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

Salzburg Vienna

With more than 300 freshwater lakes Austria offers plenty of opportunities for beginners and experienced divers. But one lake has always stood out for me – Attersee.

Attersee is one of the largest lakes of Austria, situated in Upper-Austria. It has more than 24 official dive sites and with its depth of 169 meters it allows for a wide range of diving.

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 in winter and 10 to 25 meters in summer. The water temperature at the surface ranges from 4°C during winter to 23°C in the summer months. However, a few meters below the surface the temperature quickly drops below 10°C.

Wildlife starts its activity in spring and thrives during summertime. Arctic and lake char, carp, trout, perches, and pikes can be found at most dive sites. Attersee is not only rich in fish, but also in vegetation. Dive sites such as Kohlbauernaufsatz give you the opportunity to explore a variety of both. At the

Dixi with information pannel beginning of May you might even see trees blossoming underwater, making for quite a fascinating spectacle.

There is plenty of history in Attersee. Archaeological surveys uncovered prehistoric pile dwellings dated to the 2nd century BC. While theses sites are classed UNESCO World Heritage and not open to divers, reconstructions can be explored at dive sites Hinkelsteine, Dixi and Hausboot. Like in an underwater museum, information signs with facts about the pile dwellings can be found in various languages.

On the east side of the lake at the dive site Dixi the reconstruction of a stilt house waits to be discovered at around 9 meter depth. Always take a look under the house, plenty of small fish love to hide here in the dark. Close by at 22 meters depth sits the Dixi sailboat, where large pikes can be seen. If you decide to go to the west side of the lake, the dive site HausBoot has a lot to offer. It got its name from a sunken pleasure barge which is not only one of the highlights of this dive site, but also the literal translation of the word HausBoot. A short swim from the wreck another reconstitution of an UNESCO site can be explored, the pile-dwelling underwater forest. Both of theses points

Dixi outside

HausBoot

Splitshot

Underwater forrest

of interest are suitable for beginners, however experienced divers will find them worth a visit as well.

With its maximum depth of 169 meters Attersee is a paradise for technical divers. As technical diving is becoming more and more popular, helium based blends are now available in local dive centres.

The most popular dive site for dives beyond recreational limits is Schwarze Brücke. It got its name "black bridge" from the colour of the water under the bridge, which always appears deep black, even in summer when the shore of the lake is sparkling in turquoise colours. Right when entering the water you are welcomed by impressive rock formations and after only a few minutes your dive continues along a breathtaking wall. At around 20 meters depth, European eel can be found hiding in small cracks. This dive site is popular thanks to the myth of a maximum depth greater than 150 meters. While the wall ends at roughly 60 meters, reaching 100 meters is possible by continuing towards the centre of the lake. At these depths, the remains of a 1942 VW Kübelwagen (a light military vehicle) can be found. Even after years of diving Attersee, it never ceases to amaze me, which is why it became one of my favourite places to dive in Austria.

With its large potential for adventures it is the perfect spot for any dive holiday in Europe.

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