Kategorie: News
Experience in mine and cave diving, fascinating specialist lectures
The PATD diving association invites you to a special event on June 26 and 27, 2026: An exclusive weekend at the Nuttlar slate mine, offering divers of all experience levels the rare opportunity to experience the fascination of mine and cave diving up close and to exchange ideas with renowned speakers on important topics related to diving.
The program includes four high-caliber lectures given by recognized experts from the diving and research community. The topics cover key aspects of modern diving practice:
Deco theory – current findings and practical applications. Dominik Elsässer will be our speaker on this topic. Together with Veronika Sievers, he is the author of the book “Dekotheorie” (Editorial Note: Deco Theory), published in 2025, the German-language book on the subject. It is a treat not only from a technical point of view, but also from a didactic one. As the winner of the “Teaching Award for Outstanding Achievements in Teaching,” presented by TU Dortmund University in 2020, Dominik promises science at the highest level, presented in an entertaining and understandable way.
Diving medicine – emergency physician, specialist in anesthesia, lecturer, high-altitude air rescue, and much more could be written in Thorsten Schmid's CV. Thorsten is sharing his expertise with us and will be giving a talk on diving accidents and emergency assistance, especially when the ambulance won't be with us in 10 minutes. We look forward to insights, tips, and tricks that go beyond what we learn in a classic first aid course and are tailored to the specific needs of divers.
Exploration dives – exciting insights into discoveries and expeditions. In the recent past, there have been some exciting reports and quite a bit of “new territory” in the caves of Europe. What has changed most is that it is no longer huge teams with days of material battles, but small teams with optimally adapted equipment that are making successful advances at breathtaking speed. We look forward to unique insights and exciting reports.
How it all began – Ralph Wilhelm, not only the founder of PATD, but also a famous veteran of the cave diving scene. Ralph takes us on a journey to the beginnings of technical cave diving. Exciting explorations, technical developments, all accompanied and influenced by Ralph Wilhelm, who was also, to a certain extent, a pioneer of today's possibilities. We look forward to sharing exciting stories, anecdotes, and interesting facts with you.
In addition to the lecture program, the event will be rounded off by a comprehensive range of diving activities. These include:
• Guided dives in the Nuttlar mine for recreational divers and technically certified divers
• Independent diving for already certified cave divers who want to explore the fascinating diving area on their own
The event is aimed both at divers who want to gain initial experience and contacts in the field of cave, mine, and technical diving, as well as experienced technical or cave divers who want to deepen their knowledge and exchange ideas with the community.
Saturday evening will be all about “exchange, networking, cozy get-togethers, and enjoyment.” The event venue “Linie 78” in Olsberg will be available exclusively to us for the evening, and a rich buffet and drinks for every taste will ensure enjoyment. We will take care of the exchange, getting to know each other, and good conversations ourselves.
The PATD diving association is looking forward to creating an extraordinary diving experience with this event, which will impart knowledge, promote safety, and give all interested parties the chance to gain insights into an otherwise hidden world.
Information on prices and registration can be found at the following links:
https://www.patd.de/events-und-touren/
https://facebook.com/patd.de
Contact for inquiries:
PATD Diving Association
marvin.keiffer@patd.de