Palatinus-tó (Dorog)
Lake Palatinus is a former sand pit on the border of Esztergom and Dorog, about 40 km from Budapest, and one of the most popular training lakes for Budapest clubs. The dive base sits inside the Palatinus lake bath. A marked rope network links training platforms, an underwater museum of old diving gear, a sunken 'office' desk and small boat wrecks, and a 200 m line leads to fallen trees where large wels catfish rest. Typical depths are 5–8 m, with deeper spots around 10–12 m. Visibility is usually only a few metres, so the lake is used mostly for courses, navigation and drysuit practice.
Facts
- Region: Hungary – Lakes & Training Sites
- Area: Northern Transdanubia
- Depth: 0–12 m
- Level: beginner
- Current: low
- Type: bay, wreck, jetty
- Coordinates: 47.7289, 18.7411 (approximate)
- Highlights: training platforms, 200 m rope trail, underwater museum (old diving gear), underwater office / 'internet café', sunken jetty, sunken boats, wels catfish, zander, pike, perch, carp, grass carp, crayfish, freshwater jellyfish, freshwater mussels
- Permit: Not an official permit but paid base access: divers must arrive at the base with a ticket bought at the Palatinus lake-bath ticket office (diver day ticket HUF 2,000, companion HUF 400 per the lake's own price list – check current price). Clubs add their own base/guiding fees. Contact: Tópart utca, 2500 Esztergom, +36 30 396 7905.
- Issuer / contact: Palatinus-Tófürdő (Esztergom/Dorog base ticket office)
- Phone: +36303967905
- Tópart utca, 2500 Esztergom
- Tips: Diving only via the dive base: buy the diver day ticket at the lake-bath ticket office before going to the base, and arrange dives in advance (base phone +36 30 396 7905, 9:00–18:00). Clubs run guided days here; most require email/phone booking. Expect 2–3 m visibility; good buoyancy keeps the silt down. Water level was about 80–100 cm below normal in summer 2025.