Training agency
Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques
The World Underwater Federation, based in Rome, whose international standards include a three-level cave diver ladder (Cave Diver 1 / Cavern, Cave Diver 2, Cave Diver 3 / Full Cave) delivered through member federations.
CMAS, the World Underwater Federation, lists its headquarters in Rome and publishes international training standards [1][2]. Its standards page includes cave diving instructor standards at three levels and a Cave Diver 2 standard and syllabus [2].
The Cave Diver 2 standard (number 2.B.36, adopted 2016-05-05) places the course as the second step towards CMAS Cave Diver 3 (Full Cave Diver) and refers to Cave Diver 1 as the cavern level [3]. It uses numbered cave zones: the Cave Diver 2 graduate may plan and dive in Zone 2 [3]. Standards for Cave Diver 1 and Cave Diver 3 were not listed on the CMAS standards page at the time of checking.
1 courses
Cave-related courses
As published on the organisation's own course or standards pages; the official page is the authority. Similar names elsewhere are not automatically equivalent.
| Course | Prerequisites | Scope and published limits |
|---|---|---|
| CMAS Cave Diver 2 (Cave Diver) ↗Intro cave · min. age 18 · checked 2026-10-14 | At least 18; CMAS Two Star Diver or equivalent; CMAS Cave Diver 1 (Cavern Diver) or equivalent, or a passed assessment; CMAS Nitrox Diver or equivalent; aptitudes of the CMAS Technical Skills course; sidemount certificate recommended; at least 50 open water dives including 10 night dives and four cavern dives since Cave Diver 1. | Second step towards CMAS Cave Diver 3 (Full Cave Diver): basic cave skills with limited penetration, planning and organising dives in CMAS Cave Zone 2, gas matching for dissimilar volumes, communication, line work, problem solving and accident analysis. Minimum three days, with at least six dives in Zone 2 in at least two different cave systems. Twin set of at least 4,800 bar-litres.As published in standard 2.B.36: single-guideline cave diving in Zone 2; penetration limited to one-third of available gas; maximum depth 30 m; continuous guideline; nitrox up to 40 percent with nitrox certification. Training ratio no more than three students per instructor in normal conditions. |
2
Providers stating this affiliation
| Provider | Where | How we know |
|---|---|---|
| The Cave To Be | Gramat | Provider's own website |
| Somewhere Out There Diving (SWOT) | Gauteng | Provider's own website |
Further reading
Cave diver training stages and terminology
How to choose a cave instructor or training provider
Every fact on this page, with its source (3)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CMAS lists its headquarters in Rome, Italy. | Verified | [1] |
| CMAS Cave Diver 2 is the second step towards Cave Diver 3 (Full Cave Diver); Cave Diver 1 is the cavern level. | Verified | [3] |
| The CMAS standards page lists Cave Diver 2 and three levels of cave diving instructor, but no Cave Diver 1 or Cave Diver 3 standard.As seen on 2026-10-14. | Verified | [2] |
Verified: stated by an official or primary source we opened. Reported: from a secondary source only. Sources conflict: the note gives both versions. May be out of date: the newest source we found is old.
Written in our own words from the sources above. Report a correction