Caving or Speleology
The Greek word for cave is 'spileo' (or, alternatively, 'spilea') - hence the scientific term for the study of caves: 'speleology'.
Though beginning at a sport around 1900, it later became a multi-disciplinary science with aspects related to biology, paleontology, geology, chemistry, archaeology, photography, etc.
As a sport, though it offers exciting and beautiful visual spectacles, including not only the well known stalactites and stalagmites, but also cave corals, flowers, pearls and flowstones, ancient human or animals remains, underground streams, and the acoustic wonders that only such places can offer.
It demands a great deal in return for these wonders, however: extreme fitness, willingness to face dangers, along with scientific knowledge. The dangers may include rockfalls that blocks one's exit, slippery places where one can fall, lack of oxygen, getting lost in labyrinth-like complexes, dealing with aggressive bats, etc.
A married couple founded the Hellenic Speleological Society in 1950, after the beginning of interest in this sport/science in Greece during the 1930s. This couple explored and mapped more than a thousand caves, underground rivers, and sinkholes in Greece, with others following after them with this work, and several organizations in this field founded.
The branch of the Greek Ministry of Culture for Speleology and Paleoanthropology is the legal authority authorized to give permits to enter Greek caves, except for a few that have been opened to the public, require no special equipment, and are on some tourist intineraries.
There are some fabulous caves in the Ionian islands off the west coast of the Greek mainland (in the sea of the same name), some of the largest and most known on the island of Kefalonia (Cephalonia), as well as on the west coast of Paxi, on Zakynthos (also called Zante), another on Lefkadha, and on the nearby islet of Meganissi.
The Melissani cave in Kefalonia is connected with swallow holes several kilometers away near Argostoli, the secret of where the water that disappeared into these holes went solved by the use of colored dye; this water partly fills a large lake inside the cave (though it is also connected with other streams via passageways) where tourists can explore by boats rowed by guides.
An archaological site on one side of this lake turned up a small clay statuette of the god Pan, as well as a big bowl with the same god around whom nymphs dance, and a female statue that may be of the nymph for whom the cave was named, Melissanthe.
There are more large cave lakes in the same area (near Sami, where the film 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', based on the novel of the same name, was made). The one called Droggarati is open to the public and has stairs and walkways built to make things easier for untrained visitors.
The Papanikolis cave on Meganissi islet (near Lefkadha ) has a huge chamber and lake inside with 40,000 square feet of water surface in a chamber 120 meters (400 feet long), and 60 meters (200 feet) wide with 30 meters (100 feet) from water surface to the top. Beautifully colored stalactites line the cavern walls and are an artist's or photographer's paradise when seen gleaming in the filtered sunlight from the cave entrance. Another cave not far away from this one, known as the Alabaster Cave, has wonderful stalagmites.
On the southwestern coast of Paxi are found some forty caves at sea level, with fine vaulted ceilings and beautiful sea water. One of the caves has passageways leading off from the main chamber to yet unexplored inner chambers. The beautiful Ionian islands offer many other kinds of outdoor activities in addition to caving.
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