Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) Cave

DPV Cave

WHY TAKE THIS COURSE?

The use of diver’s propulsion vehicles (DPV) or scooters has a long tradition in cave diving. DPVs are often used as an important tool to further increase the penetration distance or to carry additional heavy dive equipment into the cave.

Since failure of a DPV in an overhead environment might expose divers to a high level of risk, an in-depth knowledge of gas management and contingency planning is required to use a DPV safely during such dives. GUE cave divers are known worldwide for their successful use of DPV’s during long range exploration cave dives.

Who Is It For?

As an advanced cave diving course, the DPV Cave course is available to experienced GUE Cave 2 divers with prior experience in use of a DPV.

In the DPV Cave class, all scooter-specific skills are practiced to mastery level. Special consideration is paid to awareness, navigation, dive planning and gas management while using multiple DPV’s.

What Will I Learn?

Course outcomes include, but are not limited to: reinforced skills from GUE’s DPV 1 course, management of multiple DPVs and all the ramifications of their use, stage cylinders handling, and cave environment-specific applications.

Applicants for a GUE DPV Cave course must:

  • Be a minimum of 18 years of age.
  • Be physically and mentally fit.
  • Be a non-smoker.
  • Be able to swim.
  • Obtain a physician’s prior written authorization for use of prescription drugs, except for birth control, or for any medical condition that may pose a risk while diving.
  • Have passed GUE’s DPV 1 course.
  • Have passed GUE’s Cave 2 course.
  • Have a minimum of 50 Cave 2 dives beyond certification.
  • Have a minimum of 25 DPV 1 dives beyond certification.
  • Own a GUE-sanctioned DPV with sufficient burn time for the cave environment.
  • For a full list of course prerequisites, click here.
The Diver Propulsion Vehicle Cave course is normally conducted over five days. It requires a minimum of five dives and at least 40 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom lectures, land drills, and in-water work.

Take the Next Step

Underwater Cave Survey

Cave survey and cartography are highly important aspects of cave exploration and are useful for all advanced cave divers. In this special GUE class, divers will learn all the required skills to conduct a full survey of the cave starting from an in-water survey to drafting a map of the cave.

During the class, team-based survey procedures and dive planning are introduced together with additional tools and specialized equipment.

CCR FUNDAMENTALS

The GUE CCR Fundamentals course is designed to help divers make a smooth transition from open-circuit to closed-circuit diving. The course provides a structured and supportive environment where divers can develop essential skills in rebreather management, maintenance, and operational protocols.

Emphasizing safety and confidence, it challenges students to master the key aspects of rebreather diving while ensuring a solid foundation for future technical diving.
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