Cave Exploring

Cave exploring is considered to be one of the latest tourist activities aside from historic landmarks in Southeast Asia. This is after local tourist agencies have added this as part of the package, which attracts a huge number of foreigners.

Here are a few caves worth exploring if ever you have a chance to visit any country in Asia.

· In the island of Sarawak that is part of the country known as Malaysia, there are two caves that are considered to be the biggest in the world. These are namely Clearwater and Wind Cave.

There are more than 300 kilometers of cave passages. People will be able to see large limestone formations as well as bats and other species dwelling in the darkness. Cave explorers don’t hike up the trail but rather take a boat then move inland with a help of a guide so no one gets lost.

. In the Philippines, tourists can go to the island of Palawan and see the Tabon Cave. It got its name after anthropologists found a man that was said to have lived here 22,000 years ago. People will have to travel by bus here and this is just one of 29 caves that can be explored in this part of the archipelago.

There is another way to get to a cave instead of walking or climbing to the crevice. You can swim to it just like the Blue Light Cave found in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Explorers can get inside the small entrance and get the chance to see sharks, manta rays and other sea creatures instead of bats that use this place as a home.

· India is part of Asia. One of the best caves to see here is the Borra Caves located in Vishakaptnam, India. Tourists don’t need to carry any heavy equipment just a camera to catch pictures of the magnificent rock formations.

· Those who get to go to China can check out a place called Dunhuang. It has more than 400 caves. Inside, explorers will see a few of more than 45,000 frescos, 415 painted statues and five wooden structured caves.

There many things to see here and it might take a few days to explore even a quarter of these caves.

There are so many caves to explore in Asia. It would be a good idea to check online or ask the travel agent if there are any in the itinerary when deciding to go there for a vacation.

Cave exploring is a lot of fun. People will go inside to see the natural rock formation that took years to make and come back out. It is like going into a museum admiring the artworks done by a painter or a sculptor but the only difference is that this was formed by nature.

National Park Services or the department of tourism in many countries around the world are in charge of these caves. Since it is dangerous without the proper equipment or the skills it takes to bring a group inside, a guide is required to accompany people.

Those who want to become guides need adequate training to be able to handle any problem that may happen inside. You must never do anything that will put the group in harm’s way so the visitors who got here safely will also be able to leave without any injury.

When a group is coming to see a cave, the guide must make sure all the equipment that will be needed is ready. This includes the helmets, lights, food, first aid kit and rope. No one who isn’t properly equipped should be allowed to go inside.

The guide must be physically fit. This is because some of the explorers may need assistance along the way. You must also check on everyone in the group to know the physical limitations before going in.

Along the trail, the guide might see something that is potentially dangerous such as loose rocks or deep water. Should this happen, the professional must find another way to get through or show the guests another part of the cave.

It isn’t only the job of the guide to look around and spot for these hazards. Everyone must be briefed to do this since no one will be able to help should something happen. The group has to work together to safely get out.

The guide must record everything that happened inside the cave. The information such as potential danger zones or new discoveries should be relayed to the other guides so no one in that party will also get hurt.

The cave exploring guide should be able to explain the history of the place as well as answer any questions that the people might have on the trip. Tourists are there to look around and learn something from the rock formations, which is good to share with others who will only see the pictures once these people get home.

Cave exploring is becoming an increasingly popular sport. People participate in cave exploring both for physical fitness and for scientific study. If you’d like to learn about cave exploring from the experts, here’s a list of cave exploring groups in different countries.

Australia
Australian Speleological Foundation
www.caves.org.au

This federation includes approximately 350 clubs and 850 individual members.

Canada
Caving Canada
www.cancaver.ca

Caving Canada is an online publication for Canadian cavers. Canada doesn’t have a national caving organization but has regional organizations and a number of caving clubs.

China
Hong Meigui
www.hongmeigui.net

Hong Meigui is an international organization devoted to cave exploration not only in China but in other countries as well.

