Source de La Douix

The Source de la Douix, near Châtillon-sur-Seine in the French department of Côte-d'Or, is a beautiful karst spring at the foot of an impressive limestone cliff. Clear spring water emerges here from the underground limestone massif and forms the short Douix River, which flows into the Seine a little farther on.

For cave divers, Source de la Douix offers a relatively short but interesting underwater cave. From the spacious spring basin, the submerged passage leads into the limestone massif. The known underwater section has a development of approximately 165–180 metres and ends at a trémie, a zone of collapsed rocks and debris that prevents further passage.

The water is generally clear and has a temperature of about 11 °C. Conditions can, however, be strongly affected by rainfall and the spring's flow rate. Fine sediment can also be disturbed by passing divers, making visibility on the way out considerably worse than during the inward swim.

Because of its limited length, the Douix is not a long-penetration cave like the Ressel or Landenouse. Its character is mainly determined by the active spring, variable flow and the possibility of losing visibility. The use of a DPV is prohibited in this cave. Because of the limited length, an extensive multi-stage configuration is also unnecessary for a normal dive.

Source de la Douix is also remarkable for its history. The spring has been known since antiquity, and archaeological finds indicate that this striking place held special significance for the local population for centuries.