Diving Plansee

Site Overview

Plansee is a alpine lake dive site in Tyrol, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Plansee is one of the clearest lakes in the Alps, a long, narrow basin beneath the Ammergau and Lechtal Alps. Massive submerged rock walls drop into luminous water, giving some of the best wall diving in Austria. It is connected to the Heiterwanger See, so the two can be toured as one clear-water region. Cold and altitude mean a drysuit and conservative planning; the depth comes quickly at the walls. Char and trout use the walls, and the clarity makes for breathtaking wide-angle photography. It is a clear-water highlight for experienced alpine divers. 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 4 and 19 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on arctic char, lake trout (brown trout), 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, Plansee 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.