Diving Austria's "White Sea" — The Caribbean of the Alps
The Weissensee, which translates as ‘the White Sea’, is the highest swimming lake in Austria, lying at an altitude of 2,788 feet, and it forms the centrepiece of a truly stunning valley draped in thick forest and dotted with rocky outcrops.
While it is popular with swimmers and fishermen, it is also a hotspot for divers, and there are numerous shore and boat dives available. Though the depths drop to nearly 330 feet in the middle of the lake, many of the dives do not require you to go any deeper than 30 feet to see the interesting bits, which because of the thick surrounding woodland, often includes trees which have tumbled down the mountainside and ended up submerged. Smothered in a layer of silt and algal growth, the massive trees suddenly loom out of the green water, making for very eerie, atmospheric dives. The roots and branches are also now home to sizeable carp and perch, as well as huge pike, which will happily pose for photographs.
However, it is on surfacing that the real beauty of the Weissensee hits home. With the mountains and trees surrounding you, and the only sounds being the gentle wind blowing through the branches and the odd bird call, it is utterly tranquil, and many divers are content to bob around on the surface and soak up the atmosphere.
The important thing to remember on any of the Weissensee dives is that the thick white chalky mud and silt that makes up the shoreline can easily be disturbed, and once it is kicked up by careless fin strokes, that’s the vis gone for a few hours.
Mark EvansSubmerged roots and branches are some of the features you'll find in this lake.
Mark EvansLarge Pike are some of the local fish that will happily pose for photographs.
Mark EvansSubmerged trees and branches often make for interesting features underwater.
Mark EvansBe careful of the chalky silt lining the edges of the lake, as it will stir up the surrounding water and result in lower visibility for other divers.
The Weissensee, which translates as ‘the White Sea’, is the highest swimming lake in Austria, lying at an altitude of 2,788 feet, and it forms the centrepiece of a truly stunning valley draped in thick forest and dotted with rocky outcrops.
While it is popular with swimmers and fishermen, it is also a hotspot for divers, and there are numerous shore and boat dives available. Though the depths drop to nearly 330 feet in the middle of the lake, many of the dives do not require you to go any deeper than 30 feet to see the interesting bits, which because of the thick surrounding woodland, often includes trees which have tumbled down the mountainside and ended up submerged. Smothered in a layer of silt and algal growth, the massive trees suddenly loom out of the green water, making for very eerie, atmospheric dives. The roots and branches are also now home to sizeable carp and perch, as well as huge pike, which will happily pose for photographs.
However, it is on surfacing that the real beauty of the Weissensee hits home. With the mountains and trees surrounding you, and the only sounds being the gentle wind blowing through the branches and the odd bird call, it is utterly tranquil, and many divers are content to bob around on the surface and soak up the atmosphere.
The important thing to remember on any of the Weissensee dives is that the thick white chalky mud and silt that makes up the shoreline can easily be disturbed, and once it is kicked up by careless fin strokes, that’s the vis gone for a few hours.
