Ardèche · about 6 km from Saint-Remèze
Source du Castor
- Max depth68 m
- CertificationFull cave
- Water temperature≈ 12–13 °Cestimated, no reports yet
- SpecialExperienced divers
Diving and fills
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The dive
The water is usually very clear (20 m+), but it can turn cloudy quickly: the floor is partly muddy and silty. Despite 'Ardèche' in the guide, the spring is in the Gard département (Aiguèze covers the southern half of the canyon).
Profile and sections
The water is usually very clear (20 m+), but it can turn cloudy quickly: the floor is partly muddy and silty.
Despite 'Ardèche' in the guide, the spring is in the Gard département (Aiguèze covers the southern half of the canyon). The guide's description comes from Cavebase.
Practical: the spring is inside the Réserve naturelle des Gorges de l'Ardèche. Wild camping is not allowed and sports activities are regulated by prefectoral order.
- Depth and profile
- Sump 798 m / -68 (CDS07, Jan 2021). Per the guide: a 3 × 3 m passage to -18 m over the first 70 m; at 100 m a round chamber (5 m high, 25 m wide); on the right -22, -15 and -30 m at 150 m; -40 m at 350 m and -50 m at 430 m to a vertical cut (max -68 m). Beyond it vertically up to -35 m and a chimney to -21 m, a loop and a T-junction on a steep slope: left the air bell 'Swiss Bell', right via -35 m a large collapse (the line straight on ends in a silty dead end) and through a restriction near the ceiling (~-15 m), -25 m and up to the 'Salle Chaotique' at 820 m. After a 35 m scramble S2, the 'Donut Sump': max -10 m, 120 m, two passages leading back to the toxic air.
- Configuration
- 3 × 3 m passage with large chambers, but a restriction near the ceiling on the way to the Salle Chaotique. Length and depth call for trimix and plenty of gas: CCR, twinset or sidemount; not for small cylinders. Usually a primary reel has to be laid from the river into the cave.
- DPV: DPV possible (estimate)
- Roomy passage (3 × 3 m, chambers up to 25 m wide) and 820 m to the Salle Chaotique: a scooter can help. But the route has a vertical cut, a chimney and a restriction near the ceiling, and everything has to come down by the cable car and across the river.
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR
- Goes down to 68 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Experienced divers only
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How to get there
Right bank (Aiguèze, Gard), directly opposite the free-standing rock pinnacle Rocher de la Cathédrale; the spring opens below the waterline. Easiest via Camping les Templiers (a naturist campsite) on the left bank: at the Balcon des Templiers (viewpoint on the D290 towards Pont d'Arc) take the path towards the gorge to a barrier and park there. 50 m further is the top station of a goods cable car to the campsite (a few times morning and evening, 150 kg per trip, small fee). A path with ropes goes down: left to the campsite (collect your gear, hand carts for hire), right to the riverbank. Behind the campsite ~20 min on foot until you can get down to the river; the Castor is on the other side, ~250 m upstream.
Around Source du Castor
FillsNo fill station known nearby
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