Photo by Mikhail Vedyokhin · CC BY-SA 2.5
TDI Underwater Cave Surveying
Underwater Cave Surveying teaches cave divers to map and document cave passages using precision surveying techniques. This foundational survey course is for Full Cave Divers seeking to contribute to cave documentation, exploration records, or conservation projects. Training covers survey methodology, data collection using line, compass, and depth instruments, and the process of converting raw underwater measurements into usable cave maps suitable for expedition planning or publication.
Prerequisites
Certified 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.
Students complete 2+ cave survey dives of 60+ minutes each, demonstrating mastery of: underwater survey methodology and data collection, compass and line measurement techniques, depth recording under task-loading, emergency procedures during survey work, proper instrument handling, and accurate field note compilation for map construction.
Instructors Teaching This Course
Dive Centres Offering This Course
Mexico
United States
Indonesia
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 Underwater Cave Surveying
What are the prerequisites for TDI Underwater Cave Surveying?
TDI's standards require: Certified TDI Full Cave Diver. Minimum 25+ non-training full cave dives. Minimum age 18.
What is the minimum age for TDI Underwater Cave Surveying?
TDI's standards state: Minimum age 18.
What does TDI Underwater Cave Surveying training involve?
According to TDI's published standards: Students complete 2+ cave survey dives of 60+ minutes each, demonstrating mastery of: underwater survey methodology and data collection, compass and line measurement techniques, depth recording under task-loading, emergency procedures during survey work, proper instrument handling, and accurate field note compilation for map construction.
Where can I take TDI Underwater Cave Surveying?
13 dive centres and 15 instructors in the TecDiveTools directory teach TDI Underwater Cave Surveying, in Mexico, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia and Malta. Each is listed further up this page.