CDG Assessment Schedule

Cave Diving Group Rules - Training and Assessment Schedule

Adopted at the 2003 AGM

1. Administration of Membership.

1.1 CDG Membership is as stated in the Constitution.

1.2 There are two classes of Diving Member:

1.2.1 Qualified Diver
1.2.2 Trainee Diver

1.3 All Diving Members must have attained 18 years of age.

1.4 All new permanent members must apply to join a Regional Section of the Cave Diving Group as either Trainee Divers or Non-Divers.

1.5 Two Qualified Divers must sponsor all new permanent members and their acceptance is subject to approval by a simple majority vote at a Regional Section meeting.

1.6 Only Qualified Divers may vote upon matters of qualification and diving membership.

1.7 Trainee Divers should be trained in three parts, intended to run concurrently:

1.7.1 Training orientated towards diving including simple rescue and resuscitation techniques.
1.7.2 Training orientated towards cave diving including line management.
1.7.3 Cave diving under supervision once the candidate is suitably proficient.

1.8 It is the responsibility of the Regional Section to ensure that Trainee Divers have reasonable access to suitable training.

1.9 A Trainee Diver may be elected to Qualified Diver subject to satisfactory performance in the CDG Qualified Diver Assessment.

1.10 The CDG Qualified Diver Assessment consists of three parts:

Part A - Submission of a record of caving and cave diving experience
Part B - Practical Test
Part C - Theory Test

1.11 Trainee Divers are responsible for providing evidence of their competence of Part A of the Qualified Diver Assessment to the Regional Section. This evidence can be of any form but must be made available for review by the Section prior to election to Qualified Diver.

1.12 Trainee Divers are responsible for presenting themselves to a Section Examiner (who must not be the Trainee Diver's sponsor) for Qualified Diver Assessment Parts B and C.

1.13 Regional Sections are responsible for appointing Section Examiners who administer Parts B and C of the Qualified Diver Assessment.

1.14 Section Examiners are responsible for proposing a Trainee Diver for Qualified Diver status at a Regional Section meeting and for providing evidence of the Trainee Diver's competence within Parts B and C of the Qualified Diver Assessment to that meeting.

1.15 The Central Committee is responsible for appointing an Exam Committee to provide Section Examiners with written questions and specimen answers for Part C of the Qualified Diver Assessment.

1.16 Regional Sections are responsible for reviewing the performance of Trainee Divers under 1.11 and 1.14 and to elect them to Qualified Diver by a simple majority vote at a Regional Section meeting.

2. Qualified Diver Assessment Standard.

The CDG Qualified Diver Assessment consists of three parts:

Part A - Submission of a record of caving and cave diving experience
Part B - Practical Test
Part C - Theory Test

2.1 Qualified Diver Assessment Standard Part A - Submission of a record of caving and cave diving experience.

2.1.1 The Trainee Diver will keep a Documented Record of their caving and cave diving experience.

2.1.2 The Documented Record will be made available to all Qualified Divers attending the Regional Section meeting at which the Trainee Diver wishes to be considered for Qualified Diver status.

2.1.3 The Documented Record must demonstrate the Trainee Diver's experience of caving and cave diving using a range of techniques under a variety of conditions. It is recommended that the Trainee Diver has completed a minimum of twenty cave dives at a variety of sites to include: caving to a sump, caving beyond/between sumps, vertical access (requiring a rope or ladder) and the use (or simulation) of decompression techniques).

2.1.4 The Trainee Diver must demonstrate awareness of the caving environment both in a physical sense (e.g. cave formation and development) but also in terms of cave conservation and access.

2.2 Qualified Diver Assessment Standard: Part B - Practical Test

2.2.1 The Practical Test must be carried out at a diving site with poor visibility and a muddy bottom, with a minimum depth of three metres.

2.2.2 Full kit as chosen by the candidate for cave diving, must be worn.

2.2.3 Full kit shall include two independent breathing sets suitable for a dive of at least 30 minutes duration.

2.2.4 Assemble and check breathing apparatus and weight for neutral buoyancy.

2.2.5 Demonstrate the use of a buoyancy compensator and/or dry suit for controlling buoyancy (if a dry suit is worn).

2.2.6 Demonstrate the ability to change between breathing sets.

2.2.7 Demonstrate the ability to control a failed regulator due to:

2.2.7.1 A damaged or clogged exhaust port by purging the regulator for each breath.

2.2.7.2 A free-flowing regulation by turning the cylinder tap on and off for each breath and also to give a controlled slow free flow so as to free both hands.

2.2.8 Demonstrate how to clear a flooded mask and reinstate an interrupted breathing supply.

2.2.9 Lay a tagged line for fifty metres using a variety of belaying techniques, belay the end and survey "home".

2.2.10 Lay a branch line to the surface, and fit a buoyant aid, having previously marked the main line with a home tag. Remove the buoyant aid, branch line and home tag.

2.2.11 Having "lost" the main line in bad visibility, demonstrate the use of a search reel to regain the main line.

2.2.12 Survey the line back to the reel. Release the belay and reel in back to "home".

2.2.13 Demonstrate to the examiner's satisfaction the ability to clear tangled line.

2.2.14 Demonstrate the ability to recognise a cardiac arrest, how to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, maintain an airway and control bleeding.

2.3 Qualified Diver Assessment Standard: Part C - Theory Test

2.3.1 The Trainee Diver will answer a written paper relating to cave diving problems including; navigation, open-water diving problems, physiological problems, elementary first aid, standard and specialised equipment, equipment maintenance, porterage, cave rescue procedures, in-water decompression techniques, use of decompression tables and specific decompression problems relating to cave diving.

2.3.2 The Exam Committee will provide the questions and answers for the written paper to Section Examiners. Section Examiners will ensure that the written paper accurately assesses the Trainee Diver's understanding of cave diving.