Scuba Coach Trace

(Cave diving class in northern Florida. Photo by Justin Bates.)

Cave divers do not have direct access to the surface in the event of an emergency. In a worst-case scenario, a cave diving team may find themselves experiencing a catastrophic malfunction of the gas supply at maximum penetration. They may need to swim half a mile or more out of a cave while sharing gas and making complex navigational decisions. Without careful propulsion techniques, silt may be disturbed on the bottom, walls, and ceilings of caves reducing visibility to zero. Lights may fail leaving divers in the dark. Divers who wish to dive in caves need proper training. Proper training allows divers to mitigate the risks and truly enjoy the serenity and beauty of one of the most unique and romantic environments on earth ... or rather, under it.

Passionate. That is the word most cave divers use to describe their love of cave diving. While others may think cave diving is just swimming by a bunch of "wet rocks" those who have taken the first few kicks into cave class discover an almost indescribable journey.

(Trace Malinowski entering the Devil's Eye system with three cave students. Photo by Justin Bates.)

cave diving

coaching for the elite underwater athlete

Cave Training Sites:

Ginnie Springs, Peacock Springs, Manatee Springs, Madison Blue Springs, Little River, Morrison Springs, Vortex Spring, Twin Caves, Hole in the Wall, Jackson Blue Spring, etc.

Watch this video if you are thinking about exploring inside a cave or shipwreck without training. You need CAVE TRAINING to Cave Dive. You need SHIPWRECK PENETRATION TRAINING to go inside a wreck.

Cave Diving

My journey into caves began with my first cavern dives at Ginnie Springs and Blue Grotto in 1996. I began teaching cave diving in 2005 and became a cave instructor trainer in 2011 with PSAI. I taught cavern, intro to cave, apprentice cave diver, cave diver, cave stage, cave DPV, cave decompression, multiple stage/multiple DPV, and I developed the first solo cave diver training program in 2007 for PDIC based on lessons learned from more than 1,000 cave dives in 35 systems in Florida and the Caribbean. I hold cave certifications with NACD, NSS-CDS, TDI, and IANTD as well, including NSS-CDS Cave Recovery, and I'm an RRSOM (Rescue/Recovery Site Operations Manager and Rescue/Recovery Diver with International Underwater Cave Rescue & Recovery (IUCRR).

Even though caves are always dark they become different environments at night. Sunlight no longer welcomes you to the exit and a guideline to open water is critical. The wildlife drawn to the springs at night is thrilling above and below the water. Most cave instructors only teach during the day and keep "office hours" during training. I will introduce you to the peace and tranquility of the springs and caves at night. You will usually make 2 - 3 training dives a day (two daylight dives and one night dive) during class. After full cave training, you can expand your range with stage bottles and diver propulsion vehicles or learn underwater map-making to gain a greater appreciation of the cave environment.

Cave Coaching:

Improving Your Cave Diving Skills
Swimming into Flow & Mastering Propulsion
Mastering Double Tank Failures
Safer Training Methods for Cave Instructors
Solo Cave Diving
Accident Analysis beyond the 5 Rules