Barbara,
From what I've heard at the CG meetings I've attended..........not all survey trips are hard core or on the outer reaches of the cave. There are quite a few shorter mop up trips that happen where beginners can tag along and learn the ropes, so to speak. Of coarse you never hear about the shorter trips......just the push trips. I'm sure Hero 1 will be fine if he gets invited and will be paired up with just the right trip leader for his ability level.