Diving Wörthersee – DC-3 / C-47 Fuselage

Site Overview

Wörthersee – DC-3 / C-47 Fuselage is a wreck dive site in Carinthia, Austria, set among the country’s varied freshwater landscapes. The DC-3 / C-47 transport fuselage is the signature wreck of the Wörthersee, a large aircraft body resting in the clear warm water. Its size makes for an unforgettable wide-angle subject, and fish use the shadow of the airframe. It is deeper than the shallow training bays, so it suits Advanced divers or confident wreck-oriented sport divers. Visibility and warmth are good for an Austrian lake, and a guide knows the exact position and orientation. The fuselage is normally reached by boat from a Velden or Pörtschach dive centre. It is a bucket-list freshwater wreck dive and the headline of Carinthian diving. 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 6 and 25 degrees Celsius depending on season and depth. The marine life is freshwater and centred on northern pike, european perch, common carp, with the full community described below for those planning a dive. Because of its intermediate rating and the need for Advanced Open Water certification, Wörthersee – DC-3 / C-47 Fuselage 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.