SSI Cavern & Cenote Diving eLearning

SSI Cavern & Cenote Diving — eLearning & Certification Credit Only

Step into the world of overhead environment diving with the SSI Cavern & Cenote specialty. This course teaches the theory behind exploring beautiful underwater caverns and cenotes — unique spaces that offer light, structure, and adventure while maintaining a direct route to open water. This product includes your academic training and certification credit only; practical training must be booked separately.

What you’ll learn online

• The differences between cavern, cave, and cenote environments
• Light zones, navigation limits, and maintaining a continuous guideline
• Specialised equipment configurations and redundancy principles
• Gas planning and rule of thirds for overhead environments
• Communication, buddy procedures, and emergency protocols
• Environmental awareness, conservation, and buoyancy control techniques
• Hazard identification and psychological considerations of overhead diving

Optional practical training (booked separately)

Once you’ve completed the online theory, you can join an SSI Instructor for the in-water training component. Practical sessions typically include:

• Line handling, tie-offs, and guideline following techniques
• Simulated light failures and lost-line drills
• Gas management and team communication under overhead conditions
• Navigation within the light zone of a cavern or cenote
• Equipment configuration checks and emergency procedures

The practical sessions are not included with this eLearning product and must be booked separately with Dorset Diving or another SSI Dive Centre that offers the Cavern & Cenote specialty.

Important

• Before booking, confirm that the dive centre you intend to use offers the SSI Cavern & Cenote programme and has qualified instructors and suitable dive sites to conduct the training.
• You must be certified as a minimum Advanced Open Water Diver (or equivalent) and have good buoyancy and trim skills.
• Divers should be experienced in cold or limited-visibility environments before attempting overhead training.
• A medical questionnaire or recent dive medical may be required depending on local standards.

Free registration

To start your learning, register for a free SSI account and affiliate with our dive centre here:
Register with Dorset Diving.

What’s next?

After mastering Cavern & Cenote Diving, continue your overhead environment training with specialties like Deep Diving, Night & Limited Visibility, or move into the SSI Extended Range and Cave Diving pathways for greater depth and challenge.