Beware: You should never explore wild caves alone or without proper gear. Consider getting in touch with a Grotto of the National Speleological Society at www.caves.org or a qualified cave club. These groups are skilled and will train you. Without sufficient knowledge, preparation, and equipment, cave exploring can lead to serious injury or death.
Caving offers a whole range of experiences. People tend to have certain preconceptions about what a caving trip entails and often think it is only about exploring the latent world, but there is a lot more than that. It’s about discovery, challenges, and experiencing the natural beauty as well.
With that said, a caving trip isn’t for everyone.
It doesn’t attract the quick-rewards crowd. It is a different kind of activity. When you come out of the cave, there is no one there to cheer for you. Most people don’t even know the place you just emerged from exists. However, you feel an internal satisfaction and a feeling of wonder about what nature can do with the earth. You see a different, hidden beauty that appears after some immense physical effort. This effort makes it all the more rewarding.
If it is your first time and you don’t know what you do when you go caving, keep reading. We are going to reveal some of the main benefits of caving tours.
1 – A Rare Environment
Did you know no two caves are exactly alike?
When you become a caver, you realize that there are always new sights for you. A single cave tour shows you hundreds of formations like stalagmites, aragonite crystals, flowstone, etc. You may be able to enter it without a torch and see interesting shapes and formations but when you switch on your torch, you see a whole new world.
New formations are revealed by the light and you see vibrant colors and unique textures in the rocks. Some rocks are smooth and cold while others are rough and warm.
Some caves have water features too such as underground rivers and waterfalls. You float through them wearing a life jacket. This experience is different from the world outside. You should make a video or take photographs to help you to recall the sensation of being in the cave.
Apart from this, you also ponder how the cave was made.
Can you see the years carved in its rocks and walls? Are there any shelters by people who used it in previous centuries? Is it possible to use it for storing supplies such as food and weapons? What about the animals, plants, or other living things that are unique to this particular cave?
2 – A Caving Trip Offers Unique Photography Opportunities
We all want to photograph the inside of the cave and share a beautiful picture with those who haven’t been.
It is a fascinating underground world that deserves capturing and sharing with our friends. Who doesn’t want a unique picture of their exciting caving trip on their social media?
But shooting in the cave isn’t easy.
Lots of factors play a significant role. For instance, first, you have to protect your gear. While you are exploring the cave, keep your camera well-covered; most caves have a damp environment and it can affect your camera.
Furthermore, you will be walking on uneven surfaces; a camera pouch can keep your camera safe and won’t let it harshly contact with rocks.
Next, you can’t use the pop-up flash feature. Avoid using it at all costs because it washes out all of the depth goodness that you need to have a good photograph. Instead, use the external flash so that you can control the aperture. The external flash feature captures proper exposure and depth of field that can mesmerize your friends and turn you into a professional photographer.
You can also use your headlamp light as your primary light for photography. But make sure you have an LED headlamp; it works best in low-light temperatures.
3 – A Caving Trip is Mostly For Fun!
Some of the best family memories can be made inside the caves.
Caves provide a lot of fun and excitement. Exploring them with kids or loved one’s sparks interest in science and nature. You get to work together and learn something new about the cave as well, such as the history of the area around it, and its formation.
Other than that, you can pan for your collection of gems.
It is fun and educational for all ages.
Some guided tours let you hike the wooden nature trail and see sinkholes too. They can tell you about the local trees and plants that are beneficial for medical science, which may be a perk.
If you are a scientist or have any interest in science, you can find a new plant or microscopic life forms in these remote places of the earth. The strange phenomena and the possibility of discoveries will inspire you to unlock the secrets of each cave and perhaps gather sample material that can incorporate in your scientific research.
On the flip side, caves also paralyze some people with fear. It’s best to go with something open and easy to navigate at the start, preferably with a guide until you feel more comfortable.
Ultimately, it is an unknown world, typically completely free of civilization’s impact, and so a few hours of exploration can be quite thrilling. It is also one of the greatest activities to deal with claustrophobia anxiety.
4 – Physical/Mental Activity
Multiple studies show that caves boost our mental health. We explore the cave for relaxation and mental stimulation. Our bodies and minds are free from tension and anxiety.
Apart from restoring our mental energy, the caving hobby pushes us to stay physically fit.
Due to uneven surfaces and vertical climbs, every muscle in our body is stretched and pulled throughout an extensive caving trip. Cavers often do those exercises that involve mobility, flexibility, and strength. They help them control their weight and keep their judgment skills sharp.
For example, try yoga, or meditation.
Yoga is a great exercise for cavers and it can be performed inside the cave as well. It improves our muscles’ co-ordination and overall flexibility and balance. You move more effectively and avoid injuries. Learn yoga poses for cavers and do yoga for a few minutes before starting your caving journey.
You might even find time to do some inside, to help ease your mind and keep yourself nimble. Some special yoga poses that can be performed in the cave are Tree Pose, Boat Pose, Cobra Pose, Plank Pose, and Locust Pose.
People often do meditation in caves because it is comfortable and relaxing to meditate in nature. There are no outside influences when separated from civilization like this. Also, the temperature is always moderate. There are no distractions, sounds, or sensations of discomfort. Our mind stays focused on the present moment, and it’s easy to give yourself a mental break.
Conclusion
Are you ready to start caving? Many national park caves offer wild cave trips.
They take you to more and more incredible places and show you those special things that you never see on the earth’s surface. Plus, the thrill of not knowing what is around the next corner makes the entire caving trip more exciting… So, be safe, start exploring, and enjoy the benefits.