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Complete Cavern to Full Cave

TDI · Technical / Cave

Complete Cavern to Full Cave

Ten-day TDI Cavern-to-Full-Cave progression in the Riviera Maya, built around the full Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave pathway with 16 cave dives / 420+ minutes when entering without prior cave certifications.

Why learn with Xico

Runs Even With One Client This product does not depend on Xico filling a group before it can operate.

Real Dive Center Facilities A physical dive center with showers, lockers, retail, rental gear, and diver facilities before and after the activity.

Close to the Beach and Boat Pickup The Playa del Carmen dive center is close to the beach and local boat pickup for simple dive-day logistics.

Insured Professional Operation Required business, boat and vehicle insurance.

Your Training Journey

How the course works

TDI learning

Knowledge development

Included

Required TDI eLearning / learning material for the Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave progression is included in the Xico program.

Skills practice

Confined-water training

1 confined-water session

Land/confined-style drills and equipment evaluation are completed before and throughout the cave progression as required by the instructor.

Real-world training

Open-water training

16 training dives · Riviera Maya cenotes across the Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave phases.

For a diver entering the cave program without Cavern/Intro certification: minimum 16 cave dives and 420 minutes total cave bottom time, excluding decompression time, with progression through the applicable TDI Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave requirements.

Course Schedule

Your 10-day training plan

Days 1–3 Daily schedule confirmed with Xico

TDI Cavern Diver Phase

Develop overhead foundations, gas planning, guideline skills, trim/propulsion and emergency procedures within Cavern limits. Typical Xico training uses Garden of Eden and Chikin-Ha.

Days 4–6 Daily schedule confirmed with Xico

TDI Intro to Cave Phase

Progress beyond the natural-light zone into single-guideline cave procedures, team discipline and cave problem solving. Typical Xico training uses Chikin-Ha and Tajma Ha.

Days 7–10 Daily schedule confirmed with Xico

TDI Full Cave Diver Phase

Complete the Full Cave progression with the required dive count, bottom time and site diversity. Typical Xico training expands to sites such as Garden of Eden and Minotauro.

Before You Book

Everything you need to start

Included

TDI Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave instruction
Minimum 16 cave dives / 420+ minutes when entering without prior Cavern or Intro certification
Land/confined-style drills and scenario training
Course-use cave lights, guideline/reels and line markers
Cylinders and weights for the confirmed training plan
Required TDI eLearning / learning materials for all three levels
TDI certification processing for each level successfully completed
Scheduled cenote entrances and ground transport in the confirmed Xico program
Towel and locker at Xico Dive Center

Extras / not included

Personal technical BCD/regulator configuration unless explicitly confirmed as an included rental option

Requirements

Minimum age 18 for the full pathway to Full Cave
Open Water Diver or accepted equivalent
At least 25 logged dives before starting the cave pathway
Strong buoyancy, trim, propulsion and team awareness
Required diver medical screening
Suitable technical/cave equipment configuration approved by the instructor
Progression to each next level depends on successful completion of the previous level

Course details

Agency: TDI
eLearning: Included
Confined water: 1 session
Training dives: 16 training dives
Training location: Riviera Maya cenotes across the Cavern, Intro to Cave and Full Cave phases.
Equipment: Custom
Materials: Included
Availability: On request

More course details What to bring, training logistics and instructor requirements

What to bring

Certification cards / digital proof
Dive log or proof of experience
Personal exposure protection and approved technical equipment
Medical documentation if required

Training schedule: Ten-day cave progression. Exact site order and daily schedule may change to meet training objectives, TDI requirements, student progress, access and conditions.

Open-water logistics: No ocean boat is required; Xico arranges ground logistics to the selected Riviera Maya cenote training sites.

Schedule note: The ten-day block is scheduled privately around instructor availability, student readiness, cenote access and conditions.

Certification requirements: Training is conducted and evaluated by an appropriately qualified instructor for the course agency.

Course Details

Complete TDI Cave Training: Cavern to Full Cave

This ten-day Xico program is the complete progression for an experienced recreational diver who wants to move through TDI Cavern Diver, TDI Intro to Cave Diver and TDI Full Cave Diver as one structured training pathway in the Riviera Maya.

Ten Days Instead of Rushing the Minimum

Current TDI Full Cave standards require a diver entering without prior Cavern/Intro certification to complete 16 cave dives and at least 420 minutes of total cave bottom time. TDI requires the consecutive Cavern, Intro and Full Cave sequence to span at least seven days. Xico schedules ten days to create more room for skill development, repetition and performance-based progression.

Three Levels, One Progression

The first phase develops cavern procedures and overhead awareness inside Cavern limits. The second phase moves into Intro to Cave single-guideline procedures. The final phase develops the planning, navigation and problem solving required at Full Cave level. Advancement is earned; the instructor can slow or stop progression if the required performance is not demonstrated.

Training Across Multiple Cenote Environments

The Xico training plan draws on the sites used in our Cavern, Intro and Full Cave courses, commonly including Garden of Eden, Chikin-Ha, Tajma Ha and Minotauro. Exact sites remain subject to instructor objectives, site access, student progress and conditions.

Ready to go?

Check course availability

Tell us your preferred start date, number of students and any questions. The Xico team confirms instructor availability, the training schedule and next steps before your course is booked.

Direct confirmation from the Xico team
Instructor and course schedule checked
Requirements reviewed before training

Prefer WhatsApp? Message Xico →

Good to Know

Questions before you book?

What certifications are covered in the complete Cavern to Full Cave program?

The program is Xico’s staged pathway through TDI Cavern Diver, TDI Intro to Cave Diver and TDI Full Cave Diver. Progression is performance based: the instructor must be satisfied that the requirements of each level are met before the student advances to the next level. Successful completion of the full pathway results in the applicable TDI certifications for all three levels.

How much cave training is required when starting the complete pathway?

For a diver entering the TDI cave program without prior Cavern or Intro to Cave certification, current TDI Full Cave standards require 16 cave dives and at least 420 minutes of total cave bottom time, excluding decompression time. TDI requires the consecutive Cavern, Intro and Full Cave sequence to span at least seven days; Xico schedules the complete program over ten days.

Will Xico run my course if I am the only student?

Yes. Xico can run its courses with one booked student, so you do not have to wait for us to fill a group. Your requested start date still needs instructor and operational confirmation.

Do I need medical clearance for scuba training?

Scuba students complete the required diver medical screening. Depending on your answers, physician approval may be required before in-water training. Any external physician or consultation cost is separate unless a course page explicitly says otherwise.

Can I choose my course start date?

Send us your preferred start date. Xico will check the appropriate instructor, training schedule and any required training logistics before confirming the course. Start dates are flexible, but a website request is not an instant booking confirmation.