Grotte de Belle vue

Seydlitz · October 12th, 2006, 06:52 PM

Hi ,Thought I would post this as A Follow on to a recent trip report By ABrown.
If in France and Its not go go go trying to maximise dive time ..It might be worth taking some time out to see a Dry cave called Grotte de Belle vue as for a Cave diver its very interesting its situated up a road behind Marcilhac sur cele and quite easy to find as there are a few homemade signs pointing the way!!!...PS Have a meal at Les Tourists ..no Menu ..old Lady just gives you what she has cooked for the day ..sublime!!!

The cave is fascinating in as much its in the Vadose zone and at one point very like most caves in the area it had high water flow causing scalloping ,erosion bowls and other features associated with the local caves..however as water levels dropped and it became dry ...Features you would normally assciate with Mexico formed Columns soda Straws staligtites /mites draperies etc ..the cave is still forming as you walk about with soda strawsforming.
So its a typical french Cave turning into an Mexican style one ...Its worth a visit...
As when diving your usually on the move in Caves .its excellent that you have the time to thoroughly take it in ..
Hope this is of interest
Regards Andy

Joe Hesketh · October 12th, 2006, 07:33 PM

Sounds cool - will have to check it out next time (maybe when not trying to squeeze in 4 cave dives a day

)

Roel · October 12th, 2006, 11:41 PM

Sounds like a VERY nice thing to do when conditions in the caves are too bad for diving and you have some spare time

PS 4 dives / day?? Do you actually come OUT of the water or just surface?

lizardland · October 13th, 2006, 12:01 AM

An absolute must is the Gouffre de Padirac. I went for the first time ever last year even though I've been diving in the Lot for ten years. Apart from being an amazing place it's also geologically very important as it is the origin of the water feeding a number of major resurgences in the area (St George & Finou being the main ones). Unfortunately it only opens during the tourist season.

I think anyone involved in cave diving should visit some dry caves at some point to really see how caves form. There is a really great dry cave (and free to visit) in a lay by on the road to St George, dimensions similar to Cabouy and walking passage for a long way before proper caving starts.

Joe Hesketh · October 13th, 2006, 12:39 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Roel)

PS 4 dives / day?? Do you actually come OUT of the water or just surface?

On Cave 1 gas limits we just surface for 1/2 hour or so and then go back in.

Seydlitz · October 13th, 2006, 01:02 AM

I agree with Stuart ..I learnt alot just looking in the dry cave..So much to See ...Alot of the Theory when reading books and your cave course doesn't mean as much untill you see it

Stuart Did you see the Cave pearls at Padirac??????

ANDY

Sounding sad ..I'm turning into my Dad

Rick · October 13th, 2006, 02:55 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Seydlitz)

I agree with Stuart ..I learnt alot just looking in the dry cave..So much to See ...Alot of the Theory when reading books and your cave course doesn't mean as much untill you see it

Stuart Did you see the Cave pearls at Padirac??????

ANDY

Sounding sad ..I'm turning into my Dad

Cheers big baws!

davy · October 13th, 2006, 10:53 AM

sounds great...
I often considered taking my caving gear along when visiting the Lot, but never did it...
Although I promised myself to take a couple of days off next time I visit the area for some dry caving.

Any further info on dry caves in the area like access restrictions; required rigging etc.?

lizardland · October 13th, 2006, 11:21 AM

I can't remember, I was too busy thinking about how easy it would be to get a small rebreather in disguised as a rucksack and a wetsuit under a flasher mac

I did have one moment where I thought about pearls but that was only when I was buying my ticket from the girl in the booth...

Joe Hesketh · October 13th, 2006, 11:36 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland)

I did have one moment where I thought about pearls but that was only when I was buying my ticket from the girl in the booth...

