Diving Traunsee

Site Overview

Traunsee is a alpine lake dive site in Upper Austria – Salzkammergut, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. Traunsee is the deepest lake in Austria at 191 metres, a dramatic fjord-like body of water beneath the Traunstein massif. The Traunsteinwand is a massive underwater cliff that drops sheer into the dark, and the Rindbach site offers a rare waterfall dive. The Schlafende Griechin is a rock formation resembling a sleeping Greek figure, a favourite wide-angle subject. Fish such as perch and the occasional large pike use the rocky walls, and the depth gives a real sense of vertical space. Cold, dark water below the surface layer means a drysuit, lights and respect for depth are essential. It is one of the most dramatic wall dives in the Austrian lake district. 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 20 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on european perch, northern pike, lake trout (brown trout), with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its advanced rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Traunsee 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.