Are you staying in the Alps this winter? Why not try something a little out of the ordinary? Here are the best places to go ice diving in the Alps!
What better way to enjoy winter than in the Alps? The emblematic mountain range is a veritable paradise for winter sports enthusiasts: cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, tobogganing and more. But have you heard of ice diving? This unusual activity takes place in frozen lakes. Playing on our most primitive fears, it’s a real challenge for those who want to surpass themselves. But that’s not all! Diving under the ice is above all a moment of pure poetry. Set out to discover this unknown world, tinged with blue and green and pierced by streaks of light. It’s a timeless experience, completely separate from the rest of your vacation.
Would you like to dive into the icy waters of the Alpine lakes? Here are the 7 best places for ice diving in the Alps!
1. Lac du Lou
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Tatiana Belova
Lac du Lou is located in Savoie, at an altitude of 2,000 meters. It’s just 10 kilometers from Val Thorens, Europe’s highest ski resort. Surrounded by typical Alpine scenery, it lends itself perfectly to ice diving! You can book the activity online (Evolution 2 ski school) or directly from Val Thorens. The adventure begins with snowshoes. You’ll have to hike down a gentle slope for 45 minutes to reach the Lac du Lou. A walk that lets you soak up the atmosphere of the Alpine scenery. Once there, you can finally discover what lies beneath the ice. For 15 to 20 minutes, a veritable sound and light show unfolds before your very eyes! If you want to make the experience even more unreal, you can dive at night.
2. Lac de Tignes
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Marina VN
Remember those images taken under the ice in the film « Le Grand Bleu »? They were filmed at Lac de Tignes! The good news is that this magical setting is not just for film-makers or diving professionals. You too can go through the looking glass! Accompanied and equipped, you’re safe. Relax and let the magic happen: under the ice, everything is still and silent. Only the play of bubbles and light shimmers before your eyes. You can also choose to dive at night in Tignes. But don’t worry, you won’t be plunged into darkness. In fact, the moon’s rays will shine through the diaphanous ice. As for the rest, the renowned winter resort of Tignes promises unforgettable vacations.
3. Lake Montriond
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Nathalie Kowalski
Lac de Montriond, also known as Lac Vert, is the third largest lake in Haute-Savoie, after Lac d’Annecy and Lac Léman. In summer, it’s a great place to cool off with a stroll or a swim. But in winter, it becomes one of the best places for ice diving in the Alps! A thick layer of ice forms here. The lake, now white, tends to blend in with the surrounding winter landscape. Even the army comes here for ice diving training! If you’d like to try your hand at ice diving, contact the Aquaventure diving school. What’s more, you may not be alone under the ice. In fact, the waters of the lake are reputed to be teeming with fish!
4. Lac de Sollières
Photo credit: Sensations Vanoise
Head for Val Cenis in Savoie, a winter sports resort with three ski areas. If you’re looking for an ice diving spot in the Alps, you’ve come to the right place! The Val Cenis aqualudic base offers an introduction to this unusual activity. More specifically, the Sensations Vanoise diving school is your guide. The adventure takes place at the pretty Lac de Sollières, at an altitude of between 1300 and 1400 metres. You have two choices: day diving or night diving. If it’s the second option that appeals to you, you can take a special package. In fact, you can round off the experience with a delicious fondue! What better way to warm up after diving into icy water? Unlike most diving centers, Sensations Vanoise has a low age limit. The activity is accessible from the age of 12 only!
5. Robert Lakes
Photo credit: Patafiski / Wikimedia Commons
If you’re staying in Chamrousse, 30 kilometers from Grenoble, you should know that this is one of the best places for ice diving in the Alps. Not far from this family-friendly ski resort are the Lacs Robert. This group of three lakes is located at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters. As a result, their surfaces freeze over in winter. Nestled in a natural cirque, the Robert lakes enjoy a privileged environment, inhabited by a rich flora and fauna. The horizon is dominated by the Alpine chain: a breathtaking panorama! The Dive Xtrême diving school will take you on an ice dive. An opportunity to experience this magnificent scenery through an unusual experience. In the Robert lakes, you’ll dive under a layer of ice up to two meters thick!
6. Lake Lioson
Photo credit: Shutterstock / CloudVisual
Let’s cross the border to discover more places to go ice diving in the Alps. We’re heading for Switzerland! Lake Lioson is a glacial lake that attracts many visitors. It is rightly nicknamed the « pearl of the Alpine lakes ». It’s a great place for walking and fishing, as it’s home to many species of fish. But it’s also a Mecca for ice diving! In winter, when the waters freeze over, many people come to enjoy the experience. To get there, however, you’ll have to climb. Lake Lioson is over 1,800 metres above sea level! A landscape of immaculate whiteness awaits you. Once you’re there, it’s hard to imagine that you’ll be exploring the lake… Various diving centers can accompany you: Different Div, Subsport, etc.
7. Weissensee lake
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Vilant
Austria, on the shores of Lake Weissensee. The landscape here is a little different, as the lake lies at an altitude of less than 1,000 meters. In summer, Weissensee transforms itself into a seaside resort, welcoming holidaymakers eager to cool off. In winter, however, the water surface freezes to zero degrees. In fact, it’s the largest frozen surface in Europe! You can dive into the icy water and enjoy a fabulous kaleidoscope of colors and light. A special feature: when it freezes over, the lake also welcomes ice skaters and walkers. It’s a very special feeling to watch them evolve over your head. Would you like to try it out? Contact the Karnten Center. But beware. The activity is in great demand, and you’ll need to book around ten months in advance!
Rates & practical info
Rates
How much does ice diving cost? You can expect to pay between €80 and €100 for 15 to 20 minutes of diving. In general, prices for night ice diving are a little higher.
Practical info
Here is some practical information you should know before booking:
- Equipment is always provided by the diving centers, but you should bring a change of underwear and warm socks;
- water temperature is generally between two and four degrees;
- afraid of getting lost under the ice? Rest assured, it’s impossible. You’ll be attached to a rope called a « breadcrumb trail »;
- At the end of the activity, dive centers offer you a small snack. Just the thing to warm up after a hard day’s diving;
- ice diving is not a dangerous activity. Just let yourself go and enjoy!