Was on a caving trip t'other day and while sat by the side of a small pool which had formed on a rock I noticed a colony of tiny water skating cave mites.

They were about 1mm long, with 2 tiny little feelers at the front (like little woodlice)- and were perfectly white. There were about 6 of them sitting on the top of the water, and they could jump (towards my light) at least 2cm into the air. 

I presume other people must have spotted these types of creatures in caves? But are they actually cave wildlife, or are they washed in from the surface (via peculation) and simply loose all their colour?

iv seen them before, i was in pierres pot taking a friend caving and she wouldnt crawl over/through the puddle because of thiese mite things, so we showed her the other way round then retreated and took her in goatchurch instead.

Cound it be Niphargus fontanus ? Have a look at the picture on the following website
http://www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/cavelife/crustacea.html

Where were you when you saw them?

Other possibilities include: Proasellus cavaticus and Gammarus pulex

Another great resource to telling these apart is by Lee Knight http://www.fba.org.uk/recorders/publications_resources/cavelife/contentParagraph/00/document/CaveLife_Website.pdf

[quote Another great resource to telling these apart is by Lee Knight http://www.fba.org.uk/recorders/publications_resources/cavelife/contentParagraph/00/document/CaveLife_Website.pdf
[/quote]

Beat me to it. He gives a good talk on cave beasties as well with specimens to look at.

These do sound like very much like "springtails" (Collembola). You could usefully ask Graham Proudlove (BCRA's Biological Recorder); I think there's a contact email available on the BCRA website.

They sound like springtails to me too. There are loads of different species and separating them is difficult!  Apparently there are some which emit some light when disturbed which is something I've never managed to observe myself.

Some info:
http://www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/cavelife/millipedes_insects.html

1mm is too small to be Niphargus or Gammarus.

Alexander