Team Buprofen do The Lot.......

**DCC** · August 20th, 2008, 11:16 AM

Where do we start? Hotel de Centre in Gramat – well recommended and we couldn’t fault the rooms or the location, however, it did have novelty swing doors to the bathroom.. Matt & I decided we could cope – however, due to a prolonged incident involving smells and copious use of the iPod, it was decided that a different toilet would be commandeered for any serious toiletry requirements.........

Day One
Ressel
Pulling up by the side of the road, alongside the rough track down to the river, there were already a collection of vans, all with german plates containing german divers and lots and lots of shiny dive stuff including an RB80 – being baby cave divers, we kept our heads down and fettled our twinsets while peeking enviously over our shoulders. It was a miserable, cold morning, so we didn’t hang about and off we went like a pair of wobbly old ladies........
Dive I
Eight minutes – see photo

Dive II
Dive time : 1hr 01min Max depth : Temp : 15c
Matt’s line was left in from the first dive and although I thought the cave was quite iInteresting, but it was a little samey, great slabs of limestone, made it to the second T, dive thumbed as planned – shallow circuit............. great for a shakedown dive.
Dive III
By now we only have 30bar in backgas to play with – so we took stages, but Matt’s valve exploded on contact with the water (must be a Salvo stage) so that’ll be us back down to 30bar then. We managed a very agreeable 45 minutes, over the top in the breakdown room,past the first T, towards the deep circuit. Met the Hermans again as they hung around like bats, decompressing – untidy lot – bottles & scooters everywhere...........

On the way back we took a detour to Landenhousse, though sadly after a quick recce – DDD decided that there was no way she could cope with the ladder and peering at the drop to the water gave her vertigo – she offered to guard the truck and have a picnic, Matt could dive it solo if he wanted. So that was the end of that one then

Matt, envious of DDD’s wet drysuit, decided he would like to pee himself on dive three and by now a large cloud of flies were following the truck L
Back to Okay Coral for a deco-Leffe or three, dinner & bed ..............

Day Two
Quick visit to Arne, for gas and chat and then off to Cabouy. We were the first to arrive and found a great spot under the tree, with a couple of huge boulders to act as our kitting up benches. (Matt’s suggestion as he pointed out)........ nice relaxed kit up, no slack to aim for, wind, weather or general unpleasantness J . In the midst of this, a Cave II course arrived and started unloading their humungous amount of kit. Team Brofen then beat them to the water and after the initial surprise of how cold the pool was and how non-existent the viz, we descended to the clear mouth of the cave, which drops away quite quickly to 24m, Matt picked 18m as a good place to tie into the line and we were off.

Cabouy
Dive I
Dive time : 46minutes Max depth : 30.3m Temp : 13c
A very pretty cave, in places very high, the old river bed running along the bottom..... beautiful scalloping and outcrops of rock, unlike yesterdays slabs of limestone. Positioned up high above the line it was like flying. Absolutely no flow, kick, drift, kick, drift... moving an arm to check a gauge would break the stream-lining so obviously as putting one’s head out of a car window @ 30mph – a very peculiar feeling....... All too soon, I turned the dive @ 24 minutes L and began our way out – even slower if possible – an amazing cave if you like being up high – although the viz was a little milky, it was still a good 10 – 12metres. And it is pretty much deep all the way through..
After a good play about on min deco, Matt finally surfaced into Chris Le Mailot’s waiting arms tee hee and we gently drifted back to the shore, with the sun trying to come out.

We both had separate fan clubs approach as we made our way to the car. My people were an older English couple, who ‘wanted to see what a mad man looked like!’ Well, actually, the mad man looks more like a mad woman......... and then the usual questions ‘Can you actually see anything in there?’ I was so tempted to respond, no, we rely entirely on radar, like bats, but politeness got the better of me (for a change) and I pointed out we carried little torches J

Dive II
Dive time : 24minutes Max depth : 30m
Just as lovely, no alternative circuit, but it doesn’t matter, this cave reminds me of Ginnie, lots of space and formations to look at – and a few startled fish (and leeches urgh)... Turned the dive after 16m, we had been moving quicker than on our first dive and were a bit colder than before still, 35bar went a decent distance...

