Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5
Introductory Cave Diver
This entry-level cave certification qualifies Cavern Divers or Overhead Environment Divers to conduct limited penetrations into cave systems (typically less than 130 fsw / 39 msw) using fundamental guideline protocols and basic emergency procedures. You'll master line-laying techniques specific to cave geometry, silt management in cave environments, and emergency protocols appropriate for introductory-level penetrations. Introductory Cave Diver is the essential step toward full Cave Diver certification and enables access to limited-penetration cave systems worldwide.
Centres that teach this course
12 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.
- $1,000total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $275per day
- $330per day
- $295per day
- $300per day
- ByMoMoDiveMexicoIntroductory to Cave Diver1 student$245/day→ $980 for the 4-day minimum3 students$205/day→ $820 for the 4-day minimum each$245per day
- THB 39,000total
- THB 39,000total
- THB 30,000total
- THB 39,000total
- €1,000total
- €800total
Same training under a different agency
17 centres
A separate set of centres, teaching Intro to Cave 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.
- $1,050total
- $1,320total
- $800total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Protec MexicoMexicoIntro to CavePSAI1 student$420/day→ $2,520 for the 6-day minimum2+ students$370/day→ $2,220 for the 6-day minimum each$420per day
- Cave AdventurersUnited StatesIntro to CaveTDIPrivate class$450/day→ $900 for the 2-day minimumGroup class$350/day→ $700 for the 2-day minimum each$450per day
- $325per day
- CDT Mexico (Cave Diving Training)MexicoIntro to CaveTDI1 student$300/day→ $900 for the 3-day minimum$300per day
- Under The JungleMexicoIntro to Cave (TDI)TDIprivate$345/day→ $1,035 for the 3-day minimumper diver in a group$295/day→ $885 for the 3-day minimum each$345per day
- Go Dive MexicoMexicoIntro to caveTDIprivate$330/day→ $990 for the 3-day minimum2+ divers$300/day→ $900 for the 3-day minimum each$330per day
- $350per day
- $235per day
- €2,000total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- €300per day
- MX$9,500total
- MX$20,000total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- Air Dive AlorIndonesiaIntro to CaveTDI1 student, privateIDR 3,200,000/day→ IDR 9,600,000 for the 3-day minimum3 studentsIDR 2,400,000/day→ IDR 7,200,000 for the 3-day minimum eachIDR 3,200,000per day
- THB 25,000total
Same tier, agency not stated
5 centres
These centres publish a price for Intro to Cave, 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.
- $1,500total
- $900total
Charged by the day or dive rather than as a course price:
- $280per day
- Cave AdventurersUnited StatesApprentice CavePrivate class$450/day→ $900 for the 2-day minimumGroup class$350/day→ $700 for the 2-day minimum each$450per day
- 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 Cavern Diver or Overhead Environment Diver (or equivalent); minimum 30 logged dives; age 15+ with parent/guardian authorization or 18+. Maximum training depth is 130 fsw (39 msw).
Standards
What a diver must demonstrate to pass this course — not always published by the certifying agency.
Divers must demonstrate competency in proper line-laying and following, silt management, navigation in limited light, emergency procedures including line-following ascent, and team management in overhead environments.
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 Introductory Cave Diver
How much does IANTD Introductory Cave Diver cost?
Published prices for IANTD Introductory Cave Diver range across 7 centres in the TecDiveTools directory — roughly US$850 to US$1,200 at current exchange rates. In each centre's own currency: THB 30,000–39,000 (4 centres), €800–€1,000 (2 centres) and $1,000 (1 centre). 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 Introductory Cave Diver take?
Between 2 and 6 days, based on the durations 9 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 Introductory Cave Diver?
IANTD's standards require: IANTD Cavern Diver or Overhead Environment Diver (or equivalent); minimum 30 logged dives; age 15+ with parent/guardian authorization or 18+. Maximum training depth is 130 fsw (39 msw).
What is the minimum age for IANTD Introductory Cave Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Age 15+ with parent/guardian authorization or 18+.
How many dives do I need before starting IANTD Introductory Cave Diver?
IANTD's standards state: Minimum 30 logged dives.
What does IANTD Introductory Cave Diver training involve?
According to IANTD's published standards: Divers must demonstrate competency in proper line-laying and following, silt management, navigation in limited light, emergency procedures including line-following ascent, and team management in overhead environments.
What is the equivalent of IANTD Introductory Cave Diver in other agencies?
At the same tier in TecDiveTools' cross-agency comparison: NSS-CDS Apprentice Cave Diver, RAID Cave 1, SSI XR Cave Diving, ANDI Intro to Cave, TDI Intro to Cave and PSAI Intro to Cave 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 Introductory Cave Diver?
The next step in IANTD's progression is IANTD Cave Diver.
Where can I take IANTD Introductory Cave Diver?
51 dive centres and 75 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach IANTD Introductory Cave Diver, in Mexico, the United States, Thailand and Indonesia. Each is listed further up this page.
Does the price of IANTD Introductory Cave 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.