulsion
In a cave, swimming technique is as important as equipment. You need:
- Stiff but sensitive fins (no split “frog” fins)
- Perfect trim control (horizontal body position)
- Perfect kicking technique (frog kick, modified flutter, helicopter turn, and more)
Some use underwater scooters (DPV – Diver Propulsion Vehicle), but these bring additional complications. A good cave diver can swim elegantly and efficiently under their own power.
Safety Protocols and Techniques
When it comes to safety in caves, there are no alternatives. Either you do things right, or you have no business being there. It’s drastic but true.
The Rule of Thirds
The most basic safety protocol is the rule of thirds for breathing gas:
- 1/3 of gas for the journey into the cave
- 1/3 of gas for the way out
- 1/3 of gas as a reserve for emergency situations
No exceptions, no excuses. When anyone in the team reaches their first third, the entire team returns. And when I say “returns,” I mean immediately, not “let’s just look around the corner.”
Communication
In an environment where you can’t talk, communication is critical:
- Light signals (OK, problem, how much air you have, etc.)
- Touch (in zero visibility)
- Pre-arranged hand signals
Every team must have a clearly established communication protocol and must use it consistently. No improvisation during the dive!
Planning
A good cave dive begins long before you even touch the water:
- Detailed study of the system map (if one exists)
- Conversation with divers who have already been there
- Preparation of an exact dive plan including maximum penetration, expected times, and gas consumption
- Plan B for every possible situation
- Briefing with the entire team before the dive
Cave divers have an old saying: “The plan is to stick to the plan.” When you start deviating from the agreed procedure, bad things begin to happen.
Teamwork
Never, really NEVER dive in a cave alone. The minimum configuration is a pair, but three divers is ideal:
- Lead diver (responsible for navigation and leading the dive)
- Middle diver (maintains communication between the leader and the last diver)
- Last diver (watches the line and checks that everyone is OK)
There is no room for soloists and heroes in the team. Everyone has their role and everyone must master it perfectly.
Crisis Management
In a cave, everything can go wrong, and quickly:
- Loss of visibility (stirred-up sediment)
- Getting stuck in a constriction
- Loss of orientation
- Equipment failure
- Depletion of breathing medium
For each of these situations, there are precise procedures that are practiced to the point of automation before you even step into a real cave. A good cave diving course will force you to repeat these procedures until they become absolutely automatic.
Preparedness
I can’t emphasize it enough: cave diving is not for beginners. Before you venture into real caves, you should have:
- At least 100 open water dives
- Full Cave certification from a recognized organization (NACD, NSS-CDS, IANTD, TDI)
- Experience with wreck penetration and overhead environments
- Perfect buoyancy and position control
- Mental readiness for stress and problem-solving
Sounds strict? Maybe. But caves are merciless to those who underestimate their risks. Statistics speak clearly – most victims of cave diving are people without proper training or with insufficient equipment.
Final Word
Flooded caves are among the last truly unexplored places on our planet. They offer incredible experiences, absolute silence, and beauty that has no equal. But they deserve deep respect.
Among cave divers, there is an old saying: “Every cave wants to kill you. Your job is to not let it.” There is a harsh truth in that.
Proceed slowly, learn from the more experienced, invest in quality equipment, and never, really never underestimate the risks. If you manage all that, a world will open up to you that most people will never see with their own eyes.
And believe me – that view of untouched dripstone halls glittering in the light of your flashlight hundreds of meters from the entrance is worth all that hard work and discipline.