I’m sure she’d have rather you kept your calcite deposits to yourself

October 12th, 2006, 06:52 PM	#1 (permalink)
Seydlitz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Never Far from a good Belgian Beer and a Crackwh*re Posts: 455	Grotte de Belle vue Hi ,Thought I would post this as A Follow on to a recent trip report By ABrown. If in France and Its not go go go trying to maximise dive time ..It might be worth taking some time out to see a Dry cave called Grotte de Belle vue as for a Cave diver its very interesting its situated up a road behind Marcilhac sur cele and quite easy to find as there are a few homemade signs pointing the way!!!...PS Have a meal at Les Tourists ..no Menu ..old Lady just gives you what she has cooked for the day ..sublime!!! The cave is fascinating in as much its in the Vadose zone and at one point very like most caves in the area it had high water flow causing scalloping ,erosion bowls and other features associated with the local caves..however as water levels dropped and it became dry ...Features you would normally assciate with Mexico formed Columns soda Straws staligtites /mites draperies etc ..the cave is still forming as you walk about with soda strawsforming. So its a typical french Cave turning into an Mexican style one ...Its worth a visit... As when diving your usually on the move in Caves .its excellent that you have the time to thoroughly take it in .. Hope this is of interest Regards Andy

October 13th, 2006, 12:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
lizardland(Offline) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 591	An absolute must is the Gouffre de Padirac. I went for the first time ever last year even though I've been diving in the Lot for ten years. Apart from being an amazing place it's also geologically very important as it is the origin of the water feeding a number of major resurgences in the area (St George & Finou being the main ones). Unfortunately it only opens during the tourist season. I think anyone involved in cave diving should visit some dry caves at some point to really see how caves form. There is a really great dry cave (and free to visit) in a lay by on the road to St George, dimensions similar to Cabouy and walking passage for a long way before proper caving starts. __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

October 13th, 2006, 01:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Seydlitz(Offline) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Never Far from a good Belgian Beer and a Crackwh*re Posts: 455	Dry caves I agree with Stuart ..I learnt alot just looking in the dry cave..So much to See ...Alot of the Theory when reading books and your cave course doesn't mean as much untill you see it Stuart Did you see the Cave pearls at Padirac?????? ANDY Sounding sad ..I'm turning into my Dad

October 13th, 2006, 02:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rick(Offline) Jock Exley Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Falkirk/Stratford UK Posts: 730	Quote: (Originally Posted by Seydlitz) I agree with Stuart ..I learnt alot just looking in the dry cave..So much to See ...Alot of the Theory when reading books and your cave course doesn't mean as much untill you see it Stuart Did you see the Cave pearls at Padirac?????? ANDY Sounding sad ..I'm turning into my Dad Cheers big baws! __________________ Forget Everything And Remember http://phreaticzone.thedeepstop.com/ http://www.dublinbaydiving.com/

October 13th, 2006, 11:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
lizardland(Offline) LCS Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Evidently Chickentown Posts: 591	I can't remember, I was too busy thinking about how easy it would be to get a small rebreather in disguised as a rucksack and a wetsuit under a flasher mac I did have one moment where I thought about pearls but that was only when I was buying my ticket from the girl in the booth... __________________ Can you imagine drifting along in the sea with your mouth open and a load of f***ing plankton going in? You'd like it, would you? www.westons-cider.co.uk The Lot isn't the only place to dive: http://www.lulu.com/content/613554

October 12th, 2006, 07:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 657	Sounds cool - will have to check it out next time (maybe when not trying to squeeze in 4 cave dives a day )

October 12th, 2006, 11:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Roel(Offline) New Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 374	Sounds like a VERY nice thing to do when conditions in the caves are too bad for diving and you have some spare time PS 4 dives / day?? Do you actually come OUT of the water or just surface?

October 13th, 2006, 12:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 657	Quote: (Originally Posted by Roel) PS 4 dives / day?? Do you actually come OUT of the water or just surface? On Cave 1 gas limits we just surface for 1/2 hour or so and then go back in.

October 13th, 2006, 10:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
davy (Online) DIveR Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belgium Posts: 274	sounds great... I often considered taking my caving gear along when visiting the Lot, but never did it... Although I promised myself to take a couple of days off next time I visit the area for some dry caving. Any further info on dry caves in the area like access restrictions; required rigging etc.?

October 13th, 2006, 11:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Joe Hesketh (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 657	Quote: (Originally Posted by lizardland) I did have one moment where I thought about pearls but that was only when I was buying my ticket from the girl in the booth... I’m sure she’d have rather you kept your calcite deposits to yourself