List of caving organizations


There are a number of caving organizations throughout the world.

UIS

The Union Internationale de Spéléologie is the international umbrella organization for caving and speleology.

Austria

The Austrian Speleological Association, formed in 1949, represents over 20 caving clubs, with some 2500 members and about 30 show caves in Austria, and is the Austrian member of UIS and FSE.

Australia

  • Australian Speleological Federation is a national organisation formed in 1956. It is an environmental organisation promoting the protection of Australia's unique cave systems.

    Bosnia and Herzegovina

was founded in 1984 in Banja Luka. The main activities of the society are cave exploration and research. In furtherance of this, SD Ponir conducts training of new members through courses and caving expeditions. The training includes theoretical courses and practical training. SD Ponir has organized a number of expeditions, which has explored many caves in the territory of BiH. SD Ponir is currently exploring the two biggest ones in the territory of BiH-Jojkinovac.

Brazil

  • is a national organisation formed in 1969. SBE is member of UIS and FEALC.

    Bulgaria

The Bulgarian Federation on Speleology is the only national organization in Bulgaria whose role is essentially devoted to Speleology. The Federation represents the Bulgarian cavers and speleologists. In this capacity, it organizes National Congresses, and within the International Union of Speleology it nominates the Bulgarian delegates at the International Congresses. The Federation co-ordinates both the activities of Bulgarian cavers abroad, establishing contacts with the corresponding Societies, and the activity of foreign cavers in Bulgaria.

Canada

There is no national caving organization in Canada, despite the existence of a national publication, and the Caving Canada website. Regional organizations exist in British Columbia and Quebec, and caving clubs exist in many of the provinces and cities.

China

is an international society dedicated to the exploration of caves in China and throughout the world.

Croatia

Hrvatska Gorska Služba Spašavanja is the Croatian Mountain Rescue service. It is involved in international cave rescue, such as the Morca Cave.

Czech Republic

/ Česká speleologická společnost is the national organisation with many caving clubs as members.

Europe

The Fédération Spéléologique Européenne / European Speleological Federation is the European organisation which federates the national caving federations/associations in Europe.

France

is the national organisation with many caving clubs as members.

Germany

The German Speleological Federation was founded in 1955 and is the German member of UIS and FSE.

Greece

  • The Hellenic Speleological Federation is the only secondary national organisation in Greece and has many caving clubs as members. There are a number of independent clubs outside the Federation.
  • The Hellenic Speleological Society is a nationwide caving society in Greece. With six Branches and main offices in Athens conducts Caving Expeditions and Studies all over the country.

    Hungary

The Hungarian Speleology Society was founded in 1926, but was reorganised in 1958 under the name of Hungarian Karst- and Cave Research Society. MKBT carries out speleological research and exploration in Hungary. The national yearly publication is called Karszt és Barlang.

India

The National Cave Research and Protection Organization is the Non-Government Organisation Registered for cave Research & their Protection in India.
Speleological Association of India is a registered non-profit organization launched on 4 October 2021. Through scientific exploration, study, research, public education, awareness, and training, the organization aims to inculcate a sense of ownership and stewardship; which will lead to conservation, protection, and advocacy of the caves, karsts and other systems in Indian Subcontinent.

Indonesia

The Indonesian Speleological Society formed in 2015 with some 1000 members and is the Indonesian member of UIS. Their website is caves.or.id

Iran

The Iranian Cave and Speleology Association is a non-governmental organisation consisting of cavers and speleologists in Iran who are interested in exploring, surveying, researching and protecting the caves of Iran. The International Speleology Union helped with the foundation of the ICSA by training cavers and supporting them. It was founded in 2010 with permission from the Ministry of Interior. ICSA now helps governmental organisation and other non-governmental organisations with such issues.
''Note: Iranian Federation of Mountaineering and Sport Climbing is the governmental organisation of Mountain Sports which regards caving as a sport. Focused on the sporting aspect of caving, they provide training to cavers.''