R&R Following a couple of grand cremes in the village opposite Roccamador, and a quick visit to Lidl for supplies for the Sunday (namely copious amounts of chocolate, beer and tinned fish??) We returned to Gramat as it was almost Beer O’clock. Unfortunately there was a Vide Grenier being held in the town and Matt had to sup alone for a while as I went off on a tat hunt J . The rest of the evening spent at the hotel, aggravating each other and losing internet connexions with regular monotony.... Matt does a very impressive cowboy impersonation with those swing doors – it is like living with the Milky Bar Kid
Day Three
St George
Dive I
This had to be my favourite so far – really caveyJ A small pond in front of a cliff,with a small cave in it, ruined house to the side and easy parking and access. We kit up by the communal bins, and set off for the pond. My turn to lead and although the viz in the pool was zero, tied off on a couple of well placed rocks and into the ‘main’ line. Not in very good condition, best keep an eye on that, in fact Matt had to belay it as it was trailing in the gravel. The viz was about 5m which apparently is good for St George. Clay walls, very low entrance tunnel leading down that left no room for manoeuvre – given our conversation that morning about ‘squirrelly caves, I was surprised Matt was still with me. Onwards and downwards , I was using a 10w primary (due to muppetry) and the poor, milky viz was hiding a potentially beautiful cave. Given our good fills from Andre that morning, we had a decent amount of gas to play with, but the poor viz and the cold increased our consumption and Matt thumbed the dive after 24 minutes. We slowly ambled back to the start point and I looked back to the reel (I led out too as my torch was weaker) in time to see Matt pull it L which is exactly what I thought he would do

..........

We clambered out of the basin in time to chat to a couple of the german divers who were at Ressel on the Friday. Two guys, four scooters, twin 18’s and 10 stages/deco cylinders each- they had done a set up dive the day before. They looked somewhat disappointed when we told them we had managed 200m....
Anyway, off to Fontaine de Trouffe for the second dive and after a long and bouncy trip in the truck and an incident involving a cliff (the Welsh can be so nervous) we arrived at the basin. Or rather the eggcup. Someone had let all the water out L and it would have been impossible to get through the entrance without dragging all the sand and stuff in there with us . So another change of plan
Dive II
Cabouy
Well of course, no one had kept our kitting up area free for us and we were relegated to a shade free position. Luckily we spotted this big yellow ball in the sky with heat eminating from it, so we ketted up tout suite and entered the now welcoming cool water. So far so good, GUE EDGE and primary light check – nothing. Aha, must have disconnected it says Matt. We swim to the side, open the cannister, no problem ‘tis connected and now working – how strange. By the time we had dropped down 3m, it was en panne once again and that was it – dive over. I was already on Matt’s spare, my battery was in our room at the hotel where I had left it by mistake and now it was probably time for a beer.
So we sat decompressing in the sun (it is the shallow quick dives that catch you out) deco beer in hand and mulled over wonderful weekend.

Thanks to Matt for being such a great buddy and photographer. We had a really good time and are planning to return next spring – get in touch if you are interested :0

Di

Matt Gentile · August 20th, 2008, 12:16 PM

Yep really was a fun trip; although It did have it's moments i.e. driving down and at the first toll booth I wound down the passenger window I heard a crack, crunch, scrape, crack...the window decided to fall into the door...sh1t, and it was lashing down

Anyway, some more photo's

100_0132.JPG
CABOUY

100_0140.JPG
ST GEORGES

100_0147.JPG
TRUFFE

100_0127.JPG
BATHROOM DOORS IN HOTEL

100_0126.JPG
VIEW OF GRAMAT CENTRE

100_0129.JPG
VIEW OF ROCCAMADOUR

100_0116.JPG
SPOT THE SNORKEL

Pleasure to dive with you Di....

***Fiona*** · August 20th, 2008, 12:20 PM

Blooming heck can't you resize your photos, I'll need a 40" screen to see the whole thing

**neilh** · August 20th, 2008, 12:24 PM

Nice report folks, sounds like you had fun

AMW · August 20th, 2008, 12:27 PM

A little of topic but:
Out of interest any one stayed here?

Activities Lot/Souillac/Martel

Not for me but I have been asked (I will stick to a house in the county side

).

Andrew.

jimbob · August 20th, 2008, 12:49 PM

Excellent stuff, really enjoyed reading that.
Looks like a great trip.
Thanks.
Jimbob

malcolm smith · August 20th, 2008, 10:03 PM

A really really nice report Di, and great pictures Matt.

