Charente
Le Paradis Blanc (Saint-Même-les-Carrières)
- Max depth25 m
- CertificationIntro to cave (first section)
- SpecialFlooded mine or quarry
Diving and fills
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The dive
The water is clear, with visibility up to 25 m and more. Cables, tools, chains, winches, timber and a steel gate remain underwater, and insulators hang from the ceiling.
Profile and sections
The water is clear, with visibility up to 25 m and more. Cables, tools, chains, winches, timber and a steel gate remain underwater, and insulators hang from the ceiling. Water temperature has not been published.
This limestone mine was worked for four centuries, until 1975; the stone went to Bordeaux Cathedral and the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, among others. At its peak it had ~50–60 ha of galleries, up to 60 m beneath the vineyards. When pumping stopped, the lowest level flooded.
- Depth and profile
- The lowest of three levels is flooded over ~10 ha. Mostly to -20 m; the pink line reaches -25 m. Four lines from 150 to 700 m: red (300 m loop), blue (550 m loop in the west), orange (shallow cavern line) and pink (being laid, eventually a loop of more than 1 km). The eastern part and the intermediate level are largely unexplored.
- Intro level
- A shallow cavern line (orange) for introduction dives; guided discovery dives on request through Aquatek, also without cave certification.
- Configuration
- Roomy galleries with pillars every 20 m in a checkerboard pattern and a ceiling more than 10 m high: every configuration fits (estimate). Aquatek is a rebreather training centre.
- DPV: DPV possible (estimate)
- Loops of 300–550 m and a line of more than 1 km being laid, in roomy galleries; ask Aquatek whether scooters are allowed (estimate).
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Cavern zone / easier part: at least Intro to cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Goes down to 25 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
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
Former underground limestone quarry beneath Saint-Même-les-Carrières, between Cognac and Angoulême; you enter through a gated entrance in a cliff face. The commune only allows diving under the supervision of the Aquatek dive school (Fabrice Couraud): book through aquatek.fr. Cave certification required, except on guided discovery dives.
Around Le Paradis Blanc (Saint-Même-les-Carrières)
FillsNo fill station known nearby
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