Caving is lovely but also potentially very dangerous activity which can lead to distress. That is why we recommend completing a caving course in one of the caving associations for all those who intend to pursue this activity in order to gain the necessary qualifications needed for travelling through underground objects (descending and climbing ropes), rigging pits and self rescuing, etc.

Training and qualification:

Regular visits to underground objects and regular training of speleo-rescue techniques and self rescue techniques are the main prerogatives of safe caving. If you had a long pause and you intend to start entering pits again, please revise all speleo-techniques on an outside rock in the daylight with an experienced caver beside you.

Before entering into underground object:

Inform your family or friends regarding the underground object you are intending to enter, its location, and how long do you plan to stay there so that they could alarm Mountain Rescue Service in case you do not return on time. When choosing the underground object take into a consideration mental and physical readiness as well as the technical qualifications. Learn all about hydrological characteristics and monitor the weather forecast. Avoid entering sinkholes and partially submerged caves in spring and autumn when the precipitation is most abundant.

If you plan a visit, careful study the morphology of the cave is recommended, also it is good to know the members of your team and try to estimate the length of the stay. Also secure all necessary technical equipment accordingly as well as the spear clothes, food and, if needed, the equipment for bivouac.

You should enter the morphologically complicated caves (underground labyrinths), e.g. cave Đula Medvednica, Jopićeva cave, Cave inside quarry Tounj, etc., only if you obtain the map, experience in underground orientation or if you are accompanied by experienced cavers.

If it is an exploration, all the written data, if they exist, regarding the neighboring objects should be studied. Based on this, you should determine the amount of technical equipment and whether it is necessary to bring equipment for bivouac in the underground and for stay inside the base camp as well as the necessary spare equipment and food.

Inside an underground object:

• Progress in the underground object should be adjusted according to the slowest member of the team.
• Remember to always have spare light and enough carbide.
• We recommend that you use LED lighting (with LE Diode) for spare light because of its considerable duration.
• If you have lost your light, do not move but wait for someone from your team to shine you the way.
• Always carry with you a knife and unercap (balaclava). If your plan a longer stay, always bring spare cloths, gloves and socks.
• When entering large underground object at least three persons should participate, if one has an accident, another stays with her and the third person goes to find help.
• Use only standard PVC caving clothes or Cordura overalls, undersuites made of fleece materials, purely synthetic undergarments and fleece socks or diving boots and rubber gloves, because they ensure longer more pleasant and, what’s more, a safer stay.
• In addition to the standard equipment seat harness, mallion, croll, upper descended with a foot-loop, cowstail and several biners always carry a 5 mm safety cord and a pulley.
• While climbing rope inside a vertical drop, it is good to occasionally check your mallion, because a caving pack attach to it could easily cause it to open.
• Always carry rescue blanket in your helmet, bandage, and several band aids.
• Remember that hypothermia in underground objects happens all the time and that it is very important to stay warm and to keep the victim or an exhausted person warm while waiting. Hypothermia is deadly.
• If you are forced to wait a longer period of time in the underground, sit in a caving pack or on something that will isolate your body from the ground. Place your generator and carbide light between your legs and cover yourself with a rescue blanket.
• If you use only electric light for moving around, in this case it is good to have a candle and a lighter or a chemical heater with you.
• In an underground objects containing snow and ice (pits on Velebit, Dinara, Biokovo, etc.) watch out from frozen ropes (use of an additional biner with the descended is obligatory while climb down), falling and splintering of ice and frostbites on your fingers and toes.
If you are caving outside our borders, beside the above mention advices, take additional care of the following:
• Contact the local caving association or National Association.
• Check if there is a danger of contracting Histoplasmosis - also known as Darling's disease, an infectious disease caused by inhaling the spores of a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum which can be found in dust, excrement of Guacharo birds or bats – its symptoms are very similar to tuberculosis.
• Check if there is a danger from rabies – in tropical caves can bats very often be disease vectors.
• Before going to exotic areas you must consult a doctor from the Institute of Immunology to obtain instructions regarding possible illnesses (yellow fever, malaria, typhus, tetanus and alike), about its prevention and vaccinations.
• Bear in mind that performing rescues from underground objects is extremely difficult logistic, technical and physical strain and that it can last for hours and even days

Possible overturn or sinking of a boat.
Photo: D.Bakšić

Low channel is easily drowned. Photo: D.Bakšić

 Dangerous access to the pit. Photo: D.Bakšić

Explosives in cave. Photo: D.Bakšić

Hypothermia in Amfora pit, Biokovo. Photo: D.Bakšić