Explore Zürichsee

Exploring the depths of Zürichsee offers a unique and memorable diving experience, right in the heart of Zurich. This striking banana-shaped lake, surrounded by the picturesque Pfannenstiel hills, is an inviting destination for both novice and seasoned divers. With a maximum depth of 136 meters (446 feet), Zürichsee provides an intriguing underwater landscape waiting to be discovered. It's easily accessible, making it a convenient spot for city dwellers and visitors alike. Divers can expect to encounter a range of freshwater marine life, including elusive pike, perch, and the occasional eel. The lake's clear waters are home to submerged forests and intriguing geological formations, offering a different kind of beauty compared to ocean dives.

While Zürichsee doesn't boast the colorful coral reefs found elsewhere, the tranquil and serene environment, combined with the rich history and culture of Zurich, makes diving here a distinctive experience. The variety of diving experiences available in Zürichsee includes shore dives for easy access and exploration. The lake's calm waters create perfect conditions for divers to enjoy the peacefulness beneath the surface. Seasonal changes lend a dynamic aspect to diving here, with the water's character shifting subtly throughout the year, ensuring that each dive offers something new and exciting. Overall, Zürichsee provides a serene and captivating diving adventure for those looking to explore a unique freshwater environment.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Tauchschule Poseidon

Decompression Diving

14 Nov 2025

The SSI Decompression Diving Specialty will teach you how to dive beyond the no-decompression limits. You will learn to plan and conduct dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters with limited decompression using your recreational total diving system and a single decompression cylinder. You will learn and practice how to effectively use your dive computer features, including switching gases, gas integration, time-to-reserve, and time-to-surface. Using these computer functions will become second nature, enabling you to safely conduct dives with limited decompression without hours of dive planning. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Decompression Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore stunning deep dive sites or larger wrecks without being restricted by the traditional no-decompression limits. The opportunities to expand your diving adventures have just got bigger!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Tauchschule Poseidon

Dry Suit Diving

06 Dec 2025

Drysuit diving opens up a world of opportunities, including diving remote Arctic destinations and exploring cold-water dive sites teeming with life. Dry suit diving also keeps you warm on multi-dive days when you do not want to spend your time getting in and out of a cold wetsuit. The SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty program is the best way to become a dry suit diver and teaches you all the knowledge and techniques you need to dive safely and comfortably in a dry suit. You will learn how to use specialized equipment, like dry suits and BCs, the benefits of dry suits and how to deal with dry suit emergencies – which are unique to this type of diving. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Dry Suit Diving specialty certification.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Tauchschule Poseidon

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

01 Apr 2026

Start today - You need to be a Divemaster or equivalent to join SSI´s 3-Step Instructor Training Approach. The training process starts with joining the Assistant Instructor / Instructor Training Course combination accompanied with Digital Learning. After successful completion of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) you will enroll in an Instructor Evaluation (IE) to qualify as an SSI Open Water Instructor. This 10 day training program entitles you to teach various key SSI programs independently like Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver, Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress & Rescue and Dive Guide. For those who want to take more time to learn and to gain valuable teaching experience between the training programs the 3 parts can also be taken as single steps - Assistant Instructor, Instructor Training Course (ITC) and Instructor Evaluation (IE) one after the other at own pace and with a flexible schedule.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Grosser Parkplatz

The entrance is over the stones. You can either dive directly from the shore or swim to the yellow buoys and dive down there (to about 25m).

2,349
Logs
438
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Halbinsel Au

To reach the Halbinsel Au dive site from the beach you head towards the middle of the lake. At about 10m you will meet the first wall, which reaches at this point to just under 20m. If you turn right, you dive towards Pfäffikon SZ. The upper and lower edge of the wall descends continuously to 50m.

624
Logs
210
Divers
35.0 m
⌀ Depth
8.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Terlinden

Popular dive site for advanced divers. Parking is available between 7 am and 5 pm with a blue parking disc for three hours. A public toilet is in the immediate vicinity at the nearby marina. The dive site has a slope to 30m - there begins a partly overhanging steep wall.

2,878
Logs
460
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
6.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Wassersportzentrum Tiefenbrunnen

This is a popular practice dive site on Lake Zurich. Access is via stairs. The shoreline gently slopes towards the lake. At 20-25 meters there is an old suction nozzle. There are man-made underwater attractions like a diving bell, a Züri-Leu, an old bathtub, garden gnomes, etc.

6,447
Logs
1,026
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
4.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Riff Williams

The Williams reef offers not only a cozy place to linger, but also something or other underwater. Two rock faces at depths of around 30m offer divers interesting underwater experiences. A tree trunk in the rock face facing Zurich makes for an impressive experience. Access is via a ladder

847
Logs
246
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
6.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Kleiner Parkplatz

Beautiful steep wall. Access is via a steel staircase. At the entrance there is a small "platform" at approx. 2m. In the direction of Rapperswil (south-east) there is a (model) skeleton at 32m and a treasure chest at 36m.

1,232
Logs
289
Divers
29.0 m
⌀ Depth
7.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Rüschlikon Pumpwerk

2 tubes help with the orientation. One is in the middle of the building, the other in the middle of the small bay, left of the building. Often the seagrass border runs at about 5m.

1,684
Logs
398
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
4.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Ermitage

The entrance to this dive site is via the beach (over the bridge towards Zurich). A nativity scene, poles, and old diving tower are found at about 15 meters deep. A raft is at 8.5m depth. A diving bottle at about 9 meters. Everything can be found to the right of the harbour.

2,150
Logs
474
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
5.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Zürichsee

Zürichsee, a picturesque lake in Switzerland, offers exciting freshwater dive sites for enthusiasts. One notable spot is "Au-Horgen," known for its intriguing archaeological remains of pile dwellings, giving divers a glimpse into ancient history. This area features a gentle shore dive, making it accessible for various skill levels.

At "Rapperswil," divers can explore steeper drop-offs and encounter local aquatic life, including perch and pike. The clear waters enhance visibility, providing a rewarding experience. Zürichsee's varied sites, from archaeologically rich areas to vibrant aquatic habitats, cater to diverse diving preferences.

The best Months to dive in Zürichsee

Freshwater diving in Zürichsee offers unique experiences throughout the year, with varying water conditions. In winter, temperatures can drop to around 4°C/39°F, occasionally causing ice cover, which limits diving opportunities. However, the lake's clarity often improves, providing better visibility for those who venture beneath the ice.

As spring arrives, temperatures begin to rise, reaching up to 15°C/59°F by late spring. This warming period, coupled with increased runoff, can temporarily reduce visibility. Summer months, particularly July and August, are ideal for diving with temperatures peaking at around 23°C/73°F. Visibility remains good, though increased recreational activity can stir up sediments. Fall offers a balance of cooler water and good visibility, making it another favorable period for diving enthusiasts.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Tauchershop MIARU

Butzenstrasse 60, 8038 Zürich, CHE

TSK Zürich

Stauffacherquai 54, 8004 Zürich, CHE

Tauchschule Poseidon

Zollikerstr. 155, 8008 Zürich, CHE