At Sulawesi Dive Trek we offer a wide range of Cave Courses with our in-house cave diving instructors. We are proud to be the first dive center in Indonesia to offer Technical Cave Training. You will have the opportunity to learn this challenging way of diving in a safe and optimal way in a warm and tropical place. Our small groups (maximum 3 students per class) will help you progress at your own pace to reach your goal, without any pressure. Our instructors are highly trained cave divers. They participate in proper exploration projects when they’re not teaching so you will get state of the art training with passionate instructors. By taking your course with us, be sure to get one of the best training you can have. It will go way beyond the minimum knowledge and performance required by agencies’ standards.
Every course can be taken in any technical diving configuration. Twinset, Sidemount or CCR can be used for training depending on the goal you want to achieve and the caves you want to dive. If you have never used any of these configurations before, we strongly advise you to take a course to get proficient on your chosen configuration as cave diving requires equipment proficiency and deep understanding. We can of course offer a combination of any course to fit your needs. Let us know where you are now and where you want to be as a diver and we will discuss the best options for you.
Keep in mind that you should never rush into training but instead move forward step by step in your diving career.
As the courses are performance based, the duration provided in course details is a minimum given. If you do not reach what we expect you to be -a safe and confident cave diver- the course will be extended until the performance requirements are met. We do not want to leave you alone in the dark and will make sure you leave the class being ready to venture into the underground. Therefore the price indicated is for the minimum required amount of time. Extra days of training will be charged if needed.
Ultimately, we do think that every cave diver should have their own equipment. You need to be comfortable and familiar with your own equipment, making sure you know how it works, where it is placed and that it is properly maintained. However we understand that not everybody can directly buy the whole full cave diver equipment, that is why we do offer equipment rental in case you need something during the course.
Taking a course at Sulawesi Dive Trek is an amazing experience. Many reasons will convince you to come and train with us :
- Easy conditions : access to the caves close to the road.
- Crystal clear visibility with almost no flow.
- Tropical weather.
- Warm water : around 26°C all year long.
- Exclusive destination, you will be among the first to take training here.
- All range of accommodations available.
- Highly experienced instructors.
- Small groups.
- Unspoiled caves.
- Possibility to combine your cave training with outstanding ocean diving.
- Access to unexplored sites where you will be the first human being to dive.
- First and only technical cave diving instructor available in Indonesia.
- Instructor that actually explored and surveyed the caves you will be diving in.
Taking a course at Sulawesi Dive Trek is an amazing experience. Many reasons will convince you to come and travel all the way to us to get a quality training. Please see down there for a brief abstract of the courses we provide. Note that the courses are always given for a minimum amount of time. If the performances are not met at the end of the course an extra day of training can be required. Please contact us in advance to make sure that you actually meet the experience and equipment requirements before travelling all the way to us. We want to make sure that everything will be in order before you arrive so you can get the best experience possible and focus on the core of the course.
The cavern course can be taught in single tank configuration, even though we strongly advice you to get trained in sidemount or backmount twinset before engaging into a cave course. You want to learn and grow with the configuration you will dive with in your future cave career. Contact us in advance to make sure your equipment is compatible with the course you plan to take. Due to the remoteness of our sites, rental equipment availability is limited, discuss with your instructor before to ensure you have everything you need to enjoy the course.
INCLUDED IN ALL OUR COURSES
TANKS + GAS + WEIGHTS
Excluding decompression mixes.
TRANSPORT TO DIVE SITE
Excluding boat travel between locations.
TRAINING FEES
SNACK AND DRINKS
Fruits, coffee, tea and water are provided during courses.
NOT INCLUDED IN OUR COURSES
ACCOMODATION
Available on site.
In Muna instructor accomodation costs will be divided by the participants.
MANUALS AND CERTIFICATION
Price depends on certification level.
EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Available on site.
EXTRA DAYS OF TRAINING
idr 4.000.000 / day needed.
IANTD OPEN CIRCUIT COURSES
CAVERN DIVER
- First level of training.
- Minimum duration : 4 days.
- Advanced Open Water Level required.
- Basics of cave diving within the daylight zone
INTRODUCTORY CAVE DIVER
- Second level of training.
- Minimum duration : 4 days.
- Cavern Diver certification required.
- Venture into the dark zone and improve survival skills.
FULL CAVE DIVER
- Third level of training.
- Minimum duration : 5 days.
- Introductory Cave Diver certification required.
- Learn complex navigation and increase your limits.
