What makes diving in inland waters so appealing that it's generating growing interest among enthusiasts? Immersing ourselves in non-coastal waters offers the possibility of dives in locations with an underwater landscape very different from that of seas and oceans.
Moreover, for divers living in inland towns, it provides an alternative to practise this activity without having to travel long distances to coastal areas, though currently, it's not a mass practice in our country.
Where to dive in inland waters
Dives generally take place in reservoirs and lakes, flooded caves or river backwaters. Some of the best places to practise this speciality in Spain (and worldwide) include Lagunas de Ruidera in Ciudad Real, the Canelles Reservoir in Lleida where the village of Blancafort lies beneath its waters, the Riaño Reservoir in León whose waters also submerged the old village of Riaño, Cueva del Agua in Cartagena, Pozo Azul in Burgos or the Moraig Cave in Alicante.
Outside our country, we find areas like the cenotes in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, home to the world's largest network of flooded caves.
These dives sometimes present challenging conditions like very low water temperatures, turbidity, high-altitude diving (as lakes are often in mountainous areas), deep dive profiles... All this requires much more thorough dive planning.
The main attraction of this diving lies in exploring ancient villages submerged after reservoir construction. But this environment isn't usually suitable for inexperienced divers, so it should be reserved for divers with proper training and ideally accompanied by a guide who knows the underwater route.
Reservoir diving
Access to the reservoir shore typically involves some difficulty due to uneven terrain, so using 4x4 vehicles is advisable, saving us from carrying heavy gear to the dive site.
Another key aspect is checking water conditions beforehand (water levels, recent rainfall that may have reduced visibility, temperature etc.) to prepare accordingly.
The number of divers shouldn't exceed 3 or 4 maximum, to maintain visual contact and avoid separation (visibility in these dives is often very limited).
The backup regulator should be easily accessible, ready if the primary gets snagged on branches or other common obstacles (it can be attached to an elastic cord around the neck). For potential snags, carrying two cutting tools is recommended, preferably different types like a knife and shears.
In lake diving, the underwater landscape delights with peculiar bottom formations and unique flora/fauna different from marine environments, sometimes including endemic species. These dives share similar characteristics with reservoir diving, requiring comparable precautions.
River diving
Still uncommon in our country, so information about suitable locations is scarce, though it's more established in other European countries. The surrounding landscape often offers captivating scenery with birdlife, lush vegetation and waterfalls.
Underwater, biodiversity is more limited than in the sea, with varied bottom formations covered in vegetation, submerged trees, deep pools and shadowy banks teeming with plant life, where we'll discover unusual fish and invertebrates.
River diving reveals environments different from familiar marine dives, though required precautions are similar. In Spain, areas like Galicia offer river diving opportunities, though sometimes requiring official diving permits from relevant authorities.
Many river backwaters ideal for diving now feature artificial beaches and rural lodgings, providing easy vehicle access to riverbanks, though sometimes gear must be carried when other access isn't possible.
In all cases, we must carefully assess depth, bottom composition, currents/eddies, submerged vegetation and potential obstacles before exploring these waters.
