Fernsteinsee & Samaranger See

About this dive site

This dive site presents the Samaranger Lake and Fernstein Lake, located high in the Tyrolean mountains at an altitude of almost 950 meters. These privately owned lakes are fed by underground springs and offer a unique diving experience. The water temperatures remain consistently low, below 10°C even during summer months. Fernsteinsee features a small island. Samaranger Lake is noted for exceptionally clear waters with visibility reaching up to 30 meters. The underwater environment is characterized by the presence of submerged branches and trees heavily coated in bright green, slimy algae. Due to the cold water temperatures and the sensitivity of the aquatic plant life, diving should be conducted with careful buoyancy control and a conscious effort not to disturb the sediment or surface vegetation. This is particularly important as regrowth of these plants can take decades to occur. The lakes are recognized as one of the top 100 diving destinations globally. It’s worth noting that due to the extreme cold, it takes an extended period for the underwater flora to regenerate.