Lake Attersee - the Caribbean of Austria
Attersee, covering 46 square kilometers, is the largest lake located entirely within Austria and, with a depth of 169 meters, is the second deepest lake in the country. Thus, it offers excellent conditions for diving.
The lake is also often referred to as the Alpine Aquarium due to its great diversity of fish.
The best way to get there is by car, with a journey time of around 6 hours. The lake is a popular holiday destination for hikers and cyclists as well, and there are plenty of accommodations and hotels in all price ranges. However, if you plan a summer holiday there, you should start planning at least 3 months in advance, otherwise many accommodations will already be fully booked.
The lake offers enormous depths, however, the water temperature there is below 6 degrees Celsius all year round. In the shallow areas, it can reach up to 21 degrees Celsius in summer.
Diving-wise, Attersee caters to all levels, from recreational diving to tech and trimix diving. In summer, a 5 or 7mm wetsuit is sufficient in the shallow areas, but for depths below 30 meters, a drysuit is appropriate all year round.
At the underwater forest dive site, large tree trunks lie criss-cross.
The diving infrastructure at Attersee is excellent; for example, the Under Pressure dive center and base is located directly on the lake in the town of Weyregg. Just pull into the parking lot, and the owner Bocki and his team will fill air, oxygen, nitrox, and trimix, and if equipment needs to be replaced or rented, that's also possible there.
Nußdorf Houseboat dive entry point
Attersee is very diver-friendly, and self-sufficient diving at your own level is normal. The entry points are signposted, and there are also drawings with compass courses and descriptions of the dive sites. At some spots, a walk from the parking lot to the entry point is necessary, so if possible, bring a handcart or similar if you don't want to carry too much.
Click here for descriptions of the dive sites
Some dive sites, such as the Hinkelsteine, are quite extensive, so using a DPV or scooter is recommended if you want to see everything.
Attersee was already settled in the Stone Age, and remains of historic pile dwellings have been found in various locations. At the Hinkelsteine dive site, there are replicas of Stone Age figures to see, like an underwater museum, and at the Nussdorf dive site, a pile dwelling settlement has been recreated underwater.
Replicas of Stone Age figures.
Stone Age Museum at the Hinkelsteine dive site with information boards
Reconstructed pile dwellings at the Nußdorf dive site
Mystical underwater Stone Age museum
Conclusion: You can easily spend a week diving at Attersee. In summer, it's best to secure the best parking spots early, as many divers have the same idea. But there are also places where you can find peace and solitude and admire the mountain panorama over the lake.
