Editing Caving (section)

{{Short description|Recreational pastime of exploring cave systems}}
{{Redirect|Caver|other uses}}
{{Redirect-acronym|Potholing|digging small deep holes to look for buried [[public utilities]]: see [[Vacuum excavation]]}}
[[Image:Caving2.jpg|thumb|Caving in a muddy section of [[Black Chasm Cave]] in [[California]]|alt=A man caving in muddy passage with helictite formations on the walls and ceiling]]
[[Image:Alabama cave 2005-04-24.km.jpg|thumb|220px|upright|Stephens Gap, a vertical cave in [[Alabama]]]]

'''Caving''', also known as '''spelunking''' (United States and Canada) and '''potholing''' (United Kingdom and Ireland), is the recreational [[pastime]] of exploring wild [[cave]] systems (as distinguished from [[show cave]]s). In contrast, [[speleology]] is the scientific study of caves and the cave environment.<ref name="CAVE1">[http://www.teara.govt.nz/TheBush/BushAndMountainRecreation/Caving/3/en Caving in New Zealand] (from [[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]], Accessed 2012-11.)</ref>

The challenges involved in caving vary according to the cave being visited; in addition to the total absence of light beyond the entrance, negotiating [[Pitch (ascent/descent)|pitches]], squeezes,<ref name=CHALL/> and water hazards can be difficult.<ref name=CAVENZ>{{cite news|title=Caving in New Zealand|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/new-zealand/4118082/Caving-in-New-Zealand|access-date=12 November 2012|newspaper=Stuff.co.nz - Fairfax NZ News|author=Pearson, Anna}}</ref> [[Cave diving]] is a distinct, and more hazardous, sub-speciality undertaken by a small minority of technically proficient cavers.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Caving |url=http://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php?id=press:about_caving |publisher=[[British Caving Association]]|website=british-caving.org.uk |access-date=31 August 2018 |language=en |quote=... people start... as sporting cavers and develop... other interests such as... cave diving...}}</ref> In an area of overlap between recreational pursuit and scientific study, the most devoted and serious-minded cavers become accomplished at the [[Cave survey|surveying and mapping of caves]] and the formal publication of their efforts. These are usually published freely and publicly, especially in the UK and other European countries, although in the US they are generally more private. 

Although caving is sometimes categorized as an "[[extreme sport]]," cavers do not commonly use this terminology and typically dislike the term being used in reference to caving, as it implies a disregard for safety.<ref name=CHALL>{{cite news|title=Many find caving's challenges, thrills illuminating|url=http://newsok.com/many-find-cavings-challenges-thrills-illuminating/article/3253500/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130326062046/http://newsok.com/many-find-cavings-challenges-thrills-illuminating/article/3253500/|archive-date=March 26, 2013|access-date=12 November 2012|newspaper=NewsOK|date=8 June 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Extreme Caving - Gorgeous settings present dangers and challenges in Omnimax film|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_YZIAAAAIBAJ&pg=3867,4897282&dq=caving+extreme-sport&hl=en|access-date=12 November 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=6 April 2001|author=Chiacchia, Ken}}</ref> Though caving is a fairly safe sport compared to other activities that are sometimes classified as "extreme sports", incidents do occur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rob |title=How Dangerous Is Caving Really? – Facts, not opinions |url=https://startcaving.com/caving-guides/safety |access-date=2025-02-20 |website=startcaving.com |language=en-US}}</ref> These tend to be related to [[Flood|flooding]], [[hypothermia]], rock falls, caver falls, [[Single-rope technique|SRT]] accidents, or some combination of these.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sovie |first=Adia |date=May 2024 |title=American Caving Accident Reports 2021 and 2022 |url=https://caves.org/wp-content/uploads/Publications/aca/May_24_News.pdf |work=NSS News |pages=8-29}}</ref>

Many caving skills overlap with those involved in [[canyoning]] and [[mine exploration|mine]] and [[urban exploration]].