Fényes-források (Tata)

The Fényes springs on the edge of Tata feed a small group of spring lakes inside a nature reserve, often called the cradle of Hungarian scuba diving. Warm karst water keeps them at roughly 18–25 °C all year, so they are dived even in winter. The main attraction is the bottom itself: springs push up through white quartz sand so it looks as if it is boiling, among dense water plants. The lakes are shallow (about 2.5–6 m), which makes them ideal for try dives and relaxed dives, but not for full open-water training.

Facts

Region: Hungary – Lakes & Training Sites
Area: Northern Transdanubia
Depth: 0–6 m
Level: