excerpt from my newest book, Cave Diving- Safe and Smart

PSAI Cave Diving Manual Cave Diving Safe & Smart

PSAI’s new Cave Diving Manual, Cave Diving – Safe & Smart, contains 242 pages of up to date information for those interested in becoming a cave diver as well as serving as a comprehensive reference for those who are certified as cave divers. Authored by Steve Gerrard, Gary Taylor, and Martyn Farr; with contributions by Jeff Bozanic, Hal Watts, and Argyris Argyriadis this book provides a truly international perspective as well as a view that can only be brought by those with a long term history of involvement in cave diving. 

Below is an overview of the information included in the PSAI Cave Manual from the Table of Contents:

The PSAI Golden Triangle                                                                      
Disclaimer                                                                                              
History of the Professional Scuba Association International                       
Acknowledgements                                                                                
Giving Back                                                                                                     
Introduction                                                                                                      

CHAPTER 1 Cave Diving Training                             
          Introduction                                                                                            
          The Part of PSAI in the History of Cave Diving                               
Traditional and Modern Approach to Cave Diving Training              
PSAI Cave Diving Programs                                                                   

CHAPTER 2 History of Cave Diving                           
The Beginnings                                                                                      
The 1940’s                                                                                             
The 1950’s                                                                                             
The 1960’s and 1970’s                                                                            
The 1980’s                                                                                             
The 21st Century                                                                                    

CHAPTER 3 Master of the BCD                                
Introduction                                                                                            
Float Like a Buttery Fly                                                                           
Trim                                                                                                      
The Correct Choice of Your BCD and Harness                               
Weighting                                                                                              
Motion and Thrust                                                                                  
Power Fins and Straps                                                                           
Fin Kicks                                                                                                
Bad Habits Concerning Propulsion Techniques                               

CHAPTER 4 Navigation with Guidelines                                                   
Introduction                                                                                            
Choices of Guidelines                                                                             
The Reel                                                                                                
Code of Behavior                                                                                   
Running the Primary Reel                                                             
Line Traps                                                                                             
Communication Tools                                                                             
Guideline Applications                                                                             
Intersections                                                                                
Always Be Sure of Your Exit – Multiple Exits                                            
Complex Dive Protocol                                                                           
Line Maintenance                                                                                   

CHAPTER 5 Planning the Dive                                                                          
Introduction                                                                                            
Preparing for Your Dive                                                                          
Travel                                                                                                    
The Dive Site                                                                                         
Before the Dive                                                                                      
Organizing the Dive Plan                                                                        
Define the Dive Purpose                                                                         
Recognizing Risk                                                                                    
Communication                                                                                      
Pre-Dive Safety Protocol                                                                         
Knowing Your Limits                                                                               
Leadership                                                                                             
Unforeseen Events                                                                       
Review of Equipment Needs                                                                   
Mechanisms for the Dive Plan                                                                 

CHAPTER 6 The Use of Nitrox                                  
Purpose                                                                                                 
Naming                                                                                                  
Richness of Mix                                                                                      
Cylinder Markings                                                                                   
Dangers                                                                                                 
History                                                                                                   
Maximum Operating Depth                                                                     
Equivalent Air Depth                                                                               

CHAPTER 7 Decompression Illness                                                                   
Introduction                                                                                            
Predisposing Factors                                                                              
Type I Decompression Sickness                                                    
Type II Decompression Sickness                                                   
Other Forms of Decompression Sickness                                                
Symptoms                                                                                             
Barotrauma                                                                                            
Factors Associated with Decompression Sickness                                    
Diving Barotrauma                                                                                  
Use of a Recompression Chamber                                                          

CHAPTER 8 Breathing Gas Management                                                          
Introduction                                                                                            
Factors with Gas Planning and Consumption                                 
Calculating Gas Consumption                                                                 
Surface Gas Consumption Calculations                                         
The Sheck Exley One Third Rule                                                   
Comparable Volumes                                                                             
Comparable RMVs – The SAC Ratio Factor                                             

CHAPTER 9 Stress and Attitude                                                             
Stress                                                                                          
Attitude                                                                                                  
Sources of Stress                                                                                   
Mental Consequences of Stress                                                    
Physiological Consequences of Stress                                           
The Relationship Retween Mind, Body and Stress                                    
Recognizing Stress                                                                       
Managing Stress                                                                                    
Thinking Under Stress                                                                            
Summary                                                                                               

CHAPTER 10 Emergencies Require Action                                                        
Manageing Emergency Situations                                                 
What Causes Emergency Situations                                                        
Prevention                                                                                             
Solving Problems                                                                                   
Loss of Visibility                                                                                      
Light Failure                                                                                 
Light Failure Protocol                                                                              
Guideline Entanglements                                                              
Broken Guidelines                                                                                  
Buoyancy Control Device Failure                                                   
Regulator and Valve/Manifold Failure                                                       
The Lost Diver                                                                                       
Lost Diver Protocol                                                                       
Lost Line                                                                                                
Out of Gas                                                                                             
Getting In and Out of the Water                                                              
Summary                                                                                               

CHAPTER 11 Review of Accident Analysis                                                        
Lessons of Accident Analysis                                                                  
Why Do Trained Cave Divers Die In Caves                                              
Does Accident Analysis Really Help?                                                       
A 21st Century Look at Accident Analysis                                                 
Just Because You are Certified Does Not Mean You are Qualified  
Breathing Gas Mixtures                                                                          
The right Tools for the Task                                                                    

CHAPTER 12 Cave Exploration                                                                         
Why Explore?                                                                                        
Word of Mouth                                                                                       
Topographical Maps                                                                               
Google Earth                                                                               
Aerial and Satellite Photographs                                                    
Airplanes/Helicopters                                                                              
Books and Web Sites                                                                             
Responsibility with Land Owners                                                   
Logistics                                                                                                
Playing the Game of Exploration                                                   
Expedition Projects                                                                       

CHAPTER 13 Protecting the Fragile Cave Environment                                      
Respect for the Dive Site                                                                        
The Cave Diver                                                                                      
Land Owner Relations                                                                            
Graffiti                                                                                                   
Entrance and Exits                                                                       
Contamination from the Surface                                                    
Personal Responsibility and Education                                           
The Future                                                                                             
Summary
GLOSSARY                                                                                                                               TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTINUED
APPENDIX                                                                                                       
Useful Relationships, Formulas, & Laws for Cave Divers                          
Field Neuro Exam                                                                                   
Recompression Chamber Information                                                      
In Water Recompression                                                                        
DAN Medical Services Recompression Chamber Assistance Program       
The Divers Alert Network DAN                                                                
Specific Recompression Chamber Information                               
Buhlmann Air Decompression Tables                                                      
U.S. Navy Air Decompression Tables                                                      
U.S. Navy EAN32 Tables                                                                        
U.S. Navy EAN 36 Tables                                                                       
PSAI Cave Diving Team Planning Log                                                     

PSAI Dive Programs
          PSAI Sport Diver Programs                                                                    
PSAI Technical Diver Programs                                                              
PSAI Technician Programs                                                                     
PSAI Sport Professional Programs                                                          
PSAI Technical Professional Programs                                          
Additional PSAI Program Information