Ireland

The Speleological Union of Ireland is the official representative body for cavers in Ireland. It is also affiliated with the Irish Cave Rescue Organisation which operates in both the Republic Of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Israel

Israel Cave Explorers Club is the largest and most active caving club in Israel. It was founded in 2016, and the members are involved with organising international caving expeditions, surveying, conservation, hosting caver expeditions in Israel, and helping the local archeological bodies in excavating, mapping and finding caves around Israel.

Italy

The Italian Speleological Society is the official representative body for many cavers and Groups in Italy.
The Circolo Speleologico Romano was founded in 1904, is one of the oldest caving clubs in Italy. Currently, more than 250 caving groups and clubs are present in the country, with about 4,000 active cavers.

Kosovo

The Speleological Federation of Kosovo was formed in February 2011. In 2003 the first speleo association was formed, independent from the mountain association of Gjeravica from the western city of Peja, where it worked as a speleo-section. It is working on completing data for all the caves in this country, and also organizing different speleo-expeditions throughout the country. www.aragonit-speleo.org www.facebook.com/aragonitkosovo

Kyrgyzstan

was formed in 2010. The main activities are: Complex Speleological Investigation of karst and caves in Central Asia; Speleoarcheology; Paleoclimate; Biospeleology; etc. FPEC is a member of since July 2017.

Lebanon

was formed in 1951. It is considered one of the oldest caving associations in the Middle East.

Jamaica

The Jamaican Caves Organisation is the national caving organisation for Jamaica, and a member of the Union Internationale de Spéléologie. Activities include speleological research, exploration, mapping, and pro bono assistance to the National Environmental and Planning Agency, the Water Resources Authority, the University of the West Indies, and visiting researchers.

México

  • Grupo Espeleológico Ajau - Ajau Speleological Group, an organization made up of enthusiasts and professionals from many different disciplines, does exploration and research mainly in and around the Yucatán Peninsula.

    Mongolia

  • is a Nongovernmental Organization. Mongolian Cave Research Association was established in 2007 and conducts a varied range of cave expeditions in Mongolia.

    Netherlands

is the national organisation with four regional sections. The national 3 monthly publication is called "Pierk".

New Zealand

The New Zealand Speleological Society is a national organisation with local clubs that represents recreational cavers.

Norway

is the national organisation. It was established in 1980.

Pakistan

and Pakistan Cave Research & Caving Federation the only National Caving Organization in Pakistan founded by Hayatullah Khan Durrani representative of Union of International Speleology, and British Caving Federation through Orpheus Caving Club Derby UK.

Poland

Caving Committee of Polish Mountaineering Association represents the Polish caving community as a whole.
In Poland, caving community has been traditionally tied closely to mountaineering. Polish Mountaineering Association gathers 26 local associations whose main profile is recreational caving and cave exploration.

Portugal

  • Federação Portuguesa de Espeleologia
  • The Portuguese Speleological Society was founded on 1948.

    Romania

The Romanian Speleological Federation was founded on 28 May 1994 by the association of all speleological structures from Romania, having as goal to strengthen the national speleological activities. FRS is a member of UIS, affiliated to UNESCO.

Russia

  • Russian Speleological Union is all-Russian public organization which unites the speleologists of Russia.
  • Ekaterinburg Speleo Club

    Slovenia

  • The Speleological Association of Slovenia is constituted by multiple national caving clubs. The association organizes commissions that deal with caving operations such as cave rescue, registry, conservation, education and the publishing of various caving-related journals.

    South Africa

  • Cave Research Organisation of South Africa
  • The South African Speleological Association, is the national body for caving in South Africa.
  • Speleological Exploration Club

    South Korea

  • , located in Seoul, was founded in 1970. the oldest university-based caving organization in South Korea.

  • Spain

  • The Federación Española de Espeleología is the Spanish Speleological Association. There are also twelve Regional Associations, and people must be associated with one of them so they can do caving.
  • GERS de l'A.E. Muntanya is a group from Barcelona focused on the exploration of new caves in Pirineos mountains and urban speleology.