Diving the Messinghauser See

25m Max

8-25m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Messinghauser See is a training and reef dive site in Central German Quarries & Lakes, Germany, reached from the base town of Brilon. The Messinghauser See is a flooded quarry in the Sauerland with clear water, training platforms and a few small wrecks. It is a relaxed, accessible site for courses and skills, with perch and roach among the structures. The site reaches a maximum depth of 25 m with an average profile around 14 m and a shallow start near 2 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 flooded mine environment: visibility generally runs from 8 to 25 metres, the current is weak, and the water temperature ranges between 5 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 wall, plateau topography and rock and sand substrate gives Messinghauser See its distinctive character within the Central German Quarries & Lakes region. Messinghauser See 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 Brilon, and divers should check in with a local centre in Brilon before entering the water. The Messinghauser See is a flooded quarry in the Sauerland with clear water, training platforms and a few small wrecks. It is a relaxed, accessible site for courses and skills, with perch and roach among the structures. Plan your profile around a maximum depth of 25 m and an average of 14 m, keeping a close eye on gas and, in the deeper or enclosed sections, on the low surge. Buoyancy control matters here: the rock and sand bottom and submerged structures are easily disturbed, and Clear quarry, Cold water, Sunken objects are real considerations throughout the dive. The training and reef topography offers wall, 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 Messinghauser See 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."