Diving Schwarzsee (Kitzbühel)

Site Overview

Schwarzsee (Kitzbühel) is a mountain lake dive site in Tyrol, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Schwarzsee is a small, warm mountain lake near Kitzbühel, very easy and a popular training centre. Surrounded by the Alps, it warms comfortably in summer, making it one of the most approachable Tyrolean dives. Perch, roach and tench use the weed beds, and the clear shallows suit macro and skills practice. Easy shore entries and a lakeside setting make it friendly for courses and family fun dives. It is a gentle, warm-water counterpoint to the cold high-alpine lakes of the region. It is ideal for first-time divers and refresher courses in a pretty alpine setting. Conditions are typical of Austrian inland water: visibility generally runs from 4 to 12 metres, the current is low and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 22 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on european perch, roach, tench, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its beginner rating and the need for Open Water certification, Schwarzsee (Kitzbühel) 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.