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.
For tips on bat control and bat droppings, visit the About Animals website.
