What is the difference between a stream cave and a river cave?

In some parts of the world, there are rivers that enter a cave and disappear into the earth. And the reverse is true - there are caves with a river flowing out of them. If a person can enter the cave without Scuba gear, it is called a river cave. These caves require experience much like canyoneering.

In a stream cave, the majority of the passage is dry but there is flowing water throughout the cave. An explorer can usually avoid getting completely soaked, but they will still need to wear nylon overalls, and avoid wearing anything made of cotton.

Sometimes a cave had a stream many years ago, but is now dry, or the cave has a flowing stream after a rain shower.

These caves may flood so it is important to watch the weather report before entering a cave. It may even be necessary to have remote access to radar information, so that you can look for storms in the area, before entering the cave.

If a cave has a large stream or has a tiny river then the type of cave may be difficult to distinguish. If a major part of the exploration requires riding on an inner tube or inflatable boat then it is considered a river cave.

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Technically there is no difference, except in scale, although you could use the "difference" between a stream and a river on the surface as a subjective analogy. You can get very wet in some stream caves; and some caves normally carrying quite a small stream can flood just as dangerously as those normally carrying a big river.

The water sinking into a cave does not "disappear into the earth". We may not be able to follow it far but the water does emerge eventually at a "rising" or "resurgence", which may or may not be an enterable cave. Active caves perform the same function as active stream valleys on the surface: they channel water from high land to low.