Diving Irrsee

Site Overview

Irrsee is a alpine lake dive site in Upper Austria – Salzkammergut, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Irrsee is a shallow, warm alpine lake near the Attergau, a relaxed and very accessible diving and bathing lake. Rich aquatic vegetation and weed beds make it good for training and for macro and fish-watching close to the shore. It warms more than the deep Salzkammergut lakes, so summer dives are comfortable in a wetsuit. Night dives are popular here, with the calm water and easy access making after-dark diving relaxing. Pike, perch and tench use the plants, and the clear shallows suit beginner photography. It is the gentle, friendly face of the lake district, ideal for courses and easy fun. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 6 to 16 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 5 and 22 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on northern pike, european perch, tench, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its beginner rating and the need for Open Water certification, Irrsee 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.