Did you have a go getting into Truffe? I was in there late July with backmounts when the 'pool' looked similar. Once inside, vis was crystal.

I did get lost coming out of the cave entrance in the zero vis for a second or two, knowing the entrance pretty well, I didn't keep my mitt on the line-----idiot!

Landenouse, bet you take a rope next time------some people take pulleys and all sorts! Set up for a solo dive [sidemount] is easy there, dangle down on a rope 1 cylinder at a time :-)

Sounds like you had a great time---------Stuart never said nothing about those swing doors though!! :-)

Cheers, Malcolm.

PS is the dog in your avatar a labrador???

*Clare Gledhill* · August 20th, 2008, 10:19 PM

Quote: (Originally Posted by malcolm smith)

I did get lost coming out of the cave entrance in the zero vis for a second or two, knowing the entrance pretty well, I didn't keep my mitt on the line-----idiot!

You too? Funny how a second feels a lot longer at the time

Great report Di - thanks for taking the time. Landenouse has dropped even more than when JP, A-M, Al and I were there a couple of weeks ago and we went for the pulleys and ropes option.

*JGrogan* · August 21st, 2008, 10:48 AM

I think this has become a rite of passage now

Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill)

You too? Funny how a second feels a lot longer at the time

Matt Gentile · August 21st, 2008, 11:03 AM

Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill)

Great report Di - thanks for taking the time. Landenouse has dropped even more than when JP, A-M, Al and I were there a couple of weeks ago and we went for the pulleys and ropes option.

I brought along pulleys and ropes....and when I offered to lower and raise Di (as a gentleman that I am) into Landenouse I was bombarded with the F word and ended up with a dead arm.....

