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Roussillon and Aude · about 4 km from Quillan

Font Maure

  • Max depth14 m
  • CertificationFull cave
  • Water temperature≈ ~12.8 °Cestimated, no reports yet
  • SpecialSidemount
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The dive

A high-flow exsurgence in the Aude gorge, with water at ~12.8 °C. At low water S4 turns turbid quickly. Beyond the sumps you reach a chaotic breakdown chamber with very abrasive limestone.

S1 is tight with strong current: only for divers experienced with restrictions and flow.
Source: plongeesout (FFS), Font Maure ↗Source: Grottomap, Maure (Font) ↗
The in-cave climbing gear dates from 1987 and its condition is unknown — bring your own rope and kit.
Source: Grottomap, Maure (Font) ↗
Profile and sections

A high-flow exsurgence in the Aude gorge, with water at ~12.8 °C. At low water S4 turns turbid quickly. Beyond the sumps you reach a chaotic breakdown chamber with very abrasive limestone.

The catchment is ~90 km². British divers passed S1 in August 1979; in 1987–1989 international teams pushed on (the ladder was installed in August 1987), and S5 was reached in 1993.

Depth and profile
S1 60 m / -14 (tight, strong current) · 15 m climb · S2 20 m / -7 · S3 bypassed · S4 20 m (a lake) · S5 reached in 1993; cave 200 m long, 39 m vertical range
Configuration
Sidemount, or cylinders unclipped ('décapelé') or harnessed English-style, for the tight S1 with current. Backmount does not fit (estimate).
DPV: Not DPV-suitable (estimate)
Tight sumps with current and climbs in between: no scooter (estimate).
Who can dive where
  • CaveAt least Full cave
  • Whole caveConfigurations: Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
  • Whole caveGoes down to 14 m (trimix or deco may be needed) · doesn't decide who may dive
  • Whole caveRopework (SRT) needed
  • Whole caveExperienced divers only · doesn't decide who may dive
RopeworkDry sections / haulingExperienced diversDepends on water level or swell

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.

Cave map

How to get there

On the D117 in the Aude gorge between Quillan and Axat (Défilé de Pierre-Lys), under a road bridge on the left bank of the Aude. Parking not described. Beyond S1 you need ladders, ropes and handlines for climbs and shafts; S1 itself needs no rope.

Plan your route ↗

Around Font Maure

FillsNo fill station known nearby
Where to sleepAround Quillan on Booking.com ↗

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Caves nearby6 within 44 km

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Sources, sharing and disclaimer

Sources

Current conditions

Visibility, flow and water levels change quickly. Right before your dive, check what other divers report:

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Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training. Compiled from web research (the FFS plongeesout.ffspeleo.fr site pages per département and accident list, FFESSM Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée reports 2011–2026, Wikipedia, Grottomap, Made in Perpignan, Francis Le Guen's blog, club reports by the Entente Spéléologique du Roussillon and Les Trogloxènes, Agence de l'eau Rhône-Méditerranée, Côte Indigo, Spéléo Secours Français, Medsubhyp, sante.fr and dive-centre websites; Sept 2026). Pins from plongeesout (GPS, checked against converted Lambert coordinates) and Grottomap; ~ = estimate (drive times too). Most site data are old (1970–2008). Rules change — check locally.