What is Caving?

Cave exploring, or simply ‘caving’, is the recreational

companion of speleology, which is the scientific study

of natural caves. Sometimes jokingly referred to as

“mountain climbing inside out in the dark”, caving can

be pursued simply as a challenging and rewarding

sport. However, responsible caving demands a

considerable degree of preparation, skill and

conservation awareness, as fragile cave resources can

easily be irreparably damaged.

Take nothing but photographs

Leave no trace

Kill nothing but time

Most long-time cavers are motivated by the lure of

exploring where no one has gone before and mapping

(surveying) their discoveries. These explorations open

the way for more detailed study of caves and their

resources in sciences such as hydrology, mineralogy,

biology and paleontology. Unlike many other purely

recreational pursuits, caving thus becomes “a sport in

the service of science”.

Caving enthusiasts tend to call themselves “cavers“,

rather than “spelunkers”, a term often used by non-

cavers.

While technically correct, the term “spelunker” has over

time developed an unfortunate connotation of

inexperience or lack of proper training & preparation.

There is a saying in the cave rescue organizations that

“cavers rescue spelunkers”.

Go Caving?

If you are interested in recreational caving, please

consider the following advice.

Caves are many things to many people. To some they

offer a beautiful and mysterious underground world to

explore. To others they are frightening and ominous. To

all, they are potentially dangerous. As with any

adventure sport, a basic level of fitness, proper

equipment, training, a degree of caution and a little

common sense greatly increase the chances for a safe,

enjoyable experience.

Canada has a wide variety of cave environments, some

of which are easy to access and progress through, and

some that are extremely challenging. Especially in the

Rockies, relatively few are suitable for novice cavers.

Many have vertical drops and other hazards that require

experience and specialized equipment to negotiate

safely. Although they may look like the gear that rock

climbers use, caving ropes, equipment and techniques

are specialized and have been developed independently

to provide an acceptable margin of safety specific to

cave conditions. Technical cave equipment should

never be used without proper instruction from an

experienced caver.

How do I get into caving?