Diving in Southern Germany
Often described as resembling a Disney fairy tale, Southern Germany’s picturesque landscape includes many of the most famous sites in Germany, from the Black Forest to the Bavarian Alps, the Danube, as well as a number of historical castles, and alpine lakes. Southern Germany would roughly correspond to anywhere that speaks the Upper German dialects, which is not particularly helpful to foreign divers. However, geographically, this would include Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and occasionally the small south-west region of Saarland, together with southern parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, and Hesse. Though not known for its diving internationally, its stunning lakes and meandering rivers are dotted among its “Mittelgebirge” (mid-range mountains), dense greenery, rolling hills, and lush terrain. Divers should have no problem navigating its dive sites and it is well worth visiting Lake Constance, the second largest freshwater lake in Western Europe and a jewel for divers within the region. With its diverse marine life, varied flora, and a few interesting wrecks, it should not be missed. Whether you want to spot freshwater fish such as trout, perch and zander, or enjoy clear alpine waters with exceptional visibility points of interest such as fallen trees, Southern Germany makes for an unexpectedly enjoyable diver spot.
Dive Sites in Southern Germany
Featured places to go in Southern Germany
Walchensee
Echinger Weiher
Starnberger See
Bodensee/Lake Constance
Aquatic Life in Southern Germany
If you’re interested in marine life, Southern Germany should not disappoint. Whether you fancy an underwater botany expedition, a spot of fish diving, or just observing from a far, there is much to sample depending on your location. With an exhaustive list of underwater species of fauna, (Lake Constance has over 40), hungry divers will be planning their meals for days. These include salmon, trout, grayling, eel, coregonus carps, trout, perch, bream, catfish, pike-perch, sturgeon, barbell, tench, char, pink, and carp. The underwater landscape, including the flora, is also rather impressive. Southern Germany boasts some interesting rock formations, caves, submerged forests, shipwrecks, and even some aircraft, cars and buildings.