Diving Lunzer See

Site Overview

Lunzer See is a mountain lake dive site in Vienna & Lower Austria, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Lunzer See is a deep, pristine alpine lake ringed by steep forest, often called the "sea of the Ötscher region" for its dark, clear water and dramatic setting. The shoreline plunges into steep rock faces, and a submerged forest of dead trees lies on the slope, a haunting landscape for divers who venture down the wall. The water is cold, oligotrophic and exceptionally clean, which supports a modest but pristine fish community of trout, char and small schooling fish. Depths of more than thirty metres are reachable close to the shore, so the lake demands respect for depth, cold and gas management. It is a protected, quiet environment with very limited infrastructure, so divers usually come self-sufficient or with a small specialised centre. Photographers value the calm, unpolluted water and the contrast of pale deadwood against the dark depths. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 8 to 20 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 4 and 17 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 advanced rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Lunzer 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.