Hey, I'm Mike👋🏻
I'm your friendly neighborhood caving enthusiast. I built this website because, let’s face it, finding good info about caving is more complicated than squeezing through a tight limestone passage.
So I figured, why not make life easier for the rest of you adventurous folks? No, you’re not going to find secret cave locations here—I’m not Google Maps for spelunkers—but these guides show you how to dive into the world of caving without, you know, getting stuck or eaten by bats.
Welcome to the underground!
Curious about me? Explore my story!
New Caver Guides
Getting into caving might sound tricky, but it’s not like you need to be a bat to enjoy it. Check out these handy guides to get you from clueless to cave explorer in no time—because the only thing that should be in the dark is the cave, not you!
Callout Form (Cave Rescues) Template
This is an example of the callout form I send to my callout person before every cave trip. Copy and edit this form as necessary.
Essential Cave Gear to Buy (and Tips for Scoring Discounts)
New to caving and not sure what gear to buy? Been exploring caves for a while, but feel like your gear could use an upgrade?...
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Caving
Are you ready for your first wild cave experience? Exploring caves is a thrilling way to connect with nature, challenge your limits, and discover otherworldly...
Trip Leader Guides
So, you want to be a trip leader for your Grotto? Are you thinking about how to get more people to join your epic adventures? Perfect, you’ve come to the right place.
These guides will walk you through leading your first Grotto trip like a pro so you can share the magic of this awesome sport with others—without losing anyone along the way (hopefully). Let’s get you prepped to be the adventure hero you were born to be!
8 Steps To Becoming A Trip Leader: Everything You Should Know Before Leading Your First Cave Trip
Looking to lead your first cave trip? Great, you’ve landed in the right place. Leading a cave trip is an incredible opportunity to share the...
Callout Form (Cave Rescues) Template
This is an example of the callout form I send to my callout person before every cave trip. Copy and edit this form as necessary.
Join Your Local Grotto
Wait, you’ve made it this far without joining your local Grotto? That’s like trying to bake a cake without a recipe—chaotic, messy, and probably not very successful. The best (and most fun) way to dive into caving is to team up with your local Grotto. Trust me, they’ve got the gear, the know-how, and the best cave stories.
Find your local Grotto and start your underground adventure! Don't forget to tell me about your best caving stories!
Other Resources
I recommend joining the National Speleological Society (NSS). They provide gear discounts, access to cave festivals, and more. Visit the NSS website to learn more.
Want to find undiscovered caves or put your name on a cave map? Work towards joining the cave survey organization for your state. In Tennessee, that's the Tennessee Cave Survey (TCS). Visit the TCS website to learn more.
