CDAA Basic Cave Course

Boost your diving skills and learn to problem solve underwater while exploring sinkholes and cavern sites!

About the Course

from $824

The Basic Cave course is your entry level course into cave diving! The limestone cave systems of South Australia are rated as some of the best cave diving sites in the world, so there is no better spot in Australia to learn! With sites like Weebubbie Cave to the west (on the Nullarbor) and famous sites like Kilsby’s Sinkhole, Piccaninnie Ponds and The Shaft to the east (near Mount Gambier), it only makes sense to take the next step into cave diving to be able to explore this beautiful underwater world right on our doorstep!

During the Basic Cave course you will develop your diving skills and improve your technique. You will learn how to plan and organise your dives, cave diving procedures and techniques and most importantly to problem solve in different Basic Cave scenarios, such as zero visibility and entanglements and focus on finning techniques, trim and perfect buoyancy.

Course Pricing

Diving Adelaide works with a progressive pricing system! Sign up with one or more friends for the CDAA Basic Cave Course and receive big discounts for each friend that you sign up with (each)! So if you have decided to sign up for a course, make sure you call all your friends first!

The course pricing structure is as follows:

$899 Standard Course Price
$874 Bring 1 friend – Save $25 per person
$849 Bring 2 friends – Save $50 per person
$824 Bring 3 friends – Save $75 per person

Course Prerequisites

Minimum age: 18 years.
Be a certified Open Water Diver for at least 12 months
Be a certified PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with a minimum of 50 dives and 25 logged diving hours, including at least 2 night dives and 5 deep dives.

Course Structure

Theory – you will be provided with a manual, to start your studies a home.
Gear setup – you will learn how to set up your gear for overhead enviornments and how to take care of your gear.
Classroom, surface drills and confined water training (2 days) – over two days your instructor will cover the theory and practice skills on land and in confined water (this can be run over 2 evenings and one day as well)
Dives (3 days) – we will head to Mount Gambier for 6 dives over 3 days for skill training, site dives and skill assessments.
Certification – once you have met all the requirements, your instructor will certify you as a CDAA Basic Cave diver. You are now certified to dive all cavern and sinkhole rated dive sites!

You can get dual certified as TDI Cavern Diver and CDAA Basic Cave. Your instructor will discuss details and costings on the course.

Interested in booking your Basic Cave Course?

Inclusions and exclusions

The course costs include CDAA Basic Cave notes & materials, confined open water training, CDAA materials, 6 dives in Mount Gambier, certification and CDAA membership.

Twin tanks can be supplied for use during the course if required.

The course does not include accommodation, transport, air fills or site fees. Additional training dives will incur a fee to cover additional costs.

Minimum gear requirements

Suitable exposure protection (Drysuit recommended)
Mask and fins (Spring or bungee straps recommended)
Cutting device (Eezycut recommended)
Dive computer (Big screen computer recommended)
BCD (Backplate and wing system or Sidemount system required)
Twin cylinders (Twin 12.2L cylinders recommended)
Twin regulators with long hose (DIN recommended)
Primary and 2 backup lights (Cannister recommended as primary)
Min. 100m primary reel (400’ reel recommended)
Wet notes or pencil & slate (wrist slate recommended)
Min. 2 personal line markers (cookies)

Frequently Asked Questions

Gifting and Sharing Courses

Would you like to share your diving experiences with someone close to you or give the gift of endless adventures? You can now easily give the gift of diving with a Gift Voucher!

You can collect a physical gift voucher from the store or simply purchase one through our online store from the comfort of your home.

The online gift voucher will be delivered via email and can be redeemed online.

Online Gift Vouchers

Prerequisites & Crossing Over

To sign up for the CDAA Basic Cave Course, you need a minimum of PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course (or equivalent) and a minimum of 50 logged dives with a minimum of 25 logged hours under your belt.

Have you completed your Advanced Open Water Diver certification with a different agency? TDI recognise PADI certifications as well as certifications from most other training agencies, such as SSI or RAID, so you can simply cross over to the TDI system by booking onto this course. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Fitness To Dive & Dive Medicals

As this is a technical diving course and twin cylinders need to be carried, a reasonable fitness level is required to participate.

You need to be comfortbale in the water of course and be able to carry the equipment (including twin cylinders).

