Enter the Light Zone – SSI Cavern Diving

Explore the hidden world beneath the earth. Florida is the cavern diving capital of the world. Just a short drive from the Space Coast lie crystal-clear springs and intricate limestone formations that few divers ever get to see. The SSI Cavern Diving specialty is your safe introduction to the overhead environment, allowing you to explore these stunning spaces while remaining within the "light zone"—where the exit is always visible.

This course is the bridge between recreational open water diving and technical cave diving. It demands precision, discipline, and a higher level of awareness, making you a sharper diver in any environment.

Why Take a Cavern Course?

• Unlock Florida’s Springs: Gain access to iconic cavern zones like Ginnie Springs, Peacock Springs, and Blue Grotto.

• Master Your Buoyancy: In a cavern, you cannot silt up the bottom. You will refine your trim and finning techniques (frog kick) to a near-professional level.

• Equipment Streamlining: Learn how to configure your gear properly to avoid entanglement and access safety tools easily.

• Safety First: Understand the specific hazards of overhead environments and how to manage them safely.

What You Will Learn

Cavern diving is about more than just swimming inside; it is about risk management and team communication.

• The Limits: Strictly adhering to the "Light Zone"—never leaving the daylight area and staying within 40 meters (130 feet) of the surface.

• Line Protocols: How to run and retrieve a primary reel, ensuring you always have a continuous guideline to the exit.

• Gas Management: Learn the "Rule of Thirds"—using one-third of your air for the dive, one-third for the exit, and keeping one-third in reserve.

• Emergency Procedures: Drills for light failure, out-of-air situations in a single-file line, and lost line protocols.

Expand Your Range

Ready to go deeper? The Cavern Diving specialty is the first step toward the technical diving world. Once certified, you will have the prerequisites needed to pursue Intro to Cave and Full Cave certifications if you choose to venture beyond the daylight.