INTRODUCTION
The NACD is a professional cave diving organization serving cave divers throughout the world. It is dedicated to promoting a greater appreciation and a full understanding of the unique underwater cave environment and to the special needs required for safe cave diving for the casual visitor and serious explorer alike.
The NACD offers special training and certification programs, regular seminars, and
workshops along with a variety of specialized publications. The NACD is a tax-exempt non-profit organization whose membership is open to all that have an interest in underwater caves. Voting membership is restricted to fully certified
cave divers.
ALL members receive discounts on publications, reduced admission fee for NACD events, seminars and workshops, subscriptions to the NACD newsletter as well as copies of NACD research bulletins and proceedings.
The NACD also promotes and encourages safe scientific and research diving as well as a closer cooperation among members of the recreational and cave diving communities in conjunction with the general public.
"The NACD does not condone or disapprove of Solo diving. The NACD believes that
individuals have the right to make decisions to dive in the manner that they choose as long as it does not endanger other divers or the environment. We believe that there are many ways to dive safely. We believe in the freedom to make decisions regarding your own well being."
Dedicated to Safe Cave Diving
The NACD was established in 1968, for the purpose of achieving safer cave diving through proper training and the development of maturity in judgment which minimizes taking unnecessary risks. It is the pioneer in cave diving training, education, exploration, and research with the following goals:
• To establish and maintain current guidelines in the form of physical and psychological
standards, as well as equipment and techniques necessary forsafe cave diving.
• To encourage education and dissemination of safe cave diving information throughout
the facilities of the organization and to provide a program of education and advanced
training essential for safe cave diving.
• To achieve closer cooperation and understanding among members of the cave and
recreational diving communities (and the general public) so they may work together
toward the common goal of increasing safety in cavern and cave diving.
• To explore underwater caves and to encourage education and dissemination of
information to government, private industry and the general public. To accomplish these
goals the NACD is organized to provide the following services:
Training and Education-The NACD establishes and maintains standards for safe
cavern and cave diving.
Seminars and Workshops-The NACD is active in organizing and planning seminars
and workshops, often in cooperation with organizations concerning equipment,
techniques, safety, education, training, conservation and exploration.
Information Services-The NACD publishes and disseminates information regarding
cavern and cave diving in the form of newsletters, journals, pamphlets, seminar
proceedings, training manuals, cave maps, textbooks and safety reports.
Membership and Record Maintenance-The association maintains the records of
certified cavern and cave divers and instructors as well as individual members of the
organization.
Conservation-The NACD supports the preservation of the cave habitat and its unique
flora and fauna through education, periodic clean-ups at popular dive sites and safety
sign campaigns.
Exploration and Research-The NACD is active in conducting studies of accident
prevention, management of cave diving sites, and stress in cave diving, and promotes
scientific endeavors relative to archaeology, cave ecology, geology, hydrology and
ground water pollution.
THE NACD PHILOSOPHY: QUALITY TRAINING, SAFE
TECHNIQUES RESPECT FOR THE SUB AQUATIC CAVE ENVIRONMENT
The goal of the NACD is not to encourage people to cave or cavern dive. The responsibility of the organization is to aid interested divers in becoming safe cavern or cave divers and to discourage those who may not meet minimum standards. The NACD philosophy of safe cave diving is based on a system of checks and balances to insure that NACD standards are maintained in each course.
A Strong Diving Partner Philosophy. The NACD strongly advocates diving with a partner as the best approach to safe cave diving. This system is one, which unites two or more individuals into an effective dive team. A partner is a member of a team who, in case of emergency, provides both emergency equipment, and the emergency gas supply. The divers must recognize individual strengths and weaknesses, create an attitude of mutual trust and honesty, and avoid personality differences to maximize team safety.
Pre-Dive Planning and Post Dive Critiques. A safe cave dive is totally dependent upon sensible dive planning based on common sense and good judgment. A dive plan does not set objectives; rather it delineates maximum guidelines for each dive.
Preparation and planning for a cave dive must take into consideration the equipment, training, experience and abilities of each team member. Constructive critiques after the dives are equally important in order to allow the cave divers to mature as a team. Development of Physical and Mental Capabilities. During a cave diving course, students are trained to avoid stressful situations and anticipate potentially hazardous conditions. Physical abilities of the diver are initially developed in confined and open water exercises. Students lacking the necessary skills and coordination are discouraged at this level. The cave diving student must learn to develop a safe diving philosophy and
continually think through the proper application of common sense, good judgment, techniques, skills, and experience.
Appreciation of The Cave Environment. The NACD promotes a basic understanding of this unique environment with its flora and fauna so that it can be fully enjoyed. Such respect helps establish the foundation for conservation efforts.
© 2015-2016 The NACD is owned by The NACD Membership and is a Not-For-Profit Organization
P.O. Box 14492 Gainesville, Florida USA 32604
Email: Info@nationalassociationforcavediving.org