TDI Stage Cave Diver course in Playa del Carmen

TDI STAGE CAVE DIVER COURSE IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN

- 4 Days Minimum -

$285/day - Price based on 2 divers. If single diver, please add $35.

 

The TDI Stage Cave Diver Course is for Full Cave divers who've outgrown what a single set of doubles or a sidemount rig can give them. Carrying stage bottles isn't just strapping on more gas — it changes how you plan the entire dive: your gas management, your contingencies, your margin for error. Done right, it opens up longer, deeper penetrations into systems you'd otherwise have to turn around on. Done wrong, it's one more thing that can go sideways in an environment that doesn't forgive mistakes.

I'll teach you to manage multiple gas sources, plan complex dives around them, and actually think several steps ahead instead of just reacting — because by this point, reacting isn't good enough anymore.

 

Who this course is for:

Certified, experienced TDI Full Cave Divers (or equivalent) looking to extend their penetration limits.

What you'll learn:

  • Motivations for extended time and penetration
  • Equipment considerations, cylinder sizes, rigging, streamlining
  • Gas planning and gas management technique
  • Dive planning, including decompression obligations
  • Stage diving technique suitable for the cave environment
  • Dropping and retrieving stage cylinders
  • Drop-off stations

Required skill performance and graduation requirements:

During all dives, you'll need to demonstrate:

  • Adequate pre-dive planning
  • Equipment check and equipment matching
  • Bubble check
  • Specialized propulsion technique in varying flow
  • Proper buoyancy control
  • Proper body posture
  • Proper stress analysis (detection and management)

During Cave Dives Specifically:

  • Proper use of stage cylinders
  • Efficiently dropping and retrieving stage cylinders while swimming

 

COURSE PREREQUISITES

  • Minimum age 18
  • Minimum certification of TDI Full Cave Diver, or equivalent
  • Minimum of 25 non-training full cave dives
  • If you wish to do course in sidemount configuration, proof of sidemount certification must be provided.

 

Prices Include:

  • Transportation to and from the cenote(s) departing from downtown Playa del Carmen.
  • Tanks (double tanks or sidemount tanks & stage bottle(s))
  • Weights if needed

Not Included:

  • Manual
  • Entry Fees (Mx$300-500/Day)
  • Certification Fees
  • Lunch
  • Equipment Rental - keep in mind you must add 1-2 additional first and second stages for stage bottles.

TDI Stage Cave Diver Training

What’s in it for you?

Once you've completed this course, you're qualified for stage cave diving without direct supervision, provided:

Penetration stays within the 1/3 air rule, or a more conservative air plan at my discretion
No equipment removal in the cave, with the exception of stage cylinders
You're encouraged to gain experience before attempting to plan and execute complex stage cave dives on your own
Safety and decompression stops are completed as appropriate or necessary

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