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.