August 20th, 2008, 11:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
DCC(Offline) Marine interior decorator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Norfolk, England Posts: 135	Team Buprofen do The Lot....... Where do we start? Hotel de Centre in Gramat – well recommended and we couldn’t fault the rooms or the location, however, it did have novelty swing doors to the bathroom.. Matt & I decided we could cope – however, due to a prolonged incident involving smells and copious use of the iPod, it was decided that a different toilet would be commandeered for any serious toiletry requirements......... Day One Ressel Pulling up by the side of the road, alongside the rough track down to the river, there were already a collection of vans, all with german plates containing german divers and lots and lots of shiny dive stuff including an RB80 – being baby cave divers, we kept our heads down and fettled our twinsets while peeking enviously over our shoulders. It was a miserable, cold morning, so we didn’t hang about and off we went like a pair of wobbly old ladies........ Dive I Eight minutes – see photo Dive II Dive time : 1hr 01min Max depth : Temp : 15c Matt’s line was left in from the first dive and although I thought the cave was quite iInteresting, but it was a little samey, great slabs of limestone, made it to the second T, dive thumbed as planned – shallow circuit............. great for a shakedown dive. Dive III By now we only have 30bar in backgas to play with – so we took stages, but Matt’s valve exploded on contact with the water (must be a Salvo stage) so that’ll be us back down to 30bar then. We managed a very agreeable 45 minutes, over the top in the breakdown room,past the first T, towards the deep circuit. Met the Hermans again as they hung around like bats, decompressing – untidy lot – bottles & scooters everywhere........... On the way back we took a detour to Landenhousse, though sadly after a quick recce – DDD decided that there was no way she could cope with the ladder and peering at the drop to the water gave her vertigo – she offered to guard the truck and have a picnic, Matt could dive it solo if he wanted. So that was the end of that one then Matt, envious of DDD’s wet drysuit, decided he would like to pee himself on dive three and by now a large cloud of flies were following the truck L Back to Okay Coral for a deco-Leffe or three, dinner & bed .............. Day Two Quick visit to Arne, for gas and chat and then off to Cabouy. We were the first to arrive and found a great spot under the tree, with a couple of huge boulders to act as our kitting up benches. (Matt’s suggestion as he pointed out)........ nice relaxed kit up, no slack to aim for, wind, weather or general unpleasantness J . In the midst of this, a Cave II course arrived and started unloading their humungous amount of kit. Team Brofen then beat them to the water and after the initial surprise of how cold the pool was and how non-existent the viz, we descended to the clear mouth of the cave, which drops away quite quickly to 24m, Matt picked 18m as a good place to tie into the line and we were off. Cabouy Dive I Dive time : 46minutes Max depth : 30.3m Temp : 13c A very pretty cave, in places very high, the old river bed running along the bottom..... beautiful scalloping and outcrops of rock, unlike yesterdays slabs of limestone. Positioned up high above the line it was like flying. Absolutely no flow, kick, drift, kick, drift... moving an arm to check a gauge would break the stream-lining so obviously as putting one’s head out of a car window @ 30mph – a very peculiar feeling....... All too soon, I turned the dive @ 24 minutes L and began our way out – even slower if possible – an amazing cave if you like being up high – although the viz was a little milky, it was still a good 10 – 12metres. And it is pretty much deep all the way through.. After a good play about on min deco, Matt finally surfaced into Chris Le Mailot’s waiting arms tee hee and we gently drifted back to the shore, with the sun trying to come out. We both had separate fan clubs approach as we made our way to the car. My people were an older English couple, who ‘wanted to see what a mad man looked like!’ Well, actually, the mad man looks more like a mad woman......... and then the usual questions ‘Can you actually see anything in there?’ I was so tempted to respond, no, we rely entirely on radar, like bats, but politeness got the better of me (for a change) and I pointed out we carried little torches J Dive II Dive time : 24minutes Max depth : 30m Just as lovely, no alternative circuit, but it doesn’t matter, this cave reminds me of Ginnie, lots of space and formations to look at – and a few startled fish (and leeches urgh)... Turned the dive after 16m, we had been moving quicker than on our first dive and were a bit colder than before still, 35bar went a decent distance... R&R Following a couple of grand cremes in the village opposite Roccamador, and a quick visit to Lidl for supplies for the Sunday (namely copious amounts of chocolate, beer and tinned fish??) We returned to Gramat as it was almost Beer O’clock. Unfortunately there was a Vide Grenier being held in the town and Matt had to sup alone for a while as I went off on a tat hunt J . The rest of the evening spent at the hotel, aggravating each other and losing internet connexions with regular monotony.... Matt does a very impressive cowboy impersonation with those swing doors – it is like living with the Milky Bar Kid Day Three St George Dive I This had to be my favourite so far – really caveyJ A small pond in front of a cliff,with a small cave in it, ruined house to the side and easy parking and access. We kit up by the communal bins, and set off for the pond. My turn to lead and although the viz in the pool was zero, tied off on a couple of well placed rocks and into the ‘main’ line. Not in very good condition, best keep an eye on that, in fact Matt had to belay it as it was trailing in the gravel. The viz was about 5m which apparently is good for St George. Clay walls, very low entrance tunnel leading down that left no room for manoeuvre – given our conversation that morning about ‘squirrelly caves, I was surprised Matt was still with me. Onwards and downwards , I was using a 10w primary (due to muppetry) and the poor, milky viz was hiding a potentially beautiful cave. Given our good fills from Andre that morning, we had a decent amount of gas to play with, but the poor viz and the cold increased our consumption and Matt thumbed the dive after 24 minutes. We slowly ambled back to the start point and I looked back to the reel (I led out too as my torch was weaker) in time to see Matt pull it L which is exactly what I thought he would do .......... We clambered out of the basin in time to chat to a couple of the german divers who were at Ressel on the Friday. Two guys, four scooters, twin 18’s and 10 stages/deco cylinders each- they had done a set up dive the day before. They looked somewhat disappointed when we told them we had managed 200m.... Anyway, off to Fontaine de Trouffe for the second dive and after a long and bouncy trip in the truck and an incident involving a cliff (the Welsh can be so nervous) we arrived at the basin. Or rather the eggcup. Someone had let all the water out L and it would have been impossible to get through the entrance without dragging all the sand and stuff in there with us . So another change of plan Dive II Cabouy Well of course, no one had kept our kitting up area free for us and we were relegated to a shade free position. Luckily we spotted this big yellow ball in the sky with heat eminating from it, so we ketted up tout suite and entered the now welcoming cool water. So far so good, GUE EDGE and primary light check – nothing. Aha, must have disconnected it says Matt. We swim to the side, open the cannister, no problem ‘tis connected and now working – how strange. By the time we had dropped down 3m, it was en panne once again and that was it – dive over. I was already on Matt’s spare, my battery was in our room at the hotel where I had left it by mistake and now it was probably time for a beer. So we sat decompressing in the sun (it is the shallow quick dives that catch you out) deco beer in hand and mulled over wonderful weekend. Thanks to Matt for being such a great buddy and photographer. We had a really good time and are planning to return next spring – get in touch if you are interested :0 Di __________________ The artist formerly known as Madfish I am taking this FUN thing with a pinch of salt - it's not always what it is cracked up to be.... Last edited by DCC; August 20th, 2008 at 11:19 AM.

