What is the diving like?
Fernsteinsee offers visibility of between 10 - 15 metres, with a maximum depth of around 12-14 meters. However the highlight is the Samaranger See, visibilities in excess of 30 metres are quite common. The lake itself is small, you can easily swim around the perimeter in 20 - 30 minutes, and depending on the amount of rainfall the maximum depth is usually in the range of 10 - 12 meters. But don't let the shallow depths put you off - This is one of the clearest lakes in the area.

You can find fallen trees around the perimeter of the lake, and swim among them. Roll over onto your back and look at the surface. You'll see the trees and the mountains forming a ring around the edges of the lake. Trout swim freely in the shallower sections. If you are interested in underwater photography then this is the place to get some of the most fantastic freshwater pictures you'll ever take.

How do I get there?
From Zurich drive towards St. Gallen, then Feldkirch. Pass over the border into Lichenstein, then into Austria. You will head towards Innsbruck through the Arlberg tunnel. After you come through the tunnel about 20 to 30 minutes later you'll almost reach Imst. At this point take the exit onto the B171 towards Imst. Now you should start to see signs for Fernpass. Continue following these signs. After about 30 minutes driving towards Fernpass you should cross a bridge and you'll see the "Hotel Schloss Fernsteinsee". It is enormous, you can't miss it. Total driving time from Zurich is between 3 - 3.5 hours.

Where should I stay?
There aren't many choices here. These are privately owned lakes, to dive you must stay at the Hotel Schloss Fernsteinsee for a minimum of two nights. In peak season the hotel can be fully booked. Check early to avoid disappointment. Given that you must stay two nights, aim to arrive on the Friday evening and leave on the Sunday afternoon.

Is there a dive base or compressor nearby?
The nearest dive base is about 30 minutes away. Therefore no spares of any kind are available on site. However, there are compressors - operated by tokens which have to be purchased from the reception. Take note: the compressors are not allowed to be used for a few hours over each lunch time and dinner time. This makes the filling of tanks rather inflexible, especially if there are many divers queuing for the compressor. Tip: take two tanks if you plan on doing a lot of diving.

When is the best time to go?
Late spring, summer or early autumn. The hotel closes over the winter period.

What about equipment?
As the dives are not long, you won't need large cylinders, however a larger cylinder may last you for two dives. The water is quite cold, around ten degrees, so for a short dive in sunny weather a 7 mm wetsuit and hood are appropriate. Divers using dry suits can enjoy longer divers in comfort.

Are there any pre-requisites?
No training activities are allowed in the lake, and divers are expected to have 50 logged dives to dive in the Samaranger See. The hotel is concerned that you don't damage the delicate bottom of the lake, so if your buoyancy skills are not up to scratch, improve them before you dive here.

Is there anything else I should know?
After you've dived in the Samaranger See there isn't much point in diving in the Fernsteinsee. Since most divers want to dive in the Samaranger See the hotel implemented a policy during 2003 of limiting the number of divers going to the lake in specific time slots. In our opinion this is a bad idea, and removes the appeal of visiting this site. You would be advised to check with the hotel in advance to see if this policy is still in effect. If you were to go there and find all the slots booked out you would then be forced to dive in the Fernsteinsee, and this isn't really worth the trip. One final point – the altitude of both lakes is 1000 metres above sea level.