Diving the Blauer See

18m Max

5-15m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Blauer See (Garbsen) is a training and reef dive site in Central German Quarries & Lakes, Germany, reached from the base town of Garbsen. The Blauer See near Garbsen is a small chalk quarry with distinctive blue water and a sunken boat, used mainly for training and relaxed diving close to Hannover. It is an easy, family-friendly site with modest visibility. The site reaches a maximum depth of 18 m with an average profile around 10 m and a shallow start near 2 m, which places it firmly in the beginner category and means divers should hold at least an Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the flooded mine environment: visibility generally runs from 5 to 15 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 6 and 21 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on European Perch, Common Roach, Northern Pike, Common Rudd, Signal Crayfish, European Eel, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of slope, plateau topography and chalk and sand substrate gives Blauer See (Garbsen) its distinctive character within the Central German Quarries & Lakes region. Blauer See (Garbsen) is a strong representative of why German diving is so highly regarded, blending the geology, history and biodiversity that define the country's underwater exploration. It pairs naturally with the other sites of the Central German Quarries & Lakes region for a varied holiday, and with the right thermal protection and, where relevant, the correct specialist training, it offers a memorable dive for photographers, naturalists and wreck, reef or freshwater enthusiasts alike. As with every German dive, a drysuit and a careful respect for cold-water limits turn a good day into a great one.

Dive Briefing

"Entry is made by a shore entry near Garbsen, and divers should check in with a local centre in Garbsen before entering the water. The Blauer See near Garbsen is a small chalk quarry with distinctive blue water and a sunken boat, used mainly for training and relaxed diving close to Hannover. It is an easy, family-friendly site with modest visibility. Plan your profile around a maximum depth of 18 m and an average of 10 m, keeping a close eye on gas and, in the deeper or enclosed sections, on the low surge. Buoyancy control matters here: the chalk and sand bottom and submerged structures are easily disturbed, and Chalky blue water, Cold water, Variable visibility are real considerations throughout the dive. The training and reef topography offers slope, plateau, and the marine life centres on European Perch, Common Roach, Northern Pike, Common Rudd, Signal Crayfish, European Eel alongside the other species listed for the site. Take a moment to review the site-specific hazards with your guide, because conditions at Blauer See (Garbsen) can shift with wind and tide and change the feel of the dive. A safe ascent with a surface marker buoy and a clear exit plan completes the dive, with emergency cover routed through Druckkammerzentrum, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover."