Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5
Cavern Diver
This introductory overhead environment course qualifies Advanced Open Water Divers to explore the light zone of caves—passages within sight of an exit—using guideline protocols and basic overhead techniques in a controlled, entry-level setting. You'll learn fundamental line-laying procedures, silt management, emergency protocols specific to shallow cavern environments, and self-rescue techniques. Cavern Diver is the essential entry point to overhead diving and is required before progressing to Introductory Cave or other technical specializations.
Centres that teach this course
13 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.
- $750total
- $600total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $275per day
- $330per day
- $295per day
- $300per day
- ByMoMoDiveMexicoCavern Diver1 student$245/day→ $980 for the 4-day minimum3 students$205/day→ $820 for the 4-day minimum each$245per day
- THB 29,000total
- THB 30,000total
- THB 29,000total
- THB 29,000total
- €1,000total
- €800total
Same training under a different agency
20 centres
A separate set of centres, teaching Cavern 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.
- $600total
- $950total
- $1,320total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Protec MexicoMexicoCavernPSAI1 student$420/day→ $2,100 for the 5-day minimum2+ students$370/day→ $1,850 for the 5-day minimum each$420per day
- Cave AdventurersUnited StatesCavernTDIPrivate class$450/day→ $900 for the 2-day minimumGroup class$350/day→ $700 for the 2-day minimum each$450per day
- $325per day
- $300per day
- Under The JungleMexicoCavern Diver (TDI)TDIprivate$345/day→ $1,725 for the 5-day minimumper diver in a group$295/day→ $1,475 for the 5-day minimum each$345per day
- Go Dive MexicoMexicoCavern diverTDIprivate$330/day→ $1,650 for the 5-day minimum2+ divers$300/day→ $1,500 for the 5-day minimum each$330per day
- $350per day
- $235per day
- THB 29,000total
- THB 20,000total
- THB 20,000total
- THB 20,000total
- THB 35,000total
- €1,000total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- €300per day
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Air Dive AlorIndonesiaCavernTDI1 student, privateIDR 3,200,000/day→ IDR 6,400,000 for the 2-day minimum3 studentsIDR 2,400,000/day→ IDR 4,800,000 for the 2-day minimum eachIDR 3,200,000per day
- MX$15,000total
Same tier, agency not stated
5 centres
These centres publish a price for Cavern, 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.
- $600total
- $500total
- €800total
- €450total
- THB 35,000total
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 Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent), minimum 10 logged dives, minimum 15 years old (with guardian authorization) or 18 years old. Maximum training depth equal to diver's previous certification level.
Instructors Teaching This Course
Mexico
United States
Thailand
Other locations
Dive Centres Offering This Course
Mexico
Thailand
United States
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 Cavern Diver
How much does IANTD Cavern Diver cost?
Published prices for IANTD Cavern Diver range across 8 centres in the TecDiveTools directory — roughly US$600 to US$1,150 at current exchange rates. In each centre's own currency: THB 29,000–30,000 (4 centres), $600–$750 (2 centres) and €800–€1,000 (2 centres). 5 centres charge 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 Cavern Diver take?
Between 2 and 4 days, based on the durations 10 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 Cavern Diver?
IANTD's standards require: IANTD Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent), minimum 10 logged dives, minimum 15 years old (with guardian authorization) or 18 years old. Maximum training depth equal to diver's previous certification level.
What is the minimum age for IANTD Cavern Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 15 years old (with guardian authorization) or 18 years old.
How many dives do I need before starting IANTD Cavern Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 10 logged dives.
What is the equivalent of IANTD Cavern Diver in other agencies?
At the same tier in TecDiveTools' cross-agency comparison: TDI Cavern, ANDI Cavern, RAID Cavern, PSAI Cavern Diver, NSS-CDS Cavern Tech Diver, SSI XR Extended Range Cavern Diving and NSS-CDS Single Tank Cavern 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.
What course comes after IANTD Cavern Diver?
The next step in IANTD's progression is IANTD Introductory Cave Diver.
Where can I take IANTD Cavern Diver?
52 dive centres and 76 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach IANTD Cavern Diver, in Mexico, the United States, Thailand and Indonesia. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of IANTD Cavern 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.