Why Is Called Potholing?

Etymology. The base term caving comes from the Latin cavea or caverna

, meaning simply, a cave. Potholing refers to the act of exploring potholes, a word originating in the north of England for predominantly vertical caves.

Is potholing the same as caving?

What is the difference between caving and potholing? Potholing is a type of caving where the primary aim is to ascend and descend ropes to reach the bottom of a cave. It is a more sophisticated form of abseiling and prussiking. ... Caving is a demanding and challenging group sport.

What are cavers called?

The terms caver and spelunker are often used interchangeably today, however there is a difference. So much so that cavers used to take offense to being called spelunkers. A spelunker enters a cave for recreational, touristic purposes while a caver explores the cave for professional, geological reasons.