August 20th, 2008, 12:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Matt Gentile (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Norwood Posts: 182	Yep really was a fun trip; although It did have it's moments i.e. driving down and at the first toll booth I wound down the passenger window I heard a crack, crunch, scrape, crack...the window decided to fall into the door...sh1t, and it was lashing down Anyway, some more photo's 100_0132.JPG CABOUY 100_0140.JPG ST GEORGES 100_0147.JPG TRUFFE 100_0127.JPG BATHROOM DOORS IN HOTEL 100_0126.JPG VIEW OF GRAMAT CENTRE 100_0129.JPG VIEW OF ROCCAMADOUR 100_0116.JPG SPOT THE SNORKEL Pleasure to dive with you Di.... Last edited by Matt Gentile; August 20th, 2008 at 12:20 PM.

August 20th, 2008, 12:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
*Fiona*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Up North Posts: 1,206	Blooming heck can't you resize your photos, I'll need a 40" screen to see the whole thing __________________ Fiona Resistance was Futile Move Along YD GUE Member

August 20th, 2008, 12:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
AMW(Offline) New Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: England Posts: 19	A little of topic but: Out of interest any one stayed here? Activities Lot/Souillac/Martel Not for me but I have been asked (I will stick to a house in the county side ). Andrew. __________________ www.lot46.com http://a-m-ward.blogspot.com/ http://amward.myblogsite.com Cave diving and caving photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/amward/

August 20th, 2008, 10:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
Clare Gledhill(Offline) GUE Instructor Site Admin Pacman Champion! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,541	Quote: (Originally Posted by malcolm smith) I did get lost coming out of the cave entrance in the zero vis for a second or two, knowing the entrance pretty well, I didn't keep my mitt on the line-----idiot! You too? Funny how a second feels a lot longer at the time Great report Di - thanks for taking the time. Landenouse has dropped even more than when JP, A-M, Al and I were there a couple of weeks ago and we went for the pulleys and ropes option. __________________ Clare . "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions....Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you too can become great." Interested in DIR dive training? Always happy to chat/answer questions so get in touch via PM or visit www.dirdiver.co.uk

August 20th, 2008, 12:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Nice report folks, sounds like you had fun

August 20th, 2008, 12:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
jimbob (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: East Sussex Posts: 100	Excellent stuff, really enjoyed reading that. Looks like a great trip. Thanks. Jimbob

August 20th, 2008, 10:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
malcolm smith(Offline) New Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: cumbria Posts: 7	A really really nice report Di, and great pictures Matt. Did you have a go getting into Truffe? I was in there late July with backmounts when the 'pool' looked similar. Once inside, vis was crystal. I did get lost coming out of the cave entrance in the zero vis for a second or two, knowing the entrance pretty well, I didn't keep my mitt on the line-----idiot! Landenouse, bet you take a rope next time------some people take pulleys and all sorts! Set up for a solo dive [sidemount] is easy there, dangle down on a rope 1 cylinder at a time :-) Sounds like you had a great time---------Stuart never said nothing about those swing doors though!! :-) Cheers, Malcolm. PS is the dog in your avatar a labrador???

August 21st, 2008, 10:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
JGrogan(Offline) GUE Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Posts: 439	I think this has become a rite of passage now Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill) You too? Funny how a second feels a lot longer at the time

August 21st, 2008, 11:03 AM	#10 (permalink)
Matt Gentile (Online) New Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Norwood Posts: 182	Quote: (Originally Posted by Clare Gledhill) Great report Di - thanks for taking the time. Landenouse has dropped even more than when JP, A-M, Al and I were there a couple of weeks ago and we went for the pulleys and ropes option. I brought along pulleys and ropes....and when I offered to lower and raise Di (as a gentleman that I am) into Landenouse I was bombarded with the F word and ended up with a dead arm..... Last edited by Matt Gentile; August 21st, 2008 at 05:36 PM.