Overijssel and Drenthe offer a freshwater diving landscape built almost entirely around lakes, pools, and purpose-built sites accessed from the shore. The great majority of sites are rated beginner-friendly, making this one of the most accessible inland diving regions in the Netherlands. Artificial reef structures appear across multiple sites, from compact training pools to larger lakes such as Nijstad Grote Plas and Blauwe meer. Wrecks feature at Grote Gat Zwartsluis and De Wythmenerplas. The resident fish community is richly varied, with Pike Perch, Common Perch, Pike, Carp, European Eel, Burbot, and Sturgeon all observation-backed across the sites.
28 more sites to explore
Fin maps 40 sites in Overijssel & Drenthe (38 scuba diving sites and 2 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Overijssel & Drenthe's dive sites, April, May, June, July, August and September are most often reported as the best months to visit.
The region has a well-documented freshwater fish community. Pike Perch and Freshwater Shrimp are among the most frequently recorded species, while Common Perch, Carp, Pike, European Eel, and Burbot are all commonly observed. Less frequent but confirmed sightings include Tench, Roach, Bronze Bream, Rudd, Wels Catfish, and Crayfish.
The region is well suited to beginners. The large majority of sites carry a beginner skill rating, and several are purpose-built training environments, including Diveworld Enschede with its artificial reef structures and the former hotel pool at Zwembad Flecher Hotel. Depths at beginner sites range from very shallow to moderate, and shore entry is standard across the region.
Shore entry is the norm across the region, covering both natural lakes and purpose-built freshwater sites. A small number of sites, such as Westerveldse Kolk, also offer boat entry as an option. There are currently no listed dive operators in the region, so divers should plan to arrive self-sufficient or arrange support independently.
The region is dominated by freshwater lakes and pools, several of which feature artificial reef structures placed specifically for diver interest and navigation. Wrecks appear at sites including Grote Gat Zwartsluis and De Wythmenerplas. Westerveldse Kolk offers a muck-style dive with submerged objects scattered along the lake floor, giving patient divers good opportunities for close-up wildlife encounters.