France
Federation Francaise de la Speleologie
www.ffspeleo.fr

The Federation Francaise de la Speleologie includes clubs from all over France. Its logo incorporates the outline of a bat, probably the most famous of all animals that live in caves.

Greece
Hellenic Speleological Federation
www.fhs.gr

Iceland
Icelandic Speleological Society
www.os.is/~ssjo/iss

Jamaica
Jamaican Caves Organisation
www.jamaicancaves.org

The Jamaican Caves Organisation includes both Jamaican cavers and cavers of other nationalities. Its members are divided into cavers (who actually undertake cave explorations) and collaborators (scientists who work with the cavers in planning their explorations).

Netherlands
Speleo Nederland
www.speleo.nl

New Zealand
New Zealand Speleological Society
www.massey.ac.nz/~sglasgow/nzss/index.html

Ireland
Speleological Union of Ireland
www.cavingireland.org

The Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI) includes not only caving clubs but also individual cavers and speleologists (scientists specializing in the study of caves). The SUI works closely with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation (ICRO), a group of trained and experienced personnel who specialize in the rescue of people and animals trapped in caves.

Sweden
Swedish Speleological Society
www.speleo.se

Switzerland
Swiss Society of Speleology
www.speleo.ch

The Swiss Society of Speleology includes 40 caving clubs from all over Switzerland.

Turkey
Cave Research Association
www.mad.org.tr

United Kingdom
British Caving Association
www.british-caving.org.uk

The British Caving Association works closely with its constituent body, the British Cave Research Association, which promotes the study of caves.

United States
National Speleological Society
www.caves.org

The National Speleological Society is divided into local organizations called grottos and includes about 12,000 individual members.

Cave exploring requires a lot of preparation and knowledge, as well as certain special equipment that requires some training for its use. If you’re interested in cave exploring, make sure that you get the proper training and equipment and that you have experienced cavers to guide you. With adequate preparation, you can enjoy safe, rewarding, and memorable experiences of cave exploration.

Cave exploring, also known as caving, is becoming an increasingly popular sport. People explore caves not only for physical fitness but also for purposes of scientific study. While most caves in developed countries such as the United States are already well-explored and no longer dangerous, the use of the right gear is still important in preventing injury and ensuring an enjoyable experience during cave exploring.

Helmets
A helmet is one of the most important pieces of equipment in cave exploring. Not only does it protect your head from falling objects and knocking against the top of the cave (or against objects suspended from the top of the cave), but it is also a good place to have a light source. Having a helmet light keeps the light near your eyes, where you need it most, and leaves your hands free. Be sure to bring extra batteries for your helmet light and to bring a backup light source to use in case your helmet light fails.

Gloves
Gloves are also an important piece of equipment. They help keep you warm in cold caves, and they protect your fingers and palms from cuts or scratches, as well as from insect bites.

Knee pads and elbow pads
Knee pads and elbow pads are optional because not all caves require you to crawl. Even in caves where you stay upright the whole time, knee pads and elbow pads can help protect your joints from scrapes, scratches, cuts, and other injuries.

Ropes
Ropes are required for descent and ascent in pitches, or vertical spaces within caves, as well as for protection of the members of a cave exploring team. Be sure you know how to work properly with ropes before you explore a cave with pitches.

Appropriate clothing
You should be dressed correctly for the kind of cave you’re exploring. If you’re exploring a cave in a cold area, you should be wearing several layers of clothing, with a bottom layer that will provide insulation even if it gets wet, and a top layer that is waterproof and hard-wearing. If you’re exploring a cave in a warm area, you should wear clothing that is sturdy but light enough to help you stay cool. If you’re exploring a wet cave, you should wear rubber boots and neoprene socks to keep your feet dry. If you’re exploring a dry cave, you should wear hiking boots that will give your feet adequate protection.

Cave exploring can be very rewarding. Remember, you need to be properly prepared and equipped to make the most of your cave exploring experiences.

