Procedures[edit]
The procedures of cave diving have much in common with procedures used for other types of penetration diving. They differ from open water procedures mainly in the emphasis on navigation, gas management, and operating in confined spaces.
As most cave diving is done in an environment where there is no free surface with breathable air allowing an above-water exit, it is critically important to be able to find the way out. This is ensured by the use of a continuous guideline between the dive team and outside of the cave. Two basic types of guideline are used: permanent lines, and temporary lines. Permanent lines include a main line starting near the entrance/exit, and side lines or branch lines. Temporary lines include exploration lines and jump lines.
Decompression procedures may take into account that the cave diver usually follows a very well defined route, both into and out of the cave, and can reasonably expect to find any equipment temporarily stored along the guideline while making the exit. In some caves, changes of depth of the cave along the dive route will constrain decompression depths, and gas mixtures and decompression schedules can be tailored to take this into account.