Cave Guide

September 2027 to January 2028

Every cave trip is an adventure

This adventure involves certain dangers and should therefore only be undertaken under professional guidance. The Swiss School for Cave Exploration Hölloch (SSH) has set high standards for the training of cave guides. It works with rescue team 9 and actively supports cave, karst and environmental protection projects.

The SSH's goals focus on the following:

  • Training cave guides, cavers and cave rescuers
  • Public relations work on karst and caves, such as specialist supervision of school projects, e.g. the Matura subject cave exploration at Gymnasium Neufeld in Bern, and talks at adult education centres. Contributing to media reports (e.g. SF DRS "Schweiz aktuell" from the Hölloch)
  • Promoting ecological, responsible cave tourism
  • Supporting and actively participating in karst and cave protection projects
  • Supporting cave exploration that protects caves as far as possible
  • Recognition of SSH training courses and diplomas by the authorities (municipality, canton, Confederation)

Training

At the SSH, participants are trained as

  • cave guides
  • cavers
  • cave rescuers

. The various demanding training courses cover the following topics:

  • Geology, hydrology (earth history; formation of rocks; tectonics; underground drainage)
  • Cave exploration (history of cave exploration; documenting caves)
  • Life in the dark
  • People and caves (people and caves through the ages; use of caves)
  • Basic knowledge of the Hölloch
  • Karst, cave formation, cave contents (types of karst and surface karst features, cave formation; speleothems, clastic sediments etc.)
  • Equipment knowledge (helmet and lighting; personal and technical equipment; rope, anchoring etc.)
  • Cave, karst and environmental protection
  • Dealing with guests, psychology (reducing fears; building trust)
  • First aid and rescue technique (taking part in rescue exercises; SSH rescue exercises)
  • Thanks to the high level of training of our guides, we have never yet had to rescue a guest from a cave. To keep it that way, SSH-certified cave guides receive ongoing further training in demanding 1:1 exercises.

All further information on cave guide training:

German-speaking Switzerland and Hölloch

  • Peter Draganits (Trekking Team AG)
  • Gregor Bättig (Trekking Team AG)
    info@trekking.ch Tel. +41 41 390 40 40

Romandy

Cave Guide course 1

Courses in German-speaking Switzerland or Romandy. Next course start: September 2027 in German-speaking Switzerland; in Romandy: special and continuing education courses for professionals.

Course information for German-speaking Switzerland on this page
Course information for Romandy also on this page: Romandy: continuing education modules 2027 (For details on the courses in Romandy, please contact Laurent Hyvert directly: formation@swisscaving.guide)

The next cave guide course in German-speaking Switzerland starts on 25 and 26 September 2027. The information evening for this course takes place on 18 August 2027 at the Hölloch-Center in 6436 Muotathal .

The training is provided by the Swiss School for Cave Exploration Hölloch (SSH).

Course leaders:

- Peter Draganits
- Gregor Bättig

Costs:

  • CHF 370 per weekend
  • Final exam, diploma, card, badge: CHF 150

Course dates:

25 and 26 September 2027
16 and 17 October 2027
6 and 7 November 2027
27 and 28 November 2027
8 and 9 January 2028
22 and 23 January 2028

Romandy: continuing education modules 2027

This year, no new cave guide training is being organised in Romandy. Instead, the trainers are offering continuing education modules. They are aimed at trained cave guides and experienced cavers who want to deepen their skills.

First aid in caving
Caring for an injured person underground: casualty assessment, emergency measures, protection against cold and damp (heat point), raising the alarm and working with Spéléo-Secours.
Date: 1 May 2027 – Book now

Self-rescue on rope (refresher)
Techniques for helping a teammate stuck on a rope using personal equipment: changeover between ascent and descent, releasing and evacuating a person in difficulty to a safe point.
Date: 30 April 2027 – Book now

Lightweight rigging and respect for the environment
Rigging a cave in a light and reversible way (natural anchors, cord, limited number of anchors) while reducing the impact on the cave, its formations and its fauna.
Date: 29 April 2027 – Book now

Tyroleans on low-stretch ropes
Setting up, tensioning and securing a tyrolean: forces involved, choice of anchors, getting participants across safely and dismantling.
Date: 28 April 2027 – Book now

Locations and prices are listed on the booking page of each module. Full swisscaving catalogue: Book now

Management: Laurent Hyvert (CaverFox)
Language: French
Information: by email to formation@swisscaving.guide

Cave Guide course II

Information German-speaking Switzerland: Peter Draganits, info@trekking.ch
Information Romandy: Laurent Hyvert formation@swisscaving.guide

SOA Cave Guide 2 training follows on from SOA Cave Guide 1 training and is aimed at anyone who already has experience in caving and/or in leading groups in outdoor activities involving rope techniques.

The entrance test makes it possible to adapt the training path to each person's skills and experience. 
The acquisition of the knowledge required to produce cave documentation is recorded in a personal cross-cutting project during the training period.

Structure of the SOA Cave Guide 2 training

Entrance test:
Trek - 500 m - project presentation - adaptation of the training path
List of cave trips - experience in caving or leading outdoor activities (incl. SOA Cave Guide 1) - BLS up to date.

Technique 1:
Ascending equipment - rope ascent - standards and principles - maintenance and traceability
Practical workshops and theory input

Technique 2:
Rope ascent - rope rescue - rigging caves with minimal impact on the environment
Practical workshops and theory input

Technique 3:
Trek preparation - risk analysis - rigging caves - principles and practice of guiding treks
Training “First aid in caving and reducing the risk of caving accidents”

Practice and context 1:
Accompanying practice; context, geological and speleological environment of Switzerland.
SGH - Swiss cave rescue - protection of fauna - vulnerability of the environment - leading a group into a cave rigged by each candidate - elements of geology and hydrogeology related to cave study.

Practice and context 2:
Accompanying practice; context, geological and speleological environment of Switzerland.

Exam:
Theory exam: individual check of the knowledge acquired
Practical exam: leading customers in a given situation.
Presentation of the cave dossier (personal project)
Jury made up of the trainers and external experts