Diving Mooserboden & Wasserfallboden Reservoirs

Site Overview

Mooserboden & Wasserfallboden Reservoirs is a reservoir dive site in Salzburg, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. The Mooserboden and Wasserfallboden reservoirs sit above 2,000 m in the Kaprun high mountains, crystal-clear and extreme-cold. Submerged intake towers and the sheer dam walls create a dramatic, otherworldly industrial-alpine landscape. The altitude means diving here requires altitude certification and a drysuit, and dives are normally guided because of the remote setting. Water is exceptionally clear but bitterly cold year-round, so exposure protection and gas planning are critical. The high mountain backdrop makes this one of the most spectacular technical dives in Austria. It is strictly for self-sufficient or guided technical divers, not for casual sport diving. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 12 to 30 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 2 and 12 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 technical rating and the need for Tec 40+ / Altitude certification, Mooserboden & Wasserfallboden Reservoirs 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.