TECHNICAL CAVE DIVER
- Decompression in caves.
- Minimum duration : 4 days.
- Full Cave + ANDP certification required.
- Learn how to perform decompression in caves.
Advanced Cave – Stage/Multi-Stage Diver
- Use stage to extend your penetration.
- Minimum duration : 4 days.
- Technical Cave Diver with 25 logs.
- Learn the use of stage bottles in cave to penetrate further into the cave.
Advanced Cave – Survey Diver
- Learn how to survey caves.
- Minimum duration : 3 days.
- Technical Cave Diver with 25 logs.
- Learn to produce an accurate survey of a cave using compass and mnemo.
Underwater Cave Mapping
- Learn how to draw a cave map.
- Minimum duration : 4 days.
- Survey Diver certification required.
- Learn the mapping technique to draw a precise cave map.
RAID OPEN CIRCUIT COURSES
This Program is designed to develop cavern diving skills within the limits of light penetration and to insure that divers are aware of self-responsibility and capable of risk management in overhead environments. This is the first step into the cave diving program and will teach you all the basics of survival and efficiency in a cave overhead environnment. This course can be taught in single or double tank configuration.
COURSE STANDARDS
- Unobstructed exit / surface light must always be visible.
- Gas management : Rule of thirds.
- No dives may be conducted to depths greater than diver’s previous certification level.
- No Decompression dives.
- Minimum Duration : 4 Days.
- Minimum number of dives : 4.
- Main line only – No complex navigation.
COURSE PROGRAM
- History of Cave Diving.
- Geology and science related to Cave Diving.
- Survival and hazards in Cave Diving.
- Communication in cave environment.
- Awareness, team dynamic and position.
- Gas Management strategies.
- Stress management in hostile environment.
- Propulsion techniques and buyoancy control.
- Equipment preparation for overhead environment.
- Guideline protocols and deployment & tie-off.
- Air sharing and basic problem resolution (Equipment failures, valves shutdowns…)
- Cavern Diving Planning.
- Open circuit diver must be qualified with Advanced Open Water level.
- A minimum of 15 years of age for Diver qualification with a parent or guardian authorization.
- A minimum or 18 years of age without guardian approval.
- Junior Cavern Diver : Students between 12 years of age and 14 years of age who meet the Cavern Diver performance requirements may qualify for a Junior Cavern Diver certification that allows them to dive under the supervision of an adult who has a minimum of a Cavern Diver certification level or higher.
- Proof of a minimum of 10 logged dives.
- Having good propulsion techniques level and buyoancy control.
- IANTD Cavern Diver Student Kit.
- Equipment used during this Program must be appropriate for the environment and in good working order.
- Single Tank, Backmounted Twinset or Sidemount (prefered) configuration.
- Long hose required on one regulator, minimum 120cm maximum 210cm.
- One primary reel and one safety reel.
- One primary light and one backup light. Both should have enough runtime to cover the dive time.
- 4 students max per instructor.
- Minimum course duration : 4 days.
- Minimum of 4 dives.
- Minimum of 100 minutes bottom time during the course. This is the minimum amount required by standards, we usually do more than 200 hours.
- Unobstructed exit / surface light must always be visible.
- No dives may be conducted to depths greater than diver’s previous certification level.
- The Rule of Thirds must be applied from the point of entering the overhead environment until safe exit fromthe overhead environment portion of the dive.
- All appropriate safety stops must be performed.
The course can be taught in our Wakatobi’s location or in Baubau. Due to ease of access to the caves, Wakatobi is recommended for the cavern course. However, we can organise it in any location to suit your needs.
Additional transportation fees may be charged if in different location.
INTRODUCTORY CAVE DIVER
This Program is the second level of our cave courses path, it is designed to develop cave diving skills and introduce you to the dark zone. As an introductory cave diver you will venture further after the cavern zone and truely feel the darkness of the cave. You will learn how to penetrate a cave and many different self and team rescue skills that will allow you to go through this amazing journey safely and with confidence. This course can be taught in double tank configuration either backmounted or sidemounted.
COURSE STANDARDS
- Cavern Diver level required.
- Going inside the dark zone
- Gas management : Rule of 1/6th with redundant gas supplies.
- Depth max : 39m /130ft.
- No Decompression dives.
- No restrictions.
- Minimum Duration : 3 Days.
- Minimum number of dives : 4.
- Main line only – No jumps to other line than the main line.
