Ardèche · about 3 km from Les Vans
Dragonnière de Banne
- Max depth37 m
- CertificationFull cave
- Water temperature≈ 12–13 °Cestimated, no reports yet
- SpecialSidemount
Diving and fills
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The dive
A resurgence with ten sumps and dry sections between them. After S1 comes a tall passage with a lake, after S2 a 17 m narrow canal that you swim with fins on.
Profile and sections
A resurgence with ten sumps and dry sections between them. After S1 comes a tall passage with a lake, after S2 a 17 m narrow canal that you swim with fins on. Further on there are 2 m climbs, an awkward sloping wet fissure after S4 and a 6 m cascade after S9. At low water the water is crystal clear.
The survey was completed during the 2003–2004 FFESSM expedition (200 m of new passage). The terminus branches and is impassable.
- Depth and profile
- S1 91 m / -8 · S2 60 m / -8 · S3 26 m / -5 · S4 231 m / -18 · S5 20 m / -4 · S6 45 m / -6 · S7 80 m / -9 · S8 360 m / -37 · S9 95 m / -16.5 · S10 58 m / -18 (terminus at 1,222 m) · total 1,931 m (1,102 m flooded), depth range -106 m
- Configuration
- S1 is roomy (4 x 4 m), S8 averages only about 1.6 m across. In 2004 the team switched from backmount to sidemount for the terminal sump. Everything must go down the 17 m pitch and be carried between ten sumps: light sidemount.
- DPV: Not DPV-suitable (estimate)
- Short sumps, dry sections and a pitch: no scooter.
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 37 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Ropework (SRT) needed
- Experienced divers only
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
From Banne take the D251 towards Brahic; park about 2.8 km on near a ruin, cairned path, about 10 min to the artificial upper entrance on the plateau. Clay slide, two small steps, a 17 m pitch and a 70 m slope to S1 (about 70 m below the entrance). Alternative: natural lower entrance via the Granzon stream bed from Chibasse.
Around Dragonnière de Banne
FillsNo fill station known nearby
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