All participants need to fill out a dive medical questionnaire before the course. Simply follow the steps on the form to determine whether you will need clearance to start your course. We recommend SPUMS Diving Dr Anne Sampson from Hallett Cove for dive medical (Mobile: 0418 803 250).

Minimum Age & Numbers

The minimum number of participants for us to run the CDAA Basic Cave Course is 3. Please contact us today if you would like to book in for this course and we’ll confirm course dates as soon as possible!

The minimum age to do this course with us is just 18 years old.

Rescheduling, Sickness & COVID19

Whether you’re sick, got COVID19, need to isolate, haven’t completed the PADI eLearning in time or can’t make the proposed course dates anymore, you can reschedule at any time before or during the course for any reason.

To reschedule, we will charge a small rescheduling fee of $99. As soon as a course spot is booked, we book in an instructor and reserve a company van for your course. The rescheduling fee will be used to cover his costs.

Once the Mt Gambier of this course has been booked and confirmed by your instructor, the course will be non-refundable.

Theory

The theory for the CDAA Basic Cave is delivered through a traditional manual. The manual is included in the course fee.

Weather

The main thing to remember is that we are going to get wet anyway, so if it rains a little that is totally fine (you will be nice and warm in your new drysuit).

The good thing about diving in fresh water is that the weather usually doesn’t matter! In some extreme cases, we may have to reschedule the course due to weather conditions.

CDAA & TDI Certification

Your CDAA is generally recognised by all cave diving organisations around the world. We do offer the option to get dual certified as a CDAA Basic Cave and TDI Cavern Diver. Extra fees apply for dual certification. Your instructor will discuss this option during the course.

Dive Gear

Most divers at this level will have all their own equipment, but if you need any rental gear, we may be able to provide some gear or even a full tech setup for the duration of the course at an additional cost.

After the course

Once you have succesfully completed the CDAA Basic Cave Course, you will be qualified to explore Sinkhole and Cavern rated CDAA sites in Mount Gambier and around the world.

You will be added to the Diving Adelaide newsletter, where we announce our (free) social shore dives for ex-students and our weekends away, interstate and international dive trips and so much more!

You can join any of the dive clubs in Adelaide as well. Many dive clubs run boat dives for just $25 for a single dive or $35 for 2 dives!

Keen to take the next step? Once you have completed the CDAA Basic Cave Course, we recommend taking the Advanced Nitrox & Deco Procedures to further your diving skills and knowledge!

Booking Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

No shows, cancellations and transfers

If you cancel your course on or within 7 days of the start date of the course or once the Mt Gambier part has been booked and confirmed by your instructor, no refund will be given.
If you cancel your course 7+ days before the start date and the Mt Gambier part of the course has not been booked and confirmed yet, a cancellation fee of $99 will apply.
If you fail to attend your course without notification, no refund will be given.
You may reschedule your course before the course starts at any time and for any reason (including sickness, not completing eLearning in time and COVID-19 related issues such as isolation). A $99 rescheduling fee will apply, unless the Mt Gambier part of the course has been booked, in which case the full course fee will be non-refundable.
If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions on the dive medical questionnaire, clearance to dive by a SPUMS dive doctor will have to be provided at the start of the course (stating you are fit to dive unconditionally). Failure to do so will result in a $99 rescheduling fee or the full fee may be non-refundable if the Mt Gambier part of the course has been booked and confirmed by your instructor.
You may transfer the course to someone else at no charge before the start of the course.
All instructions are provided in English only. You are required to be proficient in English. Other students cannot translate on behalf of your instructor (no translation services can be used).
If you fail to complete the course during the scheduled times, additional fees will be payable to complete the course at a later date.
Failure to adhere to all of the pre-course requirements found on the course overview page (including completion of any theory) will result in cancellation of the course. No refund will be given and rebooking will be at full cost.
You need to be comfortable in the water and have dived in recent years. If you’re not comfortable in the water or are not sure, please contact us beforehand or book a Refresher Course first. Failure to do so may result in course cancellation without refund and rebooking will be at full cost.
Courses must be completed within 180 days of the original start date.
Under 18’s must have a parental waiver signed by parent/guardian on or before the start day of the course.
All fees are per person.