caver
Subterranean passage enthusiast
A caver is someone who explores caves as a hobby or profession.
The term is preferred by serious practitioners over the more casual *spelunker*, which some cavers consider amateurish: Cavers rescue spelunkers.
The activity itself is caving.
She's been a caver for twenty years and has mapped dozens of underground systems.
Recreational cave explorer
- potholerAmateur cave explorer
- mappingDiagram of correspondences
- surveySystematic data collection
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
crawl · chimneying · rappelling · climbing · descent · passage · chamber · gallery
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- karstEroded soluble rock terrain
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
gypsum · dolomite · flowstone · sinter · bedrock · stratum · geode · sedimentary
Protective head covering
- headlampForward-facing vehicle light
- ascenderOne moving upward
- descenderLetter part below baseline
- ropeThick twisted fibers
carabiner · harness · kneepads · gloves · wetsuit · dry bag · webbing · anchor
Flying mammal or sports club
- guanoAccumulated bird droppings
- cavefishEyeless aquatic cave dweller
- amphipodSmall sideways-flattened crustacean
- isopodSeven-legged-pair crustacean
springtail · millipede · albinism · histoplasmosis · microbe · fungus
Limestone sinkhole revealing groundwater
- lava tubeVolcanic drainage tunnel
- rock shelterOverhanging cliff refuge
- blue holeUnderwater cave entrance
- grottoSmall scenic cavern
Total absence of light
- confined spaceRestricted enclosed area
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
- floodingOverwhelming water accumulation
rockfall · exhaustion · navigation · rescue · self-reliance · endurance · problem-solving · risk assessment
spelunker
Recreational cave explorer
squeeze · crawl · chimneying · rappelling · climbing · descent · passage · chamber · gallery · tunnel
limestone
Carbonate sedimentary rock
- stalactiteHanging cave mineral deposit
- stalagmiteUpward-growing cave deposit
- karstEroded soluble rock terrain
calcite · gypsum · dolomite · flowstone · sinter · bedrock · stratum · geode · sedimentary · chert
helmet
Protective head covering
rope · carabiner · harness · kneepads · gloves · wetsuit · dry bag · webbing · anchor · bolt
bat
Flying mammal or sports club
- guanoAccumulated bird droppings
- cavefishEyeless aquatic cave dweller
- amphipodSmall sideways-flattened crustacean
isopod · springtail · millipede · albinism · histoplasmosis · microbe · fungus
cenote
Limestone sinkhole revealing groundwater
- lava tubeVolcanic drainage tunnel
- rock shelterOverhanging cliff refuge
- blue holeUnderwater cave entrance
grotto · sinkhole · fissure · underground river · resurgence
darkness
Total absence of light
- confined spaceRestricted enclosed area
- hypothermiaDangerously low body temperature
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
flooding · rockfall · exhaustion · navigation · rescue · self-reliance · endurance · problem-solving · risk assessment · vertical drop
- caversspelunker, spelunkers, potholer, potholers, speleologist
- cavescaverns, grotto, grottos, grottoes, stalactites
- underground explorersspelunker, potholer, speleologist
- daredevilsbase jumper, stuntwoman, stuntman, cliff diver, stunt driver
- hobbyistshobbyist, hobbyists, enthusiasts, crafters, collectors
- minersminer, coal miner, gold miner, forty-niner, overman
cavermountaineer
Professional summit climber
mountain climber · alpinist · rock climber · skydiver · summiteer
caversurface dweller
- cave inCollapse or yield
- caved inCollapsed or capitulated
- cave paintingPrehistoric art on stone
- caving inCollapsing or surrendering
- man cavePrivate male hangout space
- cave diversUnderwater cavern explorers
cave, excavate, caves, cavern, excavation, caved, excavator, cavernous, caving