COURSE PROGRAM
- Managing Guidelines.
- Cave Diving navigationnal markers.
- Cave Diving etiquette
- Complex problem resolution.
- Awareness, team dynamic and position.
- Gas Management and lost gas strategies.
- Stress management in hostile environment.
- Lost Diver procedure.
- Lost Line procedure.
- Managing entanglements.
- Broken line and cave collapses.
- Cave Diving Planning.
- Open circuit diver must be qualified with Cavern Diver Level.
- A minimum of 15 years of age for Diver qualification with a parent or guardian authorization.
- A minimum or 18 years of age without guardian approval.
- Proof of a minimum of 30 logged dives.
- Having good propulsion techniques level and buyoancy control.
- IANTD Cave Diver Student Kit.
- Equipment used during this program must be appropriate for the environment and in good working order.
- DIN Tank and regulators are mandatory. No yoke can be used.
- Backmounted Twinset or Sidemount (preferred) configuration.
- Long hose required on one regulator, minimum 150cm (5ft) maximum 210cm (7ft).
- One primary reel and one safety reel.
- One primary light and two backup lights. Both should have enough runtime to cover the dive time.
- 3 line arrows.
- 3 non directionnal markers.
- Dive slate and wet notes.
- 2 cutting tools.
- 3 students per instructor max with at least 9 meters visibility, 2 students if visibility between 6 and 9 meters. No course can be conducted if visibility is less than 6 meters.
- Minimum course duration : 3 days.
- Minimum of 4 dives.
- Minimum of 100 minutes cave bottom time during the course. This is the minimum amount required by standards, we usually do more than 200 hours.
- No dives may be conducted to depths greater than 39m (130ft).
- Each diver must have at least 60 cubic feet (1700 free liters) of breathing gas.
- Double Cylinder or Sidemount Cylinders – Rule of 1/6th for gas management.
- No jumps from one line to another may be made in this program.
- All appropriate safety stops must be performed.
The course can be taught in our Wakatobi’s location or in Baubau. Due to ease of access to the caves, Wakatobi is recommended for the cavern couse. However, we can organise it in any location to suit your needs.
Additional transportation fees may be charged if on different location.
You can combine the course with a dive / cave safari in the region. Contact us for tailor made package.
FULL CAVE DIVER
This Program is the third level of our cave diving training program. This is the ultimate goal to become a true cave diver that will be able to venture anywhere in the cave. This is a rewarding yet challenging program that will teach you all survival techniques and complex navigation in an underwater maze. Once certified, you will be rewarded by the possibility of accessing most of the underwater caves that lie under our blue planet.
COURSE STANDARDS
- Introductory Cave Diver level required.
- Gas management : Rule of 1/3rd with redundant gas supplies.
- Depth max : 39m /130ft.
- No Decompression dives.
- Minimum Duration : 5 Days.
- Minimum number of dives : 8.
- Complex navigation, jumps, gaps, circuits and traverses.
COURSE PROGRAM
- Fine-tuning of core skills (propulsion and buoyancy).
- Gas management and gas recalculation for extending bottom time.
- Complex navigation.
- Jump from a line.
- Gap two lines.
- Setting up and planning a circuit dive.
- Setting up and planing a traverse dive.
- Survival and self-rescue in a cave environnment.
- Advanced stress management.
- Psychological conditioning for extremely hazardous environment.
- Open circuit divers must be qualified with Introductory Cave Diver Level.
- A minimum or 18 years of age without guardian approval.
- A written waiver can be requested, to IANTD HQ and Licensee, for a 16 years of age for diver qualification with a parent or guardian authorization.
► NOTE: Once certified the 16 years old diver must dive with parent or legal guardian. - Proof of a minimum of 50 logged dives.
- Having good propulsion techniques level and buyoancy control.
- IANTD Cave Diver Student Kit.
- Equipment used during this Program must be appropriate for the environment and in good working order.
- DIN Tank and regulators are mandatory. No yoke can be used.
- Backmounted Twinset or Sidemount (preferred) configuration.
- Long hose required on one regulator, minimum 150cm (5ft) maximum 210cm (7ft).
- One primary reel and one safety reel.
- Two spools with a minimum of 15 meters line.
- One primary light and two backup lights. Both should have enough runtime to cover the dive time.
- 3 line arrows.
- 3 non directionnal markers.
- Dive slate and wet notes.
- 2 cutting tools.
- Helmet.
- 3 students per instructor max.