Cave exploring, or caving, is becoming an increasingly popular sport. People try caving not only for physical fitness but also for scientific study. Like many sports, however, you need a minimum amount of physical fitness just to get started in cave exploring. Here’s what you need to know about getting fit enough for this sport.

Get active
Because of its physically demanding nature, cave exploring isn’t the first sport you should try if you’ve been physically inactive for some time. Be sure that you are able to perform a moderately demanding aerobic or weights workout for a period of at least six weeks before you try cave exploring. If you have to pause for breath after climbing a flight of stairs, cave exploring isn’t for you.

Eat right
You should follow a healthy diet if you intend to go cave exploring regularly. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies can endanger your physical fitness and your safety inside a cave. If you have iron-deficiency anemia, your blood will have a difficult time getting oxygen to the different parts of your body, and you might experience light-headedness or physical exhaustion on a cave exploring trip. A balanced diet will help protect you from vitamin and mineral deficiencies and ensure that you are ready to go caving.

It is also important to eat a good meal before every cave exploring trip. Hunger will impair your alertness and judgment, two things you will really need inside a cave. Hunger may also lead to physical exhaustion. Physical exhaustion is a dangerous condition to develop inside a cave. It can prevent you from making it back to the surface and necessitate a rescue. Rescuing persons trapped in a cave is difficult and dangerous. It is always best to avoid the need for rescue altogether.

Don’t smoke
Smoking reduces your stamina and impairs the efficiency of your respiratory system. Smokers are more likely to experience respiratory difficulty and physical exhaustion inside a cave.

Start slow
If you’re an inexperienced caver, plan short trips for the first few times you try cave exploring. Consult experienced cavers about caves you’re unfamiliar with to determine whether you are up to the trip. Whenever you’re inside a cave and you think you can’t go on, let your team members know immediately.

Cave exploring will work every muscle of your body, but you shouldn’t try it if you’re not physically fit. Make sure your overall physical condition is good before you start cave exploring.

Digital mapping is the use of computers to create maps. It has a number of useful applications in different fields. One of the most interesting applications of digital mapping is in the sport of cave exploration, also known as caving.

Caving is becoming an increasingly popular sport. It is undertaken not only for physical fitness but also for purposes of scientific study. Today, most caves in developed countries such as the United States are already well-explored and thoroughly mapped. Going into these caves no longer poses much risk. However, there are still a number of caves, not only in the United States but also in other parts of the world, that haven’t been explored or mapped by cavers.

Mapping is important in the sport of caving because it gives cave explorers an idea of the depth of the cave, allowing them to make good estimates of how much rope to bring. The use of rope allows cavers to maintain safety and to go up and down pitches (vertical spaces in caves). If a team of cave explorers makes an incorrect estimate and does not bring enough rope, it will be forced to go back before it reached the farthest depths of the cave.

Digital mapping has been used to map caves for a long time. However, it wasn’t always reliable because it was based on handwritten notes taken by cavers in less than optimal conditions. Many caves have a lot of dirt or mud, are humid or wet, and have very little light. Writing down measurements on paper was a messy, inconsistent process because the paper would get dirty or wet, and the cavers taking the notes couldn’t see very well, so their handwriting would be almost impossible to decipher.

With the advent of handheld personal computers, however, data gathering in caves has become easier and more reliable. The first handheld personal computers that cavers tried to bring with them weren’t sturdy enough to withstand the rough environment within the caves, but today a number of models with special rugged casings are available. The casings make these models impervious to dirt, water, and even rough handling. This is important for cavers because they are sometimes forced to throw their backpacks ahead of them when they’re crawling through narrow or low-ceilinged spaces in the caves.

Digital mapping is an important advance in cave exploring because it allows cavers to create accurate maps of caves quickly and easily. This increases the safety of all subsequent cave explorations, making the sport of cave exploring more rewarding for more people.

