Lake Plastira (Karditsa) | The Submerged Forest Lake

Site Overview

Lake Plastira is a high-altitude artificial lake in the mountains of Karditsa, famous for its submerged forest — trees that were flooded when the dam was built and now stand ghostly beneath the clear, cool water. Diving here is a calm, sheltered experience suited to Open Water divers and training, with trout drifting among the drowned trunks and shrimp on the wood. The altitude (about 800 m) adds a small decompression consideration, so plans are conservative, and the cool water means a semi-dry or drysuit is wise even in summer. It is a peaceful, almost surreal dive that contrasts completely with the sea, and a favourite of photographers and anyone who enjoys a quiet, clear mountain lake. For visitors to the Greek hinterland, Lake Plastira is a hidden diving gem. Lake Plastira (Karditsa) sits within Inland Freshwater Sites and is best described as a lake and altitude dive. The water here is typically clear, and the profile — from around 1 m down to 30 m — gives beginner divers a rewarding range of routes. Among the life you can expect are Rainbow Trout, Freshwater Crab, Eel, Cave Shrimp, Freshwater Snail. The site rewards a slow, observant approach, and good buoyancy keeps both diver and reef safe. With sensible planning around weather and boats, it ranks among the more memorable stops on a Greek diving trip.