CAVE DIVING INSTRUCTIONS    You've come to the right place for information concerning cave diving, cavern diving, technical diving, as well as guided tours in North Central Florida's cave systems, plus travel and  cave diving in the Yucatan, Mexico.  The underwater world is a vast and intriguing place.  Our website is a wealth of information to help you with the many facets of diving and it is my hope to be able to give you a feeling of excitement and wonderment while completing the steps of safe cave diving.

Your instructor, Michael O'Leary, former President  of the National Association of Cave Divers (NACD).    He also served as the NACD's International Safety Officer, reporting on cave diving accidents that occur throughout the world through a network of Regional Safety Officers, and as a training committee member, assisting the Training Director to maintain safe training, procedures and education.  Michael is one of the most experienced and thorough instructors out in cave country.

Michael is also an  instructor for the following accredited agencies:  The National Speleological Society Cave Diving (NSS-CDS) ; The International Association Nitrox and Technical Divers (IANTD);  Technical Diving International-Scuba Diving International  (TDI-SDI); He is also an open water instructor and a DAN O2 instructor.  

Michael began diving with the military in 1968.  For over ten years, he served as the Scuba Director and Safety Officer at a prestigious New York University.  Fascination with the beauty of the underwater world, coupled with intrigue for new adventure, captured his interest when he visited the caves in north central Florida in 1983.  After falling in love with the many beautiful and extensive Florida spring systems, he immediately became trained in cave diving.

Living within twenty miles of more than thirty springs and sinkholes, which are ranked among the best in the world, has provided the perfect environment for Michael's career as a full time instructor and guide.  During the decades he has been involved in diving, Michael has been the recipient of several awards, such as the Abe Davis Safe Cave Diving Award and the Wakulla Gold Award for the completion of over 1000 safe cave dives.  He is one of the earliest cave divers to explore the systems in north central Florida and has assisted in the exploration and survey of the Peacock III system, which lies in the heart of cave country in Florida.  Michael's goals are to establish safe training standards and procedures for all levels of diving certifications, and to promote aware in the conservations and preservation of Florida's cave systems. 

Physical fitness is an especially important part of  anyone's daily life,  particularly in the overhead environment. 

  Physical fitness is an especially important aspect of every diver's life, since some diving situations can place serious stress on the entire body, especially the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.  Anxiety, skill inefficiency, a poorly conditioned hearts, hyperventilation, obesity, equipment restrictions, breathing resistance, and heat loss are among the onset of fatigue. Diving is an sport, and a diver should not consider diving  a measure  to maintain physical fitness. It is suggested that the diver  incorporate a daily program of cardiovascular exercises, as well as weight training along with a healthy diet and life style in order to be prepared for the physical challenges presented to the diver. Michael maintains a high degree of fitness and endurance.   

 I prefer  Ross's workouts and Muay Thai boxing to stay physically and mentally fit. I visit Thailand to stay proficient at  Muay Thai boxing.

The key to proper training is the instructor.  Your instructor must be competent, knowledgeable, and a good teacher in good physical condition.   Every individual interested in partaking in a diving course should research potential instructors and should ask questions concerning their experience and health. There are plenty of "book smart" instructors out there, but many of them just spout a philosophy and don't live it.  This instructor does!  Diving is quite a demanding and unforgiving sport; choose your instructor wisely!

Experience as a diver, as well as, instructor  are other important aspects which directly impacts  the quality of training provided to students. It is essential to research the background of perspective instructors.  This sport is quite demanding and unforgiving at time, so choose your instructor  wisely because the Grim Reaper is always watching! Students sometimes place more importance on the price for a course than the  individual instructor who is teaching the course.  Yes, you will find less expensive courses.  However,  in this sport many instructors cut corners and students never know until the unforgiven arises.  I teach you how to  prepare and cope for those events.  In my course you get well more than what your pay for.  As I mentioned above, the overhead environment can be very unforgiving and receiving poor training will definitely catch up with the student soon or later.  I live to dive and I teach to dive!  I don't short change the student nor are there any short cuts in my courses!

 Michael is committed to training safe and competent students. Michael prides himself in his students' abilities to venture safely into another dimension, the underwater caves of Florida.

 Choose your instructor wisely and don't be caught with your pants down! 

Peace and safe diving always,

Michael O'Leary

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.  I am only too happy to accommodate you in any way I can.