Quetsch, hüpf, blubb.

Frog Men's Alpine valley in the Austrian Atterseehaus is a popular diving area - although there is little colorful fish and always fatal accidents. Taster diving When Martin declined Cyris still the allure of the underwater worlds.

 

Water is wet. That divers wet suits and cold may be with this knowledge we must be a beginner once warm. Because there is hardly something unpleasant, as in Frühtau of the mountains in a damp wet suit to fit. The heater in the corner of the locker room says it is good, but it only alleviates the worst torments. "Igitt" and "Bäh" are the comments of the immersion students.

"Close your eyes and clean," advises Robert, our instructor. Because on the eve of the summer brought a break and had the sun behind thick clouds made, the suits on the clothes horse is no longer dry time. The diver is destiny. Professional costs of cold a smile, genuine novices overcome. "After the water, you will not feel like this," says Robert.

The Austrian lakes for beginners are very good. Especially in the Attersee Lake, the largest inland waters of Austria, there are often best viewing conditions. 20-25-meter diver can see. Daylight penetrates to a depth of 30 meters in front. A clear vision helps beginners to get into diving. And of course the fact that - unlike the sea - currents is unlikely. The freshwater areas in Austria are therefore an ideal training ground for newcomers.

At the sight of men in the middle of the frog has mountains in the Salzkammergut region long accustomed. Although the region usually with walking than with diving is associated. The scene could hardly be österreichischer: Baroque church towers, old farmhouses, fragrant herb meadows. And in many a hotel bathroom is located next to the shower cap instead of a modern body lotion tried Franz spirits in a basket - to rub tired limbs.

Legs and hips as a problem area

Also Muskelkater threatens us, because our legs are over the stripes of the extreme wet suits claimed. Especially the legs and hips are proving to - regardless of the body proportions - as a problem. It is the creation of a diving suit actually quite simple: squeeze bottle full and dragging. More is not to do. "You have created the" Robert encourages us, "if you do have on the hips, you are almost there."

DIVE-QUIZ

AP; Linus Geschke; Andreas Hilsenbeck

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After the last participant in his wet suit is stowed, we run the gen shore. Better said, we falter. Because of the weight belt around our bellies and the air bottle on our back to make our lives difficult. "And that should be fun?" asks a diving Neuling tormented. He was by his wife, an avid diver, using the gift voucher ushered taster. "Wart's ab!" says Robert.

After a brief introduction to sign language and the most important rules of conduct under the water - "Very quiet weiteratmen, just like on land!" - We even invited into the water. None of us was ever more than one lung filling below the water surface, let alone with diving equipment.

"The introduction of country should proceed as quickly as possible," says Robert, "we want the people do not get bored." Add cold water will still not be thrown on two participants, a trainer. The safety standards of diver education in Austria are high. Behind the two groups are driving the guides and keep an eye on the novices. Motion errors will be corrected by bold attacks. We dive at two meters down.

Calmness and Blubb

And lo and behold, what old diving hare routine may be, for a newcomer is a real eye-opening experience: This rest under water. This silence. The underwater world is like a separate universe. The hectic life on the water surface has degenerate with the first fin movements incidental. The bubble of our breathing apparatus is the only sound heard.

That it is in no Atterseehaus colorful coral reefs and other bizarre creatures on display there - regardless. Peace under water is to be the pros and beginners alike in the spell. And of course the weightlessness.

But this does not make it any easy. My Mittaucher, an arid type of almost two meters in length, like a rowing cockchafer helpless in space. His fins caught in his glove and my drive to me regularly in front of the glasses. Our dive guide has his hands full to do it on the right track. After my Mittaucher somewhat brought under control, the guide directs us into something deeper regions. Three meters. Four meters.

Dawns on me why diving can be addictive. Even if at the bottom of the Attersees only stones and shells are to be seen and only occasionally a few fish scurry past - in order to experience this Weltentrücktheit it has paid off in the wet suit to fit, and afraid of any dive to one side.

Again and again in accidents "Todessee"

"Respect yes, but no fear," Robert describes his feelings under water. Because some of the respect for the elements is lost, the pass Atterseehaus deadly accidents regularly. In Austria, the lake is so often in the negative headlines, has been called "Todessee" means. Debt is the depth: Up to 175 meters is in Atterseehaus down. "The euphoria is under water, unfortunately, some of the dangers of forgetting," says Robert. Hubris is the most common cause of death.

He and his colleagues of the other dive schools on Atterseehaus are annoyed because of the discussions. "Some people seem to be too much and then throw a bad light on all the diving," says Robert. Would observe all safety rules, diving is a sport with a calculable risk.

In the last 10, 15 years has been a veritable boom in the freshwater diving developed in Austria. On weekends, be strong around 3000 per day dives Atterseehaus counted. Other districts, such as the Mondsee, the Traunsee or Hallstättersee are within reach.

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We are glad for the time that the exit stairs to reach. Indeed, the unusual movement and the many impressions have made us tired. Backwards - we have finally have the fins on the feet - is the stairs. We have again ground under our feet. We fasten the air bottle and breathe deeply through only once. "I feel somehow as difficult," puffed one participant, "in the water that's so beautifully simple."

Robert takes a look at the beginner and breaks into hearty laughter from: "No wonder you did so even to the weight belt." The dive school pained smiles and exempts itself from the Beschwernis. Some loads are also at Atterseehaus not alone from.