British Columbia Speleological Federation

Caving Codes of Conduct

Caving Safety: Individual Responsibilities

Before entering the cave:

• Let someone at home know of your itinerary and approximate schedule.
• Select appropriate personal equipment and supplies including headlamp, head protection, protective clothing (including gloves and kneepads), footwear, food and basic emergency supplies.
• Know how to properly use your personal equipment.
• Check your equipment and ensure that it is in good working condition.
• Check the weather and project the (hydrological) response of the cave to adverse weather conditions.
• Don't go underground under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication that could impair your judgment or performance.
• Inform the trip leader of any personal physical or mental limitations.
• Never plan to cave alone (groups of 3 are good; groups of 4 are preferable).

Inside the cave:

• Accept the trip leader’s decisions.
• Identify, recognize, and evaluate inherent caving hazards (e.g. flooding, hypothermia, fatigue, rockfalls etc.)
• Don't exceed your abilities and limitations.
• Stay together (minimum 2 persons for side passages).
• Don't linger at entrances or other potentially unstable zones, or vertical exposed areas (e.g. pitches, overhanging ice).
• Avoid jumping, sliding, or making (unnecessarily) rapid manoeuvres.
• Don't attempt something untried without a backup plan (e.g. backing out of a tight passage).
• Don't share your equipment.
• Never throw anything into pitches.
• Avoid unnecessary chatter while moving (this distracts other participants who may value silence more than you).
• Know the agreed-upon communication protocol (used when voice communications are impractical or impossible).

• Consult with prior visitors about sensitive features. (This may also reduce the need for redundant visits.)
• Limit the size of the party to the minimum required for a safe visit. (Four is a reasonable lower limit.)
• Use a good source of light. (Avoid using acetylene-based headlamps in confined delicate areas.)
• Use suitable protective clothing.
• Don't smoke or make fires (even at the entrance).
• Stay on the established "minimum impact" route if already established, and avoid touching anything.
• Never break or soil speleothems (including flowstone and moonmilk).
• Don't "push" delicate passages.
• Don't overuse sensitive caves or sensitive interior passages.
• Never mark surfaces.
• Don't discard anything. (Remove all modern discarded objects, even if you were not responsible for putting them there!)
• Don't urinate or defecate inside the cave. (Carry out all human waste in the case of bivouac).
• Don't disturb hibernating bats or other sensitive organisms.
• Avoid altering natural air or water flows.
• Improve personal technique and abilities rather than permanently modifying the cave.
  • Use bolts only as a last resort where natural or non-marking anchors (cams, chocks, etc.) cannot be used.
  • Place bolts or other permanent fixtures only after thoughtful consultation with the broader caving community, particularly other persons familiar with the cave.
  • Use only high-quality bolts, and tag all bolts with the date of installation
• Avoid the use of explosives.
• Avoid unique or unusual sediment accumulations.