CDAA Basic Cave Diver Course

Your gateway to underground caves, sinkholes, and technical cave diving.

The CDAA Basic Cave course introduces students to the world of Cave diving.

This course is designed as an introductory course which will begin your journey into the wonderful world of Caverns, Sinkholes and Caves.

A Cavern is a body of fresh water which has a maximum depth of 20 metres, has slight overhangs, near vertical ascents and where daylight is always visible (e.g. limestone caverns, dams, flooded
quarries, lakes etc.).

A Sinkhole is a body of fresh water which exceeds a depth of 20 metres, can have large passages and where no restriction is too small for two divers to swim adjacent to each other.

The objective of this course is to familiarise students with equipment configurations, techniques, and strategies to enhance diving skills (such as buoyancy, trim, and situational awareness), and to train divers in the theory and practice of line, reels, cookies, dive planning and gas management that will contribute to their further success and enhance their enjoyment of the sport.

TDI Cavern can be paired with CDAA Basic Cave for a nominal uplift for course materials and student registrations.

This introductory program covers the fundamentals of safe overhead diving and includes:

Buoyancy, trim, and anti-silting techniques.
Equipment setup in OC and CCR.
Incident awareness and team activities.
Reel and guide care
Cookies, markers, and direction.
Dive planning and gas management (including the concepts of the rule-of-third

The goal of this course is to prepare all divers with the skills, discipline, and confidence to have fun in overhead situations and develop a strong foundation for continuing their cave training.

Optional Upgrade:

TDI Cavern Certification can be added to the CDAA Basic Cave Course.

Expand your path as an explorer

In addition to formal skills, this training enhances mental clarity, advanced underwater control, and the ability to make calm, informed decisions in overhead environments. Students learn how to work as a unified dive team and anticipate changes in the environment, maintain their composure in low visibility conditions, or in unexpected events. Through this program, divers become not only technically stronger but also mentally stronger, gaining confidence with each dive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience does a person need before entering CDAA Basic Cave / TDI Cavern?

You need an Advanced Open Water Certification and sufficient logged dives to prove your comfort level and control in the water. This course relies on strong foundational skills.

Can I take the course using a rebreather?

Yes, CCR divers are welcome, as long as they are certified with their unit and have the minimum logged hours required for overhang training. Please consult with the team prior.

What type of environments will I be training in?

The training includes freshwater caverns and sinkholes within daylight zones, overhangs, and large open passages. Some sites may include depths in excess of 20 meters.

Is this course physically demanding?

The course involves controlled finning, steady ascents, and diving in overhead spaces. Movement of scuba equipment into and out of sites is required. While not extreme, divers should be in good health and confident underwater.

After this, can I continue with CDAA Cave or TDI Intro to Cave?

Yes, completing this program along with additional experience allows you to progress to more advanced overhead training which includes true cave environments with restrictions, dark zones and extended penetration.

Enter the underworld by starting your journey

Ready to enter a world that few divers ever experience?

The CDAA Basic Cave / TDI Cavern Program opens the door to exploration, discipline and underwater exploration in some of Australia’s most prestigious overhead environments.