- Minimum course duration : 5 days.
- Minimum of 8 dives.
- Minimum of 400 minutes cave bottom time during the course.
- No dives may be conducted to depths greater than 39m (130ft).
- Each diver must have at least 60 cubic feet (1700 free liters) of breathing gas.
- Double Cylinder or Sidemount Cylinders – Rule of 1/3rd for gas management.
- All appropriate safety stops must be performed.
- Complex navigation authorized.
The course can be taught in our Wakatobi’s location or in Baubau, however the configuration of caves in Baubau and Muna area is better at this course level. You can also spread the course across several locations. Contact us to plan exactly what you need.
TECHNICAL CAVE DIVER
This program is the ultimate program we offer for very serious cave diver. At some point of your cave diving life you will want to venture into deeper caves and therefore perform decompression in an overhead environment. Moreover the passion for cave diving will push you to explore unknown caves. If you recognize yourself in these statements, this course is for you. During the 5 days you will learn everything about decompression handling in a cave, logistics management for all the gas you will need, and how to organize exploration. This course is an elite level course and is only reserved to passionnate cave divers that wants to increase their skills and knowledge one step further.
COURSE STANDARDS
- Full Cave Diver level required.
- Advanced Nitrox required, Normoxic trimix for deeper dives.
- Gas management : Rule of 1/3rd with redundant gas supplies.
- Depth max : 60m / 200ft.
- Decompression dives.
- Minimum Duration : 5 Days.
- Minimum number of dives : 8.
COURSE PROGRAM
- Fine-tuning of core skills (propulsion and buoyancy).
- Gas management and gas recalculation for extending bottom time.
- Complex navigation on a decompression dive
- Logistics and equipment handling for decompression dives in a cave.
- Multiple cylinder management.
- How to search, find and explore new caves.
- Survival and self-rescue in a cave environment.
- Advanced stress management.
- Psychological conditioning for extremely hazardous environment.
- Open circuit diver must be qualified with Full Cave Diver Level.
- Advanced Nitrox of higher level certification.
- A minimum or 18 years of age without guardian approval.
- A written waiver can be requested, to IANTD HQ and Licensee, for a 16 years of age for Diver
qualification with a parent or guardian authorization.
► NOTE: Once certified the 16 years old diver must dive with parent or legal guardian. - Proof of a minimum of 50 logged dives.
- Having good propulsion techniques level and buyoancy control.
- IANTD Cave Diver Student Kit.
- Equipment used during this Program must be appropriate for the environment and in good working order.
- DIN Tank and regulators are mandatory. No yoke can be used.
- Backmounted Twinset or Sidemount (preferred) configuration.
- Oxygen Clean regulators for decompression gases.
- Long hose required on one regulator, minimum 150cm (5ft) maximum 210cm (7ft).
- One primary reel and one safety reel.
- Two spools with a minimum of 15meters line.
- One primary light and two backup light. Both should have enough runtime to cover the dive time.
- 3 line arrows.
- 3 non directionnal markers.
- Dive slate and wet notes.
- 2 cutting tools.
- Helmet.
- 3 students per instructor max.
- Minimum course duration : 5 days.
- Minimum of 8 dives.
- Minimum of 400 minutes cave bottom time during the course.
- When conditions warrant it, (such as areas without access to caves suitable for training at depths
of 130 fsw (39 msw) or more shallow) Cave Diver Programs may be conducted to a maximum depth
of 160 fsw (48 msw), provided the students are qualified as Advanced Recreational Trimix Diver or
Technical Diver. - Qualified Normoxic Trimix Divers and Rebreather Normoxic Trimix Divers may be trained in caves at depths
between 100 fsw (30 msw) and 200 fsw (60 msw). - Qualified Trimix Divers and Rebreather Trimix Divers may be trained in caves on Trimix at depths between
130 fsw (39 msw) and 300 fsw / 91 msw.
8. Open Circuit: - Oxygen partial pressure may not exceed 1.4 ATA during the working portion of the dives
- Oxygen partial pressure may not exceed 1.6 ATA during the decompression portion of the dives.
- Each diver must have at least 60 cubic feet (1700 free liters) of breathing gas.
- Double Cylinder or Sidemount Cylinders – Rule of 1/3rd for gas management.
- All appropriate safety stops must be performed.
- Complex navigation authorized.
The course is preferably taught in our Baubau’s location due to depth of caves in the area. You can also spread the course across several locations. Contact us to plan exactly what you need.