Getting Started Caving - Taking Your First Cave Trip

Part 3 of the 4-part series on getting started caving. This video covers the importance of finding an experienced trip leader, how to prepare for your first trip, what gear and clothing is needed, proper landowner relations, and how to visit caves with a priority on safety and conservation.

Caves are delicate and potentially dangerous places. For more information on wild caving, vertical caving techniques, and cave survey, visit the National Speleological Society website:

To find a local grotto (caving club) visit:

White Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a disease that is devastating to bats. To learn more about what you can do to help, along with information on how to properly decontaminate caving gear, visit:

Cave Videography Gear I Use: (Note that these are affiliate links)

[UndergroundAdventures]

Great video.
I remember my first own cave tour.
Without a helmet and equipped with a € 3 headlamp and cheap flashlights, we explored a ca 250m long cave and looked for a "geocache".
But on this trip I found my passion for caves.
Now, many years later, I am a member of a cave club, well equipped, and I can only be happy that nothing happened back then.

[johndaltrocanto]

So caving is basically all of the most common human fears packed in one complete package

[KengoftheWorld]

I have been to quite a few horizontal caves, but my fear of heights and lack of rope technique knowledge have kept me away from from vertical passages. I am learning a lot from your videos and I am inclined to start investing on climbing gear. Keep inspiring! 😁👍

[bennybenns]

YouTube algorithm decided I should be watching caving disasters, which inspired me to want to cave, which led me here. Have already watched several of your equipment videos thank you for being a source of knowledge to people trying to get into the sport, can’t wait to get out there this summer.

[justsomesaltyboi]

im here from a channel called actionadventuretwins, before them, i totally forgot that caves existed and that caving is a real sport. immediately felt a gravitation towards it cause im also a gemstone collector so it is really really cool to see that this is a thing. I would love to learn and try it out, but i am also a poor college student soooo, yeah... BUT i want to learn more about how they are formed and their delicate ecosystem!

[strongback]

I came here to alleviate my fears of claustrophobia. Instead, I developed newfound respect for those who dare to pursue this kind of activity by planning responsibly.

[seheracar]

Awesome! Great video for beginner cavers. Thank you so much 🌸

[MrTangent]

Fantastic video for beginners! Great job.

[tygraig]

Cave entrance at the start of the video looks like Ogof Ffynnon Ddu top entrance in South Wales. Nice.

[mikedunn]

Great video. Been in a few graves since I was young and since I found your channel last ive really had the bug to get back underground. Will be looking to sign up at a local grotto as soon as this lock down will allow. Thanks for all the great content

[manuelsaavedra]

Genial el video, se necesita valor para adentrarse en las entrañas de la tierra !

[mogall]

Im Going with a group. It’s a tour they do around here locally. They have equipment for you. Still Kind of nervous lol

[zorkan]

Contrary to the popular belief, tight squeezes in caves are few and far between. And even when you do encounter a tight squeeze, it's usually going to be a short one (just a few steps), not dozens of meters of crawl like you see in those "extreme claustrophobia" videos on Youtube. Those are a minority.
Most caves are comprised of comfortably wide hallways (or vertical passages) with some big rooms sprinkled here and there.
At least that's the case where I live.
If you don't feel claustrophobic in a public toilet stall, you're likely not going to feel claustrophobic in an average cave.

[tommywartime]

What is the name of this cave in the video?

[njcaveexplorer]

I looked to see if I knew anyone but wrong end of the country. I’m in the northeast.

[kenthompson]

Caving can be fun, enjoyable, rewarding, and enlightening. But, as someone who has done some caving in the past, let me pass along a word to the wise new caver >>> beware of "caving clubs" (grottos). I have yet to find a caving club that was really openminded toward, or interested in, new cavers. These clubs function mostly as cliques, wherein members communicate friendliness toward each other, but are aloof, snobbish, and contemptuous toward newcomers and outsiders. If you ask them any questions, they'll look at you as if you are intruding into their private space. And they are very, VERY secretive. Do NOT ask them about cave locations.

They claim to want to protect caves from cave damage caused by humans. What hypocrisy. They, themselves, create damage by just inserting themselves and their buddies into wild caves. At 8:04, you are invited to contact the speleological society. Yet, that society veritably preaches snobbery. All the way up to the National Park Service, any inquiry you make or question you ask will likely be greeted either by silence or ridicule. All of this unfortunate behavior is engrained into American caving culture and has been for a long, long time. My suspicion is that, despite the message in this video, experienced cavers really, really do not want new cavers. They want to keep these subterranean spaces as their own private playgrounds.

[Xantexhunter]

“While caving is very safe-“

Lmao, okay.