Diving Blindsee

Site Overview

Blindsee is a mountain lake dive site in Tyrol, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Blindsee is a high-altitude lake famous among underwater photographers for its breathtaking clarity and submerged forest. Overhanging ledges and standing dead trees create a surreal, cathedral-like underwater landscape. The water is cold and the lake is elevated, so a drysuit and altitude procedures are required. Small fish and crayfish colonise the wood, and the still, clear water is perfect for slow macro and wide-angle work. It is a smaller, more intimate site than Plansee, prized for its atmosphere. It is best dived from a guided, self-sufficient setup because of the remote mountain setting. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 12 to 28 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 3 and 16 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on arctic char, lake trout (brown trout), noble crayfish, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its intermediate rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Blindsee 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.