Diving Afritzer See

Site Overview

Afritzer See is a mountain lake dive site in Carinthia, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Afritzer See is a high-mountain Carinthian lake, clear and cold, set in a dramatic alpine basin. Trout thrive in the oxygen-rich water, and the steep slopes give a sense of vertical space. It is colder and more remote than the warm lowland lakes, so a drysuit and altitude awareness help. The clarity is good for a mountain lake, and the setting is spectacular and quiet. It suits confident divers who enjoy cold, clear, uncrowded water. It is a high-quality, low-key alpine dive away from the tourist hubs. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 8 to 18 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 4 and 20 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on lake trout (brown trout), arctic char, grayling, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its intermediate rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Afritzer See is best approached with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, altitude or overhead training. It is a representative example of why Austrian lake diving, with its cold clarity, submerged forests and wrecks, attracts divers who want something different from tropical reefs.