We all know about caves - those natural voids in the ground, usually situated in mountains, that offer exciting experiences for tourists. Most spaces on the surface of the earth that are wide enough for a person to get into are qualified as caves. Do you know though, that there is a whole extreme sport revolving around them? We’re here to tell you about all the specific reasons why people love it - and why you also should!

What is caving?

The shortest way one can explain the definition of caving is the sport of exploring caves. It also goes by the name spelunking if you’re in the United States or Canada and as potholing in the United Kingdom and Ireland. You can sometimes come upon the definition that caves have mostly horizontal passages, while potholes consist mostly of vertical ones.

All names lead to one thing though - the exploring of naturally occurred in time wild caves and cave systems on the surface of the earth. It’s important to say that they are wild and not the so-called show caves - the ones that are open to the public and are big tourist destinations. Caving should also not be confused with speleology though - the scientific study of caves and cave systems.

Depending on the cave there are different obstacles you can face - holes, water springs and waterfalls, and many more like tight places, squeezes. This means if you’re claustrophobic then caving is definitely not for you. For most people, the thing that is a deal-breaker is the total lack of light in most caves excluding those that are near the surface and because of corrosion have openings that let light in. Although all of this sounds hard, believe us, when you come upon an amazing underground lake or a gigantic nature-made hall, it will all be worth it!

The formation of the caves is a process that happens in the duration of thousands, even millions of years. This is only one of the reasons that people are so interested in exploring them - you have history all around you. And in addition - there are many different formations you can explore in them: stalagmites, stalactites, stalactones, and many more. 

There are quite a few types of caves too. The most frequent ones you can stumble on are the so-called solutional caves. They are also called karst caves. They usually form in limestone, but can be also formed in other soluble rocks: chalk, dolomite, marble, salt, and gypsum. They may be formed because of various reasons. One of the most interesting caves are sea caves. A special kind of them are littoral caves formed by the waves and their force in time. We shouldn’t forget to name corrosion or erosion caves formed by the forces of nature during long, long time.

One of the particularly difficult and hazardous ways to practice caving is cave diving. To challenge yourself with it, you have to be really proficient in the sport and be ready to face bigger dangers than most cavers face on their adventures.

And for the most enthusiastic among you, when you get proficient in caving, if you are not there yet, you can take up surveying and mapping the caves they explore.

 

Why do people love caving?

Are you searching for a new thrill? Do you love nature and the outdoors? Do you want to flex your muscles and taste the adrenaline of exploring some of the few unexplored parts of the earth that are actually accessible? 

Well, if your answers are all ‘Yes’ then congratulations - caving may be just what you’re searching for!

For most people that practice it caving is a way to get away from the city, release the stress, and at the same time - train, since caving includes walking, climbing and most of the time even more load on the muscles than most training sequences.

Outside of those reasons every caver usually has their own motivation for practicing the sport. Some pick it up because of the amazing photography opportunities and others - to satisfy their adrenaline needs. Quite a few of them choose caving to stay in shape and others - because of curiosity. 

One of the best things about caving is that caves - nature-made and man-made too, can be found all around the globe which means that you can easily start practicing the sport right away and near home. This is especially true if you live in a mountainous area.

In addition, caving is an activity you can practice all around the year. You do not depend on the weather, although you have to consider it when you choose clothing and equipment for your next caving adventure. Temperatures in most caves stay constant all year long, so you will know what to expect. One thing you should get familiar with according to the region though is the potential rise in the waters in the cave you’re about to explore because this can turn out to be a safety issue during your caving experience as well as a problem with accessibility.

What you should know is caving is rarely, almost never, a sport you can practice alone. Especially if you’re new to it, we recommend you hire a guide and/or go with a group. One of the easiest ways to do that is by searching for caving clubs in your area. Most of them usually organize regular underground caving trips.

 

How to choose equipment for your first caving experience

Safety is extremely important and absolutely fundamental when it comes to caving. Accidents are rare, but the sport itself is still considered dangerous because of the possibilities of slippery surfaces, unknown waters and sinks, and a lot more.

This is why you should follow a few simple caving (and we might add: extreme sport) rules:
 

• never go alone on caving experiences.
• always let a close friend or relative know which cave is your destination.
• always be specific about how long the caving is going to take.
• always let somebody know exactly when you will be returning from your caving trip.
   

In addition to that when preparing for caving, you should get yourself a few very important pieces of equipment. Each and every cave is different though, so make sure you have the proper kit in advance. 

First of all, you need a very good helmet. It should be suitable for caving and to have the possibility to attach a headlamp. Next: equip yourself with a rope, harness, and climbing gear: ascender, descender, cowstails. They are an absolute necessity when it comes to potholing along with ladders for caving. 

As far as clothing goes, you have to be prepared with comfortable clothes underneath your caving suit. Or more simply said: layers of clothing for thermal and abrasive protection. And for your feet - protective boots that are comfortable on rough terrain and will keep your feet warm for hours no matter the conditions you put them through. It’s very important they have a good grip so they don’t betray you in a crucial moment of your caving experience.

You should also prepare two more things: a knife and a whistle. If something happens, the knife will be extremely important because you can cut a faulty rope or hair, caught in equipment, for instance. In addition, with the whistle you can signal your teammates where you are or if there is an accident: rescue can get you back to safety. This is necessary because you can’t use radio communication while caving because rocks absorb the radio waves. If you can, it is a good idea to carry an additional flashlight and always check your batteries before going on your next caving adventure.

 

Which are the best places in the world to go caving

There are so many amazing places on the planet you can see and some of them, ironically, are situated below the surface. This is why we gathered a shortlist of some of the most beautiful caves you can visit if you are a person, who loves both caving and traveling.

The first stop in it, surprisingly, is India. Experienced caves testify that the caves of Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and Garo Hills in Meghalaya are one of the most breathtaking in the world. These caves developed in our geological age, which is called exactly that: Meghalaya. It covers the last 4200 years. To this day more that 1700 caves are discovered in the region and more and more are coming to light every year after being explored by cavers. One of the most outstanding ones is the Krem Puri, also known as ‘Fairy Cave’. It has a length of 24.5km which makes it the world’s longest sandstone cave.

Second, on this list are the Philippines. We recommend you visit the caves of Sagada and most importantly, the two caves named Sumaguing and Lumiang. The good thing is you can explore then both in 5-6 hours. They are also connected and amazingly beautiful.

You’ve always dreamed of visiting New Zealand? Add to your list of destinations the Waitomo Glowworm Caves. You will travel instantly to the world of Avatar with all the glowworms living in the caves. The system has three levels and is a popular tourist destination so it’s more of a pleasure than a real caving experience and you can literally get a boat and swim under the magical ceiling covered in stars (glowworms).

A very different cave is the next one we’re sharing with you. It’s in Scotland and it bears the name Fingal's Cave. This is the first sea cave on our list and is unique with its hexagonal basalt columns. It is said they have inspired a lot of art throughout the centuries. And we might add it is absolutely deserved.

Last, but not least, we have to give credit to the Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave in Austria. It is 42 km long and you can visit it between May and October. It’s an ice cave which makes it extraordinary and a destination beginner cavers may want to explore.