TDI Cave Survey

Course Overview

TDI Cave Survey teaches trained cave divers how to collect, verify, and use survey data in the underwater cave environment. The official TDI page explains that the course is intended to encourage standardized cave surveying, promote the use of maps in dive planning, and increase the diver's awareness of the surrounding environment. It is a specialized cave course where precise measurement and careful documentation support better, safer planning.

This course is for certified TDI Full Cave Divers, or equivalents, who want to learn how to survey underwater caves. TDI lists minimum age 18, Full Cave Diver or equivalent certification, and proof of at least 25 non-training cave dives as prerequisites. A good candidate should already be comfortable with navigation, buoyancy, guideline discipline, gas planning, and conservation before adding survey tasks.

Training covers decompression theory for survey diving, gas matching, accident analysis, compass use and errors, streamlining, body position, survey sketching, tie-off stations, vertical surveying, large chambers, extended passages, radial surveys, data collection, verification, cartography, symbolism, cave conservation, landowner relations, and local access requirements. In High Springs, Florida, it is especially relevant for divers who want to contribute responsibly to cave projects. Successful students should leave with practical survey habits and better map-based dive planning.