Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5
Cave Surveying Diver
Specialized cave diving training for underwater surveying and cave mapping. Teaches surveying techniques, data collection methods, accurate navigation, documentation procedures, and scientific methodology for cave system mapping projects.
Centres that teach this course
2 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.
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $300per day
- Under The JungleMexicoCave Surveyprivate$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 training under a different agency
4 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.
- $378total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- 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
- $295per day
- €750total
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
TDI Full Cave Diver; Minimum 25 non-training full cave dives; Minimum age 18
Standards
What a diver must demonstrate to pass this course — not always published by the certifying agency.
Surveying-specific skills: accurate depth and compass data collection, distance measurement underwater, site documentation procedures, sketch mapping techniques, survey data organization, scientific rigor in cave mapping, navigation precision required for mapping accuracy
No instructors or dive centres found offering this course.
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 TDI Cave Surveying Diver
How much does TDI Cave Surveying Diver cost?
Every centre in the TecDiveTools directory that publishes a price for TDI Cave Surveying Diver charges by the day rather than for the whole course. 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 TDI Cave Surveying Diver take?
4 days, based on the durations 2 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 TDI Cave Surveying Diver?
TDI's standards require: TDI Full Cave Diver; Minimum 25 non-training full cave dives; Minimum age 18.
What is the minimum age for TDI Cave Surveying Diver?
TDI's standards state: Minimum age 18.
How many dives do I need before starting TDI Cave Surveying Diver?
TDI's standards state: Minimum 25 non-training full cave dives.
What does TDI Cave Surveying Diver training involve?
According to TDI's published standards: Surveying-specific skills: accurate depth and compass data collection, distance measurement underwater, site documentation procedures, sketch mapping techniques, survey data organization, scientific rigor in cave mapping, navigation precision required for mapping accuracy.
What is the equivalent of TDI Cave Surveying Diver in other agencies?
At the same tier in TecDiveTools' cross-agency comparison: IANTD Adv. Cave - Survey Diver, NSS-CDS Cave Surveying 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.
Does the price of TDI Cave Surveying 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.