Source de Marchepied
A spring on the left bank of the Célé downstream of Marcilhac, dug open by a British Cave Diving Group team in 2002. A small cemented pool leads into a low corridor about 30 m long before the sump widens to roughly 3 × 3 m; visibility is often over 20 m. Sump 1 is 510 m long (-17 m), sump 2 only 28 m, and sump 3 drops to -69 m through a gravel squeeze at -65 m before ending in a choked shaft at -57 m, 1,338 m from the entrance.
Facts
- Region: France – Lot cave springs
- Area: Célé valley
- Depth: 0–69 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: low
- Type: cave
- Coordinates: 44.540329, 1.766088
- Highlights: 30 m low restriction at the entrance, visibility frequently over 20 m, sump 1 510 m / -17 m, sump 3 668 m / -69 m with a gravel squeeze at -65 m, air in the dry sections is high in CO2 and low in O2
- Tips: Sidemount strongly recommended because of the entrance restriction. Full Cave certification (TDI/IANTD/GUE/PSAI/CMAS Full Cave or FFESSM Plongeur Souterrain 3 equivalent) required; without it only as a student with a cave instructor. Respect the access signs on the path across the field; the air between the sumps is poor – do not linger there.