Austria
Palfauer Wasserloch
Info · exploration
Information only: according to the VHO (Nov 2026) divable only as an expedition; no arrangement for divers is known, ask the gorge management.
- Max depth71 m
- CertificationFull cave
- SpecialExperienced divers
Diving and fills
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Now at Palfauer Wasserloch
The dive
The Palfauer Wasserloch is the largest water-bearing cave in Styria and, according to EnnstalWiki, Austria's fourth-deepest sump. It discharges ~2,000 l/s on average, up to 5–6 m³/s, and releases extra water at irregular moments.
Profile and sections
The Palfauer Wasserloch is the largest water-bearing cave in Styria and, according to EnnstalWiki, Austria's fourth-deepest sump. It discharges ~2,000 l/s on average, up to 5–6 m³/s, and releases extra water at irregular moments.
It was explored by the Bat-Diver team from Klosterneuburg.
- Depth and profile
- Sump pool under a cave vault · -42 m (1995) · -60 m (2003) · sump bottom at -71 m (2004), followed by 55 m of water passage · 76 m explored according to the gorge's website
- Configuration
- No data on configurations or water temperature. All gear has to go up the gorge (stairs, 350 m height difference).
- DPV: unknown
- No data on passage size.
Who can dive where
- At least Full cave
- Configurations: Backmount / twinset / Sidemount / CCR / Small cylinders / no-mount (speleo sumps)
- Configuration unknown — research beforehand
- Goes down to 71 m (trimix or deco may be needed)
- Experienced divers only
This is how the planner decides who in your team may dive this cave. Rules your own trip adds (organizer, a mail, the AI) show with your trip.
How to get there
The spring cave with its sump pool lies at the head of the Wasserlochklamm near Palfau. The path (wooden stairs, bridges and a suspension bridge) starts on the B24 at Schönau and climbs 350 m over 900 m, past five waterfalls (~300 m of ascent on a gorge path according to the VHO). From the entrance you have to abseil ~30 m to reach the water (VHO). The gorge is open from April to 31 October. Diving: ask the gorge management; no public arrangement known.
Around Palfauer Wasserloch
FillsNo fill station known nearby
Caves nearby1 within 45 km
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