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Dordogne river underwater12/3/2023 ![]() In some parts, entirely British communities have developed and there is at least one with an English Mayor: this is somewhat ironic given that this was a part of France that was hard fought over by the French and English in the Hundred Year's War! ![]() The Dordogne has become popular with British tourists and many have bought homes here. Martyn Farr's book The Darkness Beckons describes some of the classic milestones achieved by these legends. Some of these adventures are testament to the teamwork of dedicated diving groups whilst others are the achievements of rugged individuals. People have successfully penetrated thousands of metres into these systems, reaching amazing depths of 80 m during dives that have lasted several hours. Toe-curling epic dives have been executed using innovations such as half a dozen 'jumbo rigged' 20 litre cylinders, twin re-breather gear and doubled-up underwater scooters. The depths of Emergence du Russel, for example, were plumbed in the seventies to more than 70m. The Dordogne region has been at the forefront of European cave diving developments and exploration for decades. Summer air temperatures can be in the 30s: perfect for the après-dive "tea and medals" on the terrace of a local cafe. Many sumps here have navigation lines for 100s of metres and can be accessed almost from the roadside. Rainfall in the summer is often infrequent and patchy, affecting certain caves with a little milkyness only if rain falls within the catchment area. Summer water conditions in the caves are a comfortable 15 degrees centigrade and vis can be gin-clear, especially around the end of August/ September. ![]() "If you can't get twin 15s and a 'Zepp' down then it is, by definition, too tight" my diving companion Andy declares. These dive sites however, are not the squalid, claustrophobic "grimness" or "misery" that is often UK cave diving here there are big, 'friendly', clear-water passages a different philosophy. ![]() The three rivers, Dordogne, Lot and Céle in the central, southern region of France offer over a dozen classic cave dives including some of the longest and deepest "siphons" in the country, if not Europe: Emergence du Russel La Doux de Coly Trou Madam Gouffre de Cabouy Gouffre de St Sauveur Fontain de St George Oeil de la Doue are some of the evocative names given to these sites that are peppered throughout the region. The Dordogne/Lot area is one of the greatest cave diving areas in the world. ![]()
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