Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5
Adv. Cave - Survey Diver
This specialized training qualifies Technical Cave Divers to systematically map, photograph, and document cave passages using proper survey techniques and underwater photogrammetry. You'll learn line laying and baseline measurement, data recording under overhead conditions, and coordination with team members to ensure accurate spatial documentation. Survey diving opens opportunities to contribute to cave research projects, expeditions to unmapped systems, and scientific diving efforts that advance speleological knowledge.
Centres that teach this course
3 dive centres in the directory publish a price for this exact certification, checked Sep 2026. Each centre's own wording is shown beneath its name. Ranges cover whole-course prices only — where a centre charges per day or per dive, its rate is listed separately below, since a daily figure is not comparable with a course total.
- $378total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $295per day
- €750total
Same training under a different agency
3 centres
A separate set of centres, teaching Cave Survey under a different agency. These are not the same certification — the standards and the card differ — but they cover the same depth and scope, which is why centres price them alike. Every row here names whose rating it is, and none of them is counted above.
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- CDT Mexico (Cave Diving Training)MexicoCave SurveyTDI1 student$300/day→ $1,200 for the 4-day minimum$300per day
- Protec MexicoMexicoCave SurveyPSAI1 student$440/day→ $1,760 for the 4-day minimum2+ students$390/day→ $1,560 for the 4-day minimum each$440per day
- Under The JungleMexicoCave SurveyTDIprivate$345/day→ $1,380 for the 4-day minimumper diver in a group$295/day→ $1,180 for the 4-day minimum each$345per day
Same tier, agency not stated
1 centre
These centres publish a price for Cave Survey, but their own wording does not say which agency's certification it buys — many teach several and name the card only once you enquire, and some price one course for either agency. The figure is comparable; the certification is not identified, so we do not guess at one.
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $400per day
These prices are not like-for-like. Two centres can charge very differently for the same certification because they include different things. One price may cover twinsets, stages, deco gas and cylinder rental for every training dive, a dedicated classroom for the theory, boat or transport to the site, and the agency's registration and materials; another may be tuition only, with all of that charged separately — or the other way round, with a centre bundling in extras the first leaves out. Class size, whether the course is one-to-one, and how many days are allowed for it move the figure too. Check what each centre's price includes before comparing them, and confirm with the centre before booking.
Consumables are usually extra. Sorb, helium, O₂ and other fills, park and cenote fees, certification fees and rental are commonly charged on top.
Packages combining several certifications, upgrades from an existing one, and open-ended day rates are excluded — none of them is the standalone price of this course, and including them would move the figures away from what a new student can actually book.
Prerequisites
IANTD Technical Cave Diver (or equivalent), minimum 25 logged cave dives, minimum 18 years old. Training depth limited by current cave depth certification.
Instructors Teaching This Course
Dive Centres Offering This Course
Indonesia
Thailand
We're still building out the directory country by country, so this list isn't every instructor or dive centre teaching it in the world — more locations are coming soon.
Common questions about IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver
How much does IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver cost?
Published prices for IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver range across 2 centres in the TecDiveTools directory — roughly US$370 to US$850 at current exchange rates. In each centre's own currency: €750 (1 centre) and $378 (1 centre). 1 centre charges by the day instead, which is not comparable with a course total. Prices differ mainly in what they include, so compare the inclusions before comparing the numbers. Prices were last checked in September 2026.
How long does IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver take?
Between 2 and 3 days, based on the durations 3 centres publish for it. The time depends on the centre's schedule, weather, and how quickly the required skills are demonstrated — agencies set a minimum number of dives, not a fixed number of days.
What are the prerequisites for IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver?
IANTD's standards require: IANTD Technical Cave Diver (or equivalent), minimum 25 logged cave dives, minimum 18 years old. Training depth limited by current cave depth certification.
What is the minimum age for IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 18 years old.
How many dives do I need before starting IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 25 logged cave dives.
What is the equivalent of IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver in other agencies?
At the same tier in TecDiveTools' cross-agency comparison: NSS-CDS Cave Surveying, TDI Cave Surveying Diver and PSAI Underwater Cave Survey and Cartography Diver. They cover comparable training, but each agency sets its own standards, depth limits and certification card, so they are comparable rather than interchangeable — check which one your next course accepts.
Where can I take IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver?
5 dive centres and 10 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver, in Mexico, the United States, Indonesia and Thailand. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver include gas and equipment?
Not always — it varies by centre. Certification fees, equipment rental and boat or site fees are commonly charged on top of the course price. Each centre's price list on TecDiveTools shows what it notes as included.