Diving La Graule Quarry

20m Max

8-18m Vis

shore

Site Overview

La Graule Quarry is a quarry and training dive site in Inland France, France, reached from the base town of La Graule. La Graule is a flooded quarry in the Dordogne, a controlled, enclosed site with excellent visibility and no tides. It is used for training and photography, with perch and crayfish in the clear water. The site reaches a maximum depth of 20 m with an average profile around 12 m and a shallow start near 3 m, which places it firmly in the beginner category and means divers should hold at least an Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the French inland freshwater coast: visibility generally runs from 8 to 18 metres, the current is mild, and the water temperature ranges between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on European Perch, Common Roach, Stone Crayfish, European Eel, Tench, Common Rudd, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. La Graule Quarry is a strong representative of why Inland France diving is so highly regarded, blending the geology, history and biodiversity that define French underwater exploration. It pairs naturally with the other sites of the Inland France region for a varied holiday, and with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, the correct specialist training, it offers a memorable dive for photographers, naturalists and wreck or reef enthusiasts alike.

Dive Briefing

"Entry is made by a shore entry near La Graule, and divers should check in with a local centre in La Graule before entering the water. La Graule is a flooded quarry in the Dordogne, a controlled, enclosed site with excellent visibility and no tides. It is used for training and photography, with perch and crayfish in the clear water. Plan your profile around a maximum depth of 20 m and an average of 12 m, keeping a close eye on gas and, in the deeper or enclosed sections, on the low surge. Buoyancy control matters here: the rock bottom and submerged structures are easily disturbed, and Enclosed quarry, Cold water, Limited access are real considerations throughout the dive. The quarry and training topography offers quarry, and the marine life centres on European Perch, Common Roach, Stone Crayfish, European Eel, Tench, Common Rudd alongside the other species listed for the site. Take a moment to review the site-specific hazards with your guide, because conditions at La Graule Quarry can shift with wind and tide and change the feel of the dive. A safe ascent with a surface marker buoy and a clear exit plan completes the dive, with emergency cover routed through Centre Hyperbare, Hopital de Cahors."