Cave
Cave Leader
The holder of this qualification can lead trips of up to 3 hours duration in horizontal caves where a maximum drop height of 3m is not exceeded. The cave must have easy access in and out for group management and in case of an emergency. The trips will be on well established routes. A low flow streamway may be encountered that does not require swimming or deep water management.
The cave leader can rig, instruct and manage simple handlines to assist clients on short vertical steps.
Two day assessment.
Cave 1
The holder of this qualification can organise, instruct and guide clients in horizontal caves where short vertical single pitches are expected and active streamways may be encountered. Short vertical pitches up to 15 metres, include only those where there is a clear line of sight and voice communication between the top and bottom person at all times.
The Cave 1 instructor can rig, manage and instruct the use of ladders, abseiling and belaying techniques to negotiate vertical pitches. Deep and moving water management techniques can be used to negotiate the active streamways.
Two-day assessment.
Photo Credits: Neil Silverwood
Course Outlines
On a NZOIA assessment there are a wide range of skills and knowledge that you will be tested on. Your Assessor will endeavour to ensure all areas in the syllabus are assessed. Below are outlines of what will likely be covered (depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment) and how it relates to the syllabus.
Cave 1 Assessment
Pre-course Information
Read and be familiar with the:
Presentation
Prepare and arrive with a presentation on an allocated topic, between 5-10 minutes in duration (strictly no longer than 10 mins). It is best if the presentation can be delivered without the use of technology, unless you can provide your own.
Assigned topic examples:
- Flora and Flora of caves in New Zealand
- Care, maintenance and longevity of caving gear and equipment
- Environmental impacts of caving and how to minimise them
- Cultural considerations when caving and how you could incorporate te ao Māori into a caving experience
- How caves are formed and geology of the assessment area
- The role of the NZ Speleological Society in caving
- The who and what of the NZ Cave Search and Rescue
- How did speleology in NZ develop as a sport?
Applicable components from the NZOIA Cave 1 Syllabus:
- Section 1: Describe understanding of the history and ethics of caving
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Section 2: Demonstrate the care and correct use of cave equipment and clothing
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Section 10: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
- Section 11: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge and interpretation of caving sites visited
- Section 12: Understand connections between te ao Māori and the cave environment