Caving organizations

There are a number of caving organizations throughout the world.

Australia

*Australian Speleological Federation (ASF) is a national organisation formed in 1956. It is an environmental organisation promoting the protection of Australia's unique cave systems.
*Sydney Speleological Society (SSS) is a Sydney based caving club that runs many trips to local, national and international caving destinations. Founded in 1954 SSS is one of the oldest caving groups in Australia.

Brazil

Brazilian Speleological Society (SBE) is a national organisation formed in 1969. SBE is member of UIS (Union International de Spéléologie) and FEALC (Federación Espeleológica de América Latina y el Caribe).

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Federation of Speleology is established in 1958 and is a member of the UIS(UNESCO) since 1965. A very comprehensive resource for Bulgarian caves is available at Bulgarian Caves.

Canada

Caving Canada There is no national caving organization in Canada, despite the existence of a national publication ("the Canadian Caver", started in 1968). Regional organizations exist in British Columbia and Quebec, and caving clubs exist in most of the provinces.

China

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

Czech Republic

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

Europe

Speleological Federation of the European Union / Fédération Spéléologique de l'Union Européenne (FSUE)] is the European organisation which federates the national caving federations/associations in Europe.

France

Fédération Française de Spéléologie is the national organisation with many caving clubs as members.

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.

Hungary

The Hungarian Speleology Society was founded in 1926. Our society was reorganized by enlarging its profile in 1958 under the name of Hungarian Karst- and Cave Research Society (MKBT). MKBT carries out speleological research and exploration in Hungary. The national yearly publication is called "Karszt és Barlang" (meaning Karst and Cave).

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.

Jamaica

The Jamaican Caves Organisation (JCO) carries out speleological research and exploration on the island.

Netherlands

Speleo Nederland is the national organisation with four regional sections. The national 3 monthly publication is called "Pierk" (meaning stalactite).

New Zealand

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

Norway

Norsk Grotteforbund (The Norwegian Speleological Society) is the national organisation. It was established in 1980.

Portugal

Federação Portuguesa de Espeleologia

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 member of UIS (Union International de Spéléologie), affiliated to UNESCO.

outh Africa

* South African Speleological Association
* Cave Research Organisation of South Africa
* Speleological Exploration Club (SEC)

pain

* The Federación Española de Espeleología is the Spanish Speleological Association. There are also twelve Regional Associations ("Federaciones Autonómicas" in Spanish), 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 in the exploration of new caves in Pirineos mountains and urban speleology.

weden

The Swedish Speleological Society is the national body for caving in Sweden. It was founded in 1966 by the "Father of Swedish Speleology", Leander Tell.

witzerland

The Swiss Society of Speleology was created in 1939 in Geneva.

Turkey

*Cave Research Association is the oldest cave research association in Turkey. Its central organisation is in Ankara and it has a branch in Bursa. MAD arranges cave expeditions and promotes speleology in Turkey. MAD has more than 100 members with approximately 40 of them actively working.
*BÜMAK (Boğaziçi University Speleological Society is the oldest University Club of the country. The Club has explored EGMA, deepest cave in Turkey (-1429 m. deep) and is still actively finding and exploring new caves all around the country.

United Kingdom

* The British Caving Association is the governing body for underground exploration in the United Kingdom. It represents all those persons and groups with a genuine interest in caves, karst and associated phenomena, whether from a strictly sporting viewpoint, a scientific viewpoint, or a combination of both.
* The British Cave Research Association is a constituent body of the British Caving Association and promotes the study of caves and associated phenomena. The association encourages original exploration, collects and publishes speleological information, and organises education events.
* CHECC is the Council of Higher Education Caving Clubs, and acts as am umbrella group for all University caving clubs, to facilitate interactions within and between clubs, and to represent them to higher caving authorities within the UK and Europe.

United States

* The National Speleological Society (NSS) is a national non-profit membership organization formed in 1941 with the purpose "to promote interest in and to advance in any and all ways the study and science of speleology, the protection of caves and their natural contents, and to promote fellowship among those interested therein." Most of the Society's approximately 12,000 members belong to local chapters known as grottos. The Society maintains an active online discussion forum to discuss caving. Anyone interested in caving or caves is invited to participate.
* The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) is an American private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves.