What distinguishes a simple traverse from a complex traverse?

A simple traverse is characterized by the ability to be completed on a single dive. This means that the diver is able to navigate from one point to another without needing to ascend and perform multiple dives to complete the entire distance. In cavern diving, simplicity often refers to less complicated navigational challenges and fewer variables to manage during the dive. A simple traverse may still involve navigating through twists and turns or varying depths, but the key factor is that it does not require the diver to surface and then re-enter the water to cover the same distance, as would be the case in situations involving complex traverses, which might require multiple dives due to varying conditions or the dive profile involved.

In contrast, options about being limited to shallow waters, the number of dives, or the requirement of following a straight line, do not accurately distinguish between simple and complex traverses in terms of cave or cavern diving practices. The description of the traverse itself centers more around the logistics and planning of the dive rather than specific environmental conditions or constraints of the dive path.