Membership 2026
So you are interested in coming underground. The best way to do this is by joining a caving or underground exploration group such as ourselves, Plymouth Caving Group (PCG.)
You can come for one easy free trip with us if you want to find out if you like it, after which, you can join as a full member if you want to continue. We can lend you a helmet and lamp, and possibly a caving suit, though you will need to bring your own wellies and rough clothes that you don’t mind getting wet and muddy… Plus a change of clothes for after.
Full membership is just £48 for a whole year. This includes £32 British Caving Association (BCA) membership, which is required as it includes 3rd party insurance for members and for the club. However, for NEW members only, during 2026, BCA membership is reduce by a quarter every three months. So this is £16 from July and £8 from October 2025. Similar discounts apply to student membership.
If you already have or will have BCA membership through another club or directly through BCA, then full PCG membership is just £16. We also have student and junior rates.
Full time, card carrying student membership is £12 for PCG plus £6 BCA from July, equaling £18 if over 18 on 1st of January 2026. With BCA membership elsewhere, it is just £12.
Junior membership for anyone under 18 on the 1st of January 2026 is just £12 and BCA insurance is FREE. However, until they turn 18, they have to be accompanied by a designated adult member of PCG when they go underground.
Membership runs from January to December each year, though we ask you to renew at the beginning of December so we can pay BCA for the insurance in plenty of time for the new year. People joining in December will have membership to the end of 2027.
Benefits
- Access places that are either totally unknown or completely barred to most people.
- Be with people who know the pitfalls (literally) of a particular mine or cave, or when exploring somewhere fresh, will know how to explore safely. Several members also belong to the Devon Cave Rescue Organisation.
- Gain access to a library of underground locations to research and plan trips and to know what to expect and where best to find the kinds of things that most draw you underground.
- Training – Learn caving and exploration techniques, especially using wire ladders and Single Rope Techniques (SRT) for getting down and back up vertical drops.
- Insurance against 3rd party risks, i.e. to land owners, fellow cavers etc up to a maximum of ten million pounds.
Above all, you will get to explore and marvel at the wonders of the subterranean world in excellent enthusiastic company.
How much is membership?
For 2026
- New members from July 2026: PCG £16 plus BCA £16 = £32
New members from October 2026: PCG £16 plus BCA £8 = £24
Full membership with BCA insurance from elsewhere £16 - Full time student with card: PCG £12 plus BCA £6 = £18 from July
Full time student with card: PCG £12 plus BCA £3 = £15 from October
Student with BCA insurance elsewhere £12 - Student or Individual under 18 on 1st January 2026 is £12 with free BCA insurance.
Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a designated PCG adult member while underground. - Renewal of full membership £16 plus BCA insurance of £32 equals £48 (Sorry, no BCA discount for renewing later in the year.)
Contact us on the Form Below
Let us know if you want to just try a single, easy trip, in which case, let us know which trip you would like to attend, if you know.
Alternatively, let us know if you want to join straight away. It is useful if you can let us know what experience you have had. Though remember, we are open to complete novices. Everyone has to start somewhere!
Either way, we will send you a membership form to fill in, as we need your details for contact and insurance purposes.