|  | Attended the caven and overhead environment course with Martyn in January this year. Excellent course with a very hands on approach.
I had a superb weekend with the course being the right balance between class based and practical skills. The course is very thought provoking and the skills taught made me think seriously about how I had conducted previous wreck dives and whether previous training and kit configuration was adequate to get me out safely if things went pear shaped.
I am now reviewing what I have learned and adjusting kit and dive procedures to make my future diving safer and more enjoyable.
Both my dive buddy and myself have signed on for the next level and cannot wait to experience the opportunity to gain more experience in diving what is a very unique environment.
Martyn is a top instructor and has the ability to convey his message in a manner that makes the learning of new skills a rewarding experience. Would recommend this course to anyone who is interested in cave diving or wishes to hone their skills in the overhead environment. |
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| | Introductory Cave Course - Porth yr Ogof
Three excellent, well run and highly educational courses were enjoyed with Martyn in 04/05. I have no reservations to recommend Martyn to anyone seeking the knowledge and skills to cave dive safely. He is an excellent instructor, patient, safe and inspirational. Cheers Martyn.
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Introductory Cave Course - White Lady Cave
I was a little anxious as to what to expect with UK cavern diving. It was all to be revealed in a two day overhead environment course with Martyn. After a warm welcome in July 2004, we setup in the classroom at Farrworld, Martyn briefed me on the two day course and the skills that this environment would require of a diver. I found Martyn’s teaching style to be of one which is largely based on his experiences in cave diving, and one which a student could ask no more. I found that every section of the training syllabus was backed up by a wealth of knowledge and discussion.
Those two days in Wales enticed me back to learn more and in November 2005 I completed the intro cave.
I have found both courses to be invaluable when undertaking this type of diving, in these environments the training you receive needs to be first class. (Dave Pinchin) |
| | Dear Martyn,
Thank you for a most informative and enlightening couple of days. I feel that I have achieved my personal main objective, which was "beefing up" the knowledge I obtained from my previous PADI cavern course in Mallorca. There were some life changing moments - I shall treat safety drills for out-of-air situations with even more seriousness, I shall be more aware of maintaining correct trim and avoiding inversions in confined environments, and I shall treat the potential for sudden zero visibility with increased respect and awareness. I shall also increase my conservatism in planning turn-round points.
Both yourself and Will communicated your knowledge and experience to my coursemates and I in a manner which allowed us to take on board what you were telling us. You were both very thorough, as well as kind and patient even when we didn't get it 100% right the first time. |  |
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When my friends and I went through Martyn's cave-diving courses our objective merely was to get a certification card to present at the dive centers during our planned holidays in Mexico, allowing us to rent the necessary diving equipment ...
Actually, we were seasoned divers with far more than a thousand logged dives and several years of cave exploration in Europe....but what had to happen happened...during our stay in South-Wales, we were literally overwhelmed by Martyn's cave-diving know-how and pedagogical skills...during the two course sessions that we visited (2001-2002), he gave us insight in many new cave diving techniques totally unknown to us and who made our diving safer and more enjoyable once back to the continent.
We also had gained a new, strong skills basis which helped us later and still today to successfully accomplish new cave-diving explorations....
And we never had to show our certifications cards (since we never went to Mexico...) |
| | After diving on the HMS Manchester expedition 2002 with a friend whose impressive wreck skills we attributed to his caving experience, we decided to do an Intro Cave course in 2003 with Martyn Farr... Martyn's style of instructing is calm personified. He gives you all the information you need beforehand, and then lets you get on with it underwater. When you screw up, he hangs back and lets you sort yourself out. This might seem brutal but it is the best way of making you self sufficient which ultimately will ensure your survival after the course is over. I learnt much, much more in the 5 minute lifetime I spent upside down in a self-created total silt out while trying to drop a stage cylinder wearing 7mm mitts, while Martyn hung back down the tunnel, than I would ever have learnt had he been a close and nannying presence. The other thing we liked about the course is the practicality. ...The caves are spectacular and there is a great sense of achievement at the end of the course. We recommend it to anyone who wants to cave dive or just increase diving skills in general.
Mario and Sarah Gauci, Full Cave Diver Course May 2004 |  |
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| | Cavern / Cave 1 / Cave 2
This series of courses are quite simply the best diving courses I have ever undertaken. Not just for the technical content or the way it makes you think, but the emphasis on safety and most importantly self-reliance.
Each course, from cavern to cave2 ‘raises the bar’ in terms of diving, safety and commitment, but as the commitment increases so do the required techniques and skills.
The progressive step change in each course takes you from Cavern (open water plus) to Cave 1 (techniques - flooded passage) to Cave 2 (techniques and experience flooded passage penetration on a series of dives).
Techniques and skills are coached and practised in classroom and cave and are so relevant to the project (each cave dive quickly becomes a project) that course interest level is 100%.
There are no moments when you catch yourself looking out the window !!
Martyn Farr has been cave diving at the highest levels continuously for 30 odd years. He remains dedicated, immensely enthusiastic, and runs his courses with safety and enjoyment as the priorities.
If you’re an open water diver who simply wants to increase his weekly diving safety level, or you wish to explore the world’s caves don’t mess about do it properly with Martyn. |
| | I undertook my cavern, intro cave and finally full cave, at Farrworld. I discussed the course structure with Martyn prior to starting cavern, his approachable and enthusiastic nature I found overwhelming. I considered the other training options but reasoned that Martyns experiences and abilities were where I would learn the most, and I wasn’t about to be proved wrong.
Having moved through the different courses, I can appreciate the benefit of each stage of the diver development process from cavern to full cave and how the previous course lays the foundations for the next.
The configuration of kit was stressed at each course, as well as new techniques which I have since found invaluable in open water and on wreck penetrations.
One thing which stood out for me personally from other courses was the aftercare Martyn takes in his students, always being available to answer e-mails or questions and give his advice and time freely.
The courses weren’t easy, but the rewards immense, if you are considering diving in this hazardous environment, then Farrworld is the best place to prepare yourself. | |
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| | I've always had an interest in caves and decide to combine this with my main passion, diving. My next decision was where to take the course and based on the fact I wanted to dive caves in this country I should take the course here. Martyn at Farrworld was the obvious choice based on his experience and reputation so myself and a friend booked up for the cavern course. I would have to say the course, training and dive site exceeded all expectations and more. Martyn's training style and pace are all designed to allow the student to learn without feeling unduly pressured. The main dive was done in an old mine covering all the skills covered in the training dive the day before. I would never have believed you could get 30m viz at an English dive site let alone a subterranean one unless I'd seen it. It's a great course run by one of the best intructors I've had the pleasure to meet and the diving was out of this world (OK it was under this world).
Some of the skills I've learnt on the course will also help and improve my open water and wreck diving experiences. If you're thinking of taking a course in cave diving, contact Martyn today. |
| | I initially took my Cavern course as an introduction to overhead environment diving and with no intention of continuing down the cave diving route. Martyn’s knowledge, enthusiasm, exceptional quality of teaching and sense of humour ensured that not only did I learn an enormous amount but I enjoyed it so much that I went on to take the Intro to Cave Diving course with him. The courses are challenging but Martyn’s high regard for safety and patient teaching manner ensures that you progress at your own pace and learn all the skills necessary to enjoy cavern and cave diving. I rated his instruction so highly that we send anyone interested learning cavern or cave diving directly to Martyn rather than teach them ourselves. | |
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| | Three excellent, well run and highly educational courses were enjoyed with Martin in 04/05. I have no reservations to recommend Martin to anyone seeking the knowledge and skills to cave dive safely. He is an excellent instructor, patient, safe and inspirational.
Cheers Martyn. |
| | Wanting to improve my overhead diving skills for wrecks, I thought I'd pop along to "FarrWorld" and attend Martyn's cavern and overhead environment course. What was I looking for? High priorities on the list were techniques in trim, propulsion, anti-silting and line-laying as too was a wish to learn from an experienced and knowledgeable instructor. Martyn was that for sure, and one of the most approachable instructors I had ever met, what awaited me underwater was everything on my list and more, something that was totally unexpected. As we submerged for that very first time into the silica mines a mix of excitement, privilege and awe flowed through my mind, but what I had also found was what I started diving for – A feeling of adventure.
My motivation for attending the first course, mastering skills needed for my other diving interests had now expanded to include this new and wonderful environment in it's own right – If the entry level course could be that good, what awaited me on an introductory cave course? I knew I now loved this environment but would required some serious instruction if I was going to explore deeper into the underwater cave world. The Introductory Cave course ran in similar locations to the overhead course and provided a good continuity in training that certainly helped with confidence. I was introduced to more of the environment, techniques and now special equipment needed for a safe foray into cave diving – If I had felt like an overhead environment diver after the first course, this course reminded me how much more serious going a little further was and how good instruction can really make all the difference. The skills from the first course started coming together in a more meaningful way for this environment allowing visits to places you know will stay in your memory for life.
Wow, that was all I could say on my first expedition dive during the third course. I knew I would be exposed to advanced dive planning, new equipment and many more cave systems – I was, and this now felt like the real thing. With longer penetrations, smaller passages, staging, caving and more complex diving through those cave systems, it was hard not to feel like you were joining an elite group. This was serious stuff; tasks unimaginable on the first course were being approached and conquered with determination, a solid determination created on the back of Martyn's instruction that you knew in your bones had been forged from many years of experience in this environment.
Later whilst cave diving those same systems where I had trained, I broke through into the cave's upper dry system. It had taken several weeks of diving and many dives trying to get there. As I surveyed the cavern around me enveloped in a feeling of pride and achievement, I knew I owed a huge debt to Martyn and the training I received at "FarrWorld", training which had allowed me to stand where few ever will.
Martyn, Thank you. | |
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