TDI Mine Diver Level I

This course is the first stage in the TDI Mine Diver Development Program and is an introduction to the basic principles of mine diving utilizing a single primary guide line. This introduction is not intended to train divers for all facets of mine diving. The objective of this course is the perfection of skills taught in the TDI Cavern Diving Program, in addition to the adoption of additional techniques and procedures required for elementary mine dives. This course may be combined with TDI Mine Diver Level II at the discretion of the instructor.This course uses the same principles and techniques as the TDI Intro to Cave Course, including utilizing the same training materials and equipment. However, dual certification is not permitted and graduates wishing to dive in caves must complete the TDI Intro to Cave Course.

See TDI Mine Diver Level II here.

Who this course is for:

Cavern divers who are interested in learning techniques for diving in flooded mines

Course prerequisites:

Minimum age 18
Certified TDI Cavern Diver or equivalent

What you can expect to learn:

The following topics must be covered during this course:

Policy for mine and cave diving
Gas matching procedures and management to include dissimilar volumes
Psychological considerations
Equipment considerations
- Cylinder options
- Regulator options
- Buoyancy compensator device (BCD)/harness options
- Reel options
- Proper weighting
- Equipment configurations
Communication
- Hand signals
- Light signals
- Touch contact signals
Swimming techniques
- Body posture/ trim
- Buoyancy control
- Line following
- Propulsion techniques
Physiology
- Breathing techniques
- Stress management
Mine environment
- Types of mines
- Geology
- Structure
- Hazards
- Local access requirements
- Land owner relations
Conservation
Problem solving
Accident analysis
Review of dive tables and decompression theory
Mine and cave diving etiquette

Required skill performance and graduation requirements

All of the following information must be determined/obtained and utilized in dive planning:

What material(s) were extracted from the mine and by what method(s)
Were toxic solutions or substances used or created during the extraction process and is there a risk of such substance(s) remaining or of any general pollution – If so, ascertain which location(s)
Obtain a detailed map of the mine from the mining company or whoever is responsible for the site
Are there any known or potentially collapsible tunnels?
All known access and egress points from the mine, their depths and possible emergency traverses to other exits
Type(s) of sediment in the mine
Type of ceiling supports; i.e. wooden or metal and how to detect signs of wear, type of debris left in the mine
All possible entanglement points
Location, size and depth of vertical extraction shafts
Points that could damage divers’ delicate equipment such as lines, dry suits, etc
Line options
How to evaluate the stability of a passage
Existing collapse points
Special equipment requirements
Type of entry/exit

Land drills

How to properly:
- Deploy a guideline
- follow a guideline
Use of safety reel in:
- Lost diver procedures
- Lost line drill

The student must perform the following S-drill and skills during all dives:

Demonstrate:
- Adequate pre-dive planning
- Equipment check and equipment matching
- Bubble check
- Specialized propulsion techniques in varying types of flow
- Proper buoyancy control
- Proper body posture
- Proper stress analysis (detection and management)

In-water skills

Properly deploy a guideline
Properly use line markers
Properly follow a guideline with eyes open and closed, simulating loss of visibility
Air share with a buddy with eyes open, following the guideline
Air share with a buddy with lights off, eyes closed and use touch contact, following the guideline
Remove and replace mask while in contact with guideline
Demonstrate light/hand -signals and touch contact
Conservation and awareness techniques
Referencing as back-up navigation
Demonstrate adequate anti-silting techniques
Simulate a primary light failure, and use back light to exit the mine
Demonstrate lost line and lost diver drills
Identify and avoid potential hazard, entanglement and collapse points

What’s in it for you?

Upon successful completion of this course, graduates may engage in single guideline mine diving activities without direct supervision, provided the graduates adhere to the following limits:

Penetration is limited to 1/3 of a single diving cylinder, or 1/6th if using double cylinders
40 metres/130 feet maximum depth
No decompression diving
Maintain a continuous guideline
Proper mine diving equipment is used
Upon successful completion of this course, graduates are qualified to enroll in TDI Mine Diver Level II