A cave diver at the exit of an underwater cave

Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5

CaveGUE

GUE Cave Diver 1

Official course standards ↗Last updated September 7, 2026

Introduction to full-cave diving in overhead environments with restricted natural light and limited exit routes. Builds on Technical Fundamentals skills with cave-specific training: line-following, navigation, silt management, and team protocols in zero-visibility conditions. Training emphasizes proper gas management to keep divers within limited penetration distance from cave entrances, stress management, and emergency procedures. Unlocks access to GUE's cave progression and recreational cave diving worldwide.

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.

One centre publishes a price in US Dollar.

Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:

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

GUE Technical Fundamentals certification required. Minimum 100 logged dives beyond autonomous entry-level scuba diver certification. Minimum age 18. Must be physically and mentally fit, non-smoker, and able to swim.

Instructors Teaching This Course

Dive Centres 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 GUE Cave Diver 1

How much does GUE Cave Diver 1 cost?

One centre in the TecDiveTools directory publishes a whole-course price for GUE Cave Diver 1: Zero Gravity Dive Center Mexico, at $3,825. 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 GUE Cave Diver 1 take?

6 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 GUE Cave Diver 1?

GUE's standards require: GUE Technical Fundamentals certification required. Minimum 100 logged dives beyond autonomous entry-level scuba diver certification. Minimum age 18. Must be physically and mentally fit, non-smoker, and able to swim.

What is the minimum age for GUE Cave Diver 1?

GUE's standards state: Minimum age 18.

How many dives do I need before starting GUE Cave Diver 1?

GUE's standards state: Minimum 100 logged dives beyond autonomous entry-level scuba diver certification.

Where can I take GUE Cave Diver 1?

6 dive centres and 15 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach GUE Cave Diver 1, in Mexico and the United States. Each is listed further up this page.

Does the price of GUE Cave Diver 1 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.