Diving the Königssee

Site Overview

Königssee is a deep and wall dive site in Alpine & Pre-Alpine Lakes (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg), Germany, reached from the base town of Berchtesgaden. The Königssee is an extremely deep (190 m), cold and clear alpine lake beneath the Berchtesgaden Alps, famous for depth records but restricted to divers with special permits and full technical training. It is legendary rather than recreational, and most visitors enjoy it from the famous electric boat trip. The site reaches a maximum depth of 120 m with an average profile around 60 m and a shallow start near 10 m, which places it firmly in the advanced category and means divers should hold at least an Tech/Full Cave certification. Conditions are typical of the alpine lake environment: visibility generally runs from 10 to 30 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 4 and 15 degrees Celsius with low surge exposure. The marine community is centred on Brown Trout, Arctic Char, Common Whitefish, European Perch, Common Roach, Signal Crayfish, and the full species list is detailed below for divers planning a trip. The combination of wall, drop-off topography and rock and sand substrate gives Königssee its distinctive character within the Alpine & Pre-Alpine Lakes (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg) region. Königssee 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.