Training agency
Fédération Française d'Études et de Sports Sous-Marins
France's underwater sports federation; its national cave diving commission runs a Plongeur Souterrain 1-3 ladder built around three diving zones.
The FFESSM's Commission Nationale de Plongée Souterraine (CNPS) organises cave diver training for members holding at least FFESSM Niveau 2, and publishes a cave training manual (MFPS) and a cave logbook [1]. Its qualifications are Plongeur Souterrain 1, 2 and 3 (PS1-PS3), each defined against three zones: Zone 1 is the area under a roof lit by daylight; Zone 2 is an equipped (lined) cave with decompression stops of no more than 30 minutes, total immersion of no more than 90 minutes and a 40 m depth limit on air; Zone 3 is any cave, with depth limited only by the gases used [2][3][4].
PS1 is a learner level that dives Zone 2 with a PS3; PS2 dives Zone 2 in pairs in already-lined sumps; PS3 is fully autonomous in any zone and may accompany PS1 divers [2][3][4]. The PS1 and PS2 documents refer to a rule of quarters for gas planning, which differs from the rule of thirds used by many other agencies [2][3]. Divers certified elsewhere are assessed by an FFESSM cave instructor where no equivalence is recognised [2].
3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Plongeur Souterrain 3 (PS3) ↗Advanced cave · checked 2026-10-14 | Current FFESSM licence; medical certificate less than one year old; complementary insurance; PS2. | Full autonomy in cave diving and the ability to accompany a PS1 diver safely (as an example, not as a teacher). Seven technical competency groups plus two accompanying-skills groups; at least 40 cave dives in at least six different caves, including two multi-sump caves.As published (version 2020-01-01): may dive alone or with a diver of equal or higher level in any zone, with no FFESSM limit on duration or depth (Zone 3 depth is limited by the gases used). |
| Plongeur Souterrain 2 (PS2) ↗Full cave · checked 2026-10-14 | Current FFESSM licence; medical certificate less than one year old; complementary insurance; FFESSM Niveau 3 or a recognised equivalent; PS1. | Autonomy in pairs in already-lined sumps: specialist equipment, line management and repair, gas planning, reading the cave and adapting logistics, decompression management, and handling environment- or equipment-related incidents. Continuous assessment of seven competency groups, at least 20 cave dives in at least three different caves, and a theory test of up to one hour.As published (version 2020-01-01): may dive in pairs within Zone 2 with a diver of equal or higher level; PS2 divers may dive as a three under the responsibility of a CNPS instructor on site. Limited in depth and duration to Zone 2. |
| Plongeur Souterrain 1 (PS1) ↗Intro cave · checked 2026-10-14 | Current FFESSM licence; FFESSM Niveau 2 or a recognised equivalent; medical certificate less than one year old; complementary accident and repatriation insurance; parental authorisation for minors. | A learner cave qualification: rigging the diver's own equipment (maximum twin 12-litre cylinders), buoyancy and trim, line following including crossing lines and handling entanglement with a blacked-out mask, gas planning with the rule of quarters, light management, buddy awareness, decompression planning, basic karst science and the administrative framework. Five competency groups validated by a cave instructor and recorded in a personal logbook.As published (version 2020-01-01): may dive in lined caves within Zone 2 only when accompanied by a diver of at least PS3 level. Zone 2 limits are decompression stops of no more than 30 minutes, total immersion of no more than 90 minutes and 40 m depth on air. |
Further reading
Cave diver training stages and terminology
Cavern and cave diving: what is the difference
How to choose a cave instructor or training provider
Keeping skills current: continuing education, currency and mentoring
Every fact on this page, with its source (3)
| Fact | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FFESSM cave training is offered to divers holding at least FFESSM Niveau 2 and leads to Plongeur Souterrain 1, 2 and 3. | Verified | [1] [2] [3] [4] |
| FFESSM defines Zone 1 as daylight-lit overhead, Zone 2 as a lined cave with no more than 30 minutes of stops, 90 minutes total immersion and 40 m on air, and Zone 3 as any cave with depth limited by gas.Version dated 2020-01-01. | Verified | [2] |
| The PS1 and PS2 competency documents refer to a rule of quarters for gas management. | Verified | [2] [3] |
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