Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

it's hard to manually focus in dark especially with objects near and far

JSchmick

If you use a polarizer normally, be sure to remove it before you go caving. Lesson learned!

manofhg Loc: Knoxville, TN

Also, one other thing to remember. If you are in a wild cave, you provide all the light. Therefore, where you place your lights, how many you have and their individual brightnesses will determine your outcome. Before I went into the cave I referred to, I asked what type of cave it was and how you entered it. Some of the caves are very dry and possibly dusty while others are very muddy or dripping. The cave I entered had some muddy areas, but for the most part was packed mud or basically dry without much dust to be concerned about. As it was, I packaged all my camera equipment with a lot of padding and brought things for cleaning if needed. I didn't need the cleaning cloths for the lenses, but did need to wipe the camera body and my hands needed wiping frequently. I'm also glad everything was well padded. Caves are rough on everything. Aside from the 3 strobes, I was carrying a tripod, trigger, wireless receiver for one of the strobes, Canon 5DIII, Canon 24-105L, and Sigma 20/1.4 Art lens. While I did use the Sigma 20mm, I mostly used the 24-105.

Entering can be a walk in, crawl in, swim in (not me), or rappel in. The problem I have with rappelling isn't the entry, but the exit. Of the 3 strobes I took in, one died while I was in there (just needed new batteries), but other two continued to work fine. I simply placed my strobes on the ground or on a rock pointed at whatever feature I was going to illuminate. Sometimes I had to move the lights several times to get the effect I was after. The strobes were anywhere from 10 ft. to about 100 ft. away. Triggers never failed.

HatsuoHiga Loc: Hawaii

You should go to Gyokusendo cave in Okinawa, considered the most beautiful cave in Japan. In Okinawa you can also see the Churaumi aquarium in the huge Ocean Expo Park, the settings for the early 1980's ocean exposition. It has a separate aquarium for the dolphin show, and also the Tropical dream garden with beautiful tropical plants and flower. I used to go to Okinawa every year sometimes twice, but the pandemic stoped me from going.

JBRIII

I've always thought cruises tell as much about where to go back as they do about where you've been. You gave reasons I never knew to go back to Okinawa, spent one day on Princess Cruise. Cave with most formations per square foot I've ever seen is a place in Alabama we stopped in going from Oklahoma (Lunar eclipse, closes clear weather to east coast) back to Maryland. In one room, you could stand in center and shoot 360 degrees for maybe a 100 feet out. Many caves from Virginia west to Miss. river and Mason Dixson line South to ??? Mammoth caves has, or least had, many trips to associated caves, (with weird/unusual formations), in the summer not available off season. But off season, there also many local caves with weird formations and you can basically get a private tour.

Note, real wild cave tours are hard on the knees!!!!

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

You can mitigate that by making knee pads by cutting up old inner tubes. Works really well.

To protect camera equipment I have a couple of WWII ammo boxes lined with foam. Water sealed they can withstand more than I can.
And a tripod.
For lighting I got team members to stand around the cavern and manually fire the flashes, four or five if I recall.
It turned out pretty well.

Good luck and don’t go caving / spelunking alone.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

In Zipaquira I used existing light and it came out good.
There were lights on all the time.
I braced the camera at times for slower exposures.
Otherwise if allowed a flash with decent power like a 580EX.

JBRIII

Unless the original questioner is working with Nat. Geo. I don't think he/she will have a team to carry or activate things. I thought we were talking about an ordinary Joe/Jane wanting to do cave photos?

Sidwalkastronomy Loc: New Jersey Shore

buy a pair of knee pads, harbor freight, Lowes, home depot should all carry them. I use mine to garden too

JustJill Loc: Iowa

What a wonder group of people you hoggers are! I have a trekking pole/monopod but it sounds like I will bring my tripod too. I have a light that I can put on a headband, but I will bring an extra flashlight too. It is a self guided cave so I can take my time. It is a six mile hike. I can take my time and use flash. I need to bring a jacket too, a towel and maybe a rain poncho!

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

I wasn’t working for Nat Geo, just a member of a local club. Getting 3 or 4 people together was easy with a little planning.

However safety is important, as is having the right equipment. If it isn’t a commercial cave there are lots of things that can go wrong and put people in danger since you are essentially alone in the dark.

Perhaps we need to know more about the OP’s plans and desires.

Caving / spelunking is fun and rewarding, but can also be fatal.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Whoa, never go into caves alone. Even for commercial caves with lighted paths, going in alone is very unsafe.
When we explored, we had 2 locals as our guide and even then only 3 of us went in and 2 of my buddies stayed out. It was a wild cave and we had to squeeze into a tiny hole to get in.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Keep an eye on the weather. Flash floods occur and can be lethal, they happen very suddenly when they occur. Depending on the cave and its conditions, do you have a wet suit?

And don’t forget spare batteries!

JBRIII

Especially problematic during heavy rain in at least some areas. Remember lots of news stories of people going into caves, rains, water rises and they get trapped.