Tyrol's diving is defined by alpine freshwater lakes, each with its own character. Plansee, the larger sub-area, offers the greatest variety of sites, ranging from shallow artificial reefs to considerable depths. Achensee provides wrecks, walls and structured artificial reef courses suited to a range of skill levels. Shore entry is standard across the region, and visibility can be exceptional. The species list is dominated by freshwater predators: Common Perch and Pike Perch are very commonly encountered, with Catfish, Pike and Trout also observed regularly. Site types span reef, wreck, wall, cave and submerged forest.
2 areas
20 operators
Scharnitz, Austria
Fin maps 23 sites in Tyrol (23 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both), organised into 2 areas.
Common Perch and Pike Perch are the most frequently observed species across Tyrol's lakes. Catfish and Pike are also regularly sighted, and Trout appear at a number of sites. Less commonly, divers have recorded Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Barbel, Chub, Tench and Freshwater Sponge. The fish life is characteristic of clear, cold alpine freshwater environments.
A good proportion of Tyrol's sites are rated for beginners, including Samaranger See, Blindsee, Achensee and Urisee. Shore entry is standard at almost every site, which removes many of the complications associated with boat-based diving. Intermediate and advanced divers are also well served, particularly at sites like TCI-Parcours and the Hechenberg wreck in Achensee.
Plansee has the larger number of sites and includes highlights such as Blindsee's submerged forest, the shallow Samaranger See reef and the deeper Planseecamp. Achensee is more compact but notably varied, featuring an artificial reef course at TCI-Parcours, a wall dive at Schwarzenau and a wreck dive at Hechenberg that appeals to more experienced divers. Together they give the region a wide spread of site types and depth ranges.
Shore entry is the norm throughout Tyrol, making the lakes accessible without specialist boat logistics. A range of dive schools and clubs operate in the region, including Dive Team Innsbruck, Tauchbasis Urisee, Mermaid Tirol and several others. This makes it practical to arrange guided dives, equipment hire or courses locally, whether you are based near Plansee or Achensee.
