Diving the Sundhäuser See

40m Max

10-30m Vis

shore

Site Overview

Sundhäuser See is a training and deep dive site in Central German Quarries & Lakes, Germany, reached from the base town of Nordhausen. The Sundhäuser See is a flooded gravel pit in Thuringia with exceptional clarity, a submerged forest, cars, a bus and a technical-diving platform down to 40 m. It is a favourite for training, photography and deep courses in calm, controlled water. The site reaches a maximum depth of 40 m with an average profile around 20 m and a shallow start near 2 m, which places it firmly in the advanced category and means divers should hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification. Conditions are typical of the flooded mine environment: visibility generally runs from 10 to 30 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 gravel and sand substrate gives Sundhäuser See its distinctive character within the Central German Quarries & Lakes region. Sundhäuser 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 Nordhausen, and divers should check in with a local centre in Nordhausen before entering the water. The Sundhäuser See is a flooded gravel pit in Thuringia with exceptional clarity, a submerged forest, cars, a bus and a technical-diving platform down to 40 m. It is a favourite for training, photography and deep courses in calm, controlled water. Plan your profile around a maximum depth of 40 m and an average of 20 m, keeping a close eye on gas and, in the deeper or enclosed sections, on the low surge. Buoyancy control matters here: the gravel and sand bottom and submerged structures are easily disturbed, and Very deep, Thermocline, Cold water are real considerations throughout the dive. The training and deep 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 Sundhäuser 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."