t r av e l s
My Attersee Text and photos MAXIME CHEMINADE Corrected by DORIS ASCHAUER
When I arrived in Austria a few years ago, it never crossed my mind that this could be an amazing place to dive. Missing the ocean, I decided to give the lakes a chance... and what I discovered blew my mind. Plant sidemount Attersee
Vienna
Salzburg
The dive sites are all accessible from shore. At each of them you can find a detailed map of the place you are about to dive, showing you the points of interest. At most dive sites you can find parking lots and toilets close to the entry points. Some even have a restaurant, making it the perfect place to enjoy a drink or a meal after diving. The visibility in the lake reaches 35 to 40 meters at its peak
W
ture at the surface ranges from 4°C during winter to 23°C in
ith more than 300 freshwater lakes Austria offers
the summer months. However, a few meters below the surface
plenty of opportunities for beginners and experi-
the temperature quickly drops below 10°C.
enced divers. But one lake has always stood out
for me – Attersee.
30
in winter and 10 to 25 meters in summer. The water tempera-
Wildlife starts its activity in spring and thrives during summertime. Arctic and lake char, carp, trout, perches, and pikes
Attersee is one of the largest lakes of Austria, situated in
can be found at most dive sites. Attersee is not only rich in fish,
Upper-Austria. It has more than 24 official dive sites and with
but also in vegetation. Dive sites such as Kohlbauernaufsatz
its depth of 169 meters it allows for a wide range of diving.
give you the opportunity to explore a variety of both. At the