Cave exploring, also known as caving, is becoming an increasingly popular sport. People explore caves not only for physical fitness but also for purposes of scientific study. While most caves in developed countries such as the United States are already well-explored and no longer dangerous, there are still some risks inherent to the sport of cave exploring. Here are some of the dangers of cave exploring and how you can avoid them.

Hypothermia
Hypothermia is the condition of abnormally low body temperature. It can happen when you explore a cave that is extremely cold and you experience so much heat loss that your body is unable to keep your temperature within normal range. It can also happen if you get wet inside the cave.

To prevent hypothermia, don’t go cave exploring on cold days. Dress warmly when exploring caves in cold areas. You should wear several layers of clothing. The bottom layer should be made of material that does not lose its insulating properties when wet (polypropylene is a good example). The top layer should be waterproof and sturdy.

When exploring a wet cave, wear rubber boots and neoprene socks to keep your feet dry and warm.

Falling
Wear a helmet with a light, and bring extra batteries as well as a backup light source to use in case your helmet light fails. Go into the cave at a reasonable pace and always look at what’s ahead of you.

Flooding
Make sure that you’re going cave exploring on a day when there is no danger of rain. Rainwater can flood a cave very fast.

Physical exhaustion
Physical exhaustion is a dangerous condition to develop when you’re going cave exploring. It could prevent you from making it back to the surface or even make you forget the way out. Make sure you’re in good physical condition when going cave exploring. Never go cave exploring on an empty stomach. Eat a good meal before the trip (but don’t get started right after eating). Once you’re inside the cave, proceed at a moderate pace.

Make sure you ask someone to alert the authorities if you don’t return from cave exploring by a certain time. That said, rescuing persons trapped in a cave can be difficult and dangerous. It is best to avoid the need for rescue altogether. Remember, it is possible to avoid the dangers of cave exploring. To have rewarding experiences in cave exploring, make sure you’re adequately knowledgeable and prepared.

Cave exploring, also known as caving, is becoming a popular sport. People enjoy cave exploring not only for physical fitness but also for scientific purposes. Most caves in the United States and other developed countries have already been well-explored, and going into these caves poses no extreme risks. Still, it is very important to follow certain safety measures when cave exploring.

Cave exploring generally requires a lot of crawling. Here are some ways to ensure crawling safety during cave exploring.

• Go cave exploring in teams of three or more.
• Make sure that you are going cave exploring on a day when there is no danger of rain. Rainwater can flood caves very fast.
• Wear sturdy clothes and shoes.
• If you’re exploring a cave in a cold area, make sure that your clothes will keep you warm and won’t lose their insulating properties in case you get them wet.
• If you’re exploring a cave in a warm area, make sure that your clothes are light enough to keep you cool but sturdy enough to protect you from scratches, cuts, and scrapes.
• For exploring wet caves, rubber boots and neoprene socks are a good idea. For exploring dry caves, wear hiking boots.
• Wear a helmet. It will protect your head in case you knock it against the top of the cave or against something suspended from the top of the cave. It will also protect your head from falling objects. Choose a helmet mounted with lights and bring extra batteries for the helmet light. Also, bring a backup light source in case your helmet light fails.
• Wear gloves on all cave exploring trips. Gloves protect your fingers and palms from cuts and scratches, as well as from insect bites.
• Wear elbow pads and knee pads to protect your joints from scrapes and cuts.
• Be sure every member of the cave exploring team is paying attention as you go into the cave. Every member of the team is responsible for remembering the way out so that the team doesn’t get lost. To help keep you from getting lost, you can mark certain points of the cave with small arrangements of rocks. This is especially useful because the passages within the cave won’t look the same when you’re going in the opposite direction.

Remember, safety is paramount when going cave exploring. Follow these safety measures to ensure an enjoyable and injury-free cave expedition.

Cave exploring, also known as caving, is becoming a popular sport not only for physical fitness but also for scientific exploration. Cave exploring doesn’t require special clothing, but there are certain requirements that your clothing should meet. Here are some things you need to consider when choosing clothing for cave exploring:

• Find out what kind of cave you’re exploring. Different caves mean different clothing requirements.
• If you’re exploring a cave in a cold area, you need to wear several layers of clothing. The bottom layer should be made of material that provides insulation even if you get it wet (polypropylene is a good example). The layers on top should be sturdy and waterproof.
• If you’re exploring a cave in a warm area, you can wear lighter clothes, especially if it’s a dry cave. Polypropylene clothes are still a good choice for dry, warm caves because they provide some protection if you scrape your elbows or knees on rough surfaces inside the cave.
• You might want to wear a wetsuit if you’re exploring a very wet cave, or if the cave you’re exploring requires you to wade or swim across one or more streams.
• Always wear gloves. You never know what you’ll find in a cave. Gloves will protect you from cuts or scratches and from insect bites.
• If the cave you’re exploring will require you to do a lot of crawling, wear elbow pads and knee pads to help protect you from scrapes and cuts.
• It’s a good idea to wear hiking boots in dry caves and rubber boots with neoprene socks in wet caves. Lighter footwear may not give your feet sufficient protection.
• You need to wear a helmet to protect your head in case you knock it against the top of the cave, or an object suspended from the top of the cave. A helmet will also protect your head from falling objects. Be sure that a light is mounted on the helmet and that you have extra batteries for the light. You should also carry a backup light source in case your helmet light fails.

Cave exploring carries a measure of risk, but being prepared and knowledgeable will help protect you from danger. Cave exploring is one activity where you really are what you wear. If your clothing is safe and appropriate, you are likely to stay safe during a cave exploring trip. Happy exploring!

If you’re looking for a cave exploring book, you may want to narrow down your choices since there are virtually thousands of caving books on the market.

Generally, cave exploring books are divided into four categories – cave exploring per region, first aid in caving, cave exploring guides (with descriptions of cave inhabitants) and cave exploring basics.

The following are a few resources on each cave exploring book categories.

1) Cave exploring per region – If you’re searching for a particular book discussing a certain region or popular caving spots, hundreds of cave exploring books are available for your needs. Here are great examples:

* Alexander Caverns – A 28-page summarized book describing Pennsylvania caves.

* Atlas of the World;s greatest Caves – For true caving enthusiasts, this 368-page caving exploring book discusses hundreds of popular caves worldwide, all with maps included.

2) First aid cave exploring books – In this category, you’ll discover the common accidents in cave exploring, first aid technique to prevent caving accidents and basic caving rescue.

* American Caving Accidents – A 42-page book summarizing the caving accidents from 1967 to 1970.

* Basic Cave Rescue Orientation – A 220-page study course guide introducing the basic techniques in cave rescuing.

* On Rope – A 340-page book considered the bible of vertical caving techniques and basic equipments.

* On station – a 242-page cave exploring book that discusses the art and science of cave mapping.

* Weil’s Disease – A 16-page caving guide in preventing and treating the potentially fatal waterborne infection, known as the Weil’s disease.

* Manual of U.S. Cave Rescue Techniques – A 108-page detailed manual of procedures in cave rescuing.

3) Cave exploration handbooks – This cave exploring category deals with the natural inhabitants of caves as well as detailed instructions of field trips and caving for all levels.

* Cave and Other Volcanic Landforms – A 49-page guidebook in Geology and Biology, which discusses the 1982 Central Oregon NSS Convention.

* Exploring American Caves – A 318-page cave exploring book focusing popular American caves.

4) Books on cave exploring basics – Ideal for beginners, this category helps people to understand the basics of cave exploring techniques.

* Caving Basics – A 125-page introduction to caving techniques, written by Hassemer.

* The Speleoguide – A 92-page introductory handbook to basic caving techniques.

* Speleology, The Study of Caves – A 150page classic book, introducing the study of caves.

These are only a few examples of cave exploring books. In searching a particular book, just narrow down your search and you’ll discover reading material for your needs.