Germany is home to many beautiful freshwater lakes, many of which are ideal for diving. Offering intriguing geology, clear blue water, and wonderful aquatic life, as well as an abundance of amenities and attractions topside, these lakes are popular with local outdoors enthusiasts as well as with travelers. While you can almost pick any spot and enjoy a fantastic dive in Germany, there are certainly some spots that surpass others. One of the best lakes for diving in Germany is Bodensee, which is also known as Lake Constance. Let's take a closer look.
Diving Lake Constance: Highlights and Features
Formed during the Rhine Glacier during the ice age, Lake Constance lies on the border between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. After Lake Balaton and Lake Geneva, this magnificent lake is the third largest lake in Central Europe. 63 kilometers long and almost 14 kilometers wide at its widest, it covers an immense area totaling nearly 571 square kilometers. In the middle of the eastern part of the lake, which is called Obersee, maximum depth is 252 meters. As you plan your dives, keep in mind that Bodensee is situated at 325 meters above sea level.
Lake Constance boasts eleven islands, including Reichenau, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, with three Medieval churches and an ancient monastery, and Mainau, which is privately owned but which offers a lovely botanical garden that draws horticulturists and visitors from around the world.
Like many lakes, Bodensee's water level fluctuates throughout the year, with the highest water levels occurring in springtime, after the snow has melted. During the winter, ice diving is possible in some areas, though the lake rarely freezes over completely. Since 875 CE, when people began to keep track of the lake's ecology, it has frozen completely only 32 times.
There are over twenty named dive sites at Lake Constance, most of which can be easily accessed from shore, and most of which offer beautiful rock formations and interesting walls that drop to depths that are sometimes well out of recreational diving range. Depending on the season and the weather, you might find yourself enjoying a good visit with the perch, tench, pike, trout, and other fish that occupy the lake - there are 35 species here in all - or, you might be disappointed by reduced visibility.
Be prepared for cold temperatures, even in the summer, when surface temperatures are above 15 degrees Celsius, temperatures at depth average about 4 degrees Celsius! A dry suit is a must, here, no matter what the season. Be ready for darkness too; carry a strong light to get the most out of your dive trip to Bodensee.