• To establish and maintain current guidelines in the form of physical and psychological standards, as well as equipment and techniques necessary for safe cave diving.
• To encourage education and distibution of safe cave diving information throughout the facilities of the organization and to provide a program of education and advanced training essential for safe cave diving.
• To achieve closer cooperation and understanding among members of the cave and recreational diving communities (and the general public) so they may work together toward the common goal of increasing safety in cavern and cave diving.
• To explore underwater caves and to encourage education and distribution of information to government, private industry and the general public.

To accomplish these goals, the NACD is organized to provide the following services:

Training and Education - The NACD establishes and maintains standards for safe cavern and cave diving.

Seminars and Workshops - The NACD is active in organizing and planning seminars and workshops, often in cooperation with organizations concerning equipment, techniques, safety, education, training, conservation and exploration.

Information Services - The NACD publishes and disseminates information regarding cavern and cave diving in the form of newsletters, journals, pamphlets, seminar proceedings, training manuals, cave maps, textbooks and safety reports.

Membership and Record Maintenance - The association maintains the records of certified cavern and cave divers and instructors as well as individual members of the organization.

Conservation - The NACD supports the preservation of the cave habitat and its unique flora and fauna through education, periodic clean-ups at popular dive sites and safety sign campaigns.

Exploration and Research - The NACD is active in conducting studies of accident prevention, management of cave diving sites, and stress in cave diving, and promotes scientific endeavors relative to archeology, cave geology, geology, hydrology and ground water pollution.