Diving the Herreninsel

Site Overview

Herreninsel (Chiemsee) is a wall and reef dive site in Alpine & Pre-Alpine Lakes (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg), Germany, reached from the base town of Prien. The Herreninsel in the Chiemsee offers gentle walls and slopes beneath the famous Herrenchiemsee palace island, with perch and pike among the rocks. It is a scenic, easy dive combined with a palace visit. The site reaches a maximum depth of 25 m with an average profile around 14 m and a shallow start near 4 m, which places it firmly in the intermediate category and means divers should hold at least an Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the alpine lake environment: visibility generally runs from 6 to 18 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 5 and 20 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on European Perch, Northern Pike, Common Roach, Common Rudd, Signal Crayfish, Tench, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of wall, slope topography and rock and sand substrate gives Herreninsel (Chiemsee) its distinctive character within the Alpine & Pre-Alpine Lakes (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg) region. Herreninsel (Chiemsee) 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 Alpine & Pre-Alpine Lakes (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg) 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.