Cave Exploration Tips

Caving is fast becoming a favorite new sport by most enterprising – and sometimes, inexperienced – people, and for good reason. It’s an excruciating exercise that can be, at the end, very rewarding and exhilarating. Unfortunately, the excitement and adrenaline rush of caving comes with a high-price for carelessness and bad preparation, resulting in injuries and, sometimes, death.

Let’s face it, some of the best things in life are free, but for the rest of them, the price tag is pretty heavy. But injuries and fatalities in caving expeditions can be prevented – with proper preparation and planning!

The things that can kill you

Plenty of things can kill you in caving. Faulty climbing equipment can single-handedly snap your back in two with a sheer drop. Bugs can spread diseases that, let’s face it, modern man can’t figure out.

Some caves are filled with dangerous gases – dangerous that a single breath can kill you, or dangerous in that they are highly combustible, like phosphorus.

It goes without saying that caves are underground. And no self-respecting cave provides its own light (unless we’re talking about caves with luminous rocks), so half the time, you’ll be in the dark. And just think of how many times you’ve skinned your knee at home during the night. Apply the situation to unfamiliar territory that wasn’t designed for human beings in the first place.

Some caves can be dens. If you’re lucky, they’ll just be bats: if not, you’d have wandered into the home of some carnivorous creature. And it isn’t easy to run away in a cave.

Knowing is half the battle, and caving isn’t an exception to the rule. For successful caving, you have to know what exactly you’ll be up against. Study accounts of previous expeditions that headed for your target cave, and take note of their notes and prepare your gear accordingly.

The things that can keep you alive

Preparation, preparation, and even more preparation. There are very little chances of overstocking on items when you're going on a caving expedition. Just like whitewater rafting, the dangers of caving can be offset by a well-stocked supply of necessary equipment, enough people who can help out each other during emergencies.

That's the first thing you should remember when you're going caving: always go with a buddy. No matter how prepared you may be, if you get in trouble and nobody's there to give you a hand, all your equipment won't be of much help. Also, make sure to let someone outside of the group know where you plan on going, and how long you plan on being there.

Never rely on flashlights as your primary light source. The best kind of lights for caving purposes are powerful searchlights that can be strapped onto your body – such as helmets with searchlights – since half the time you'll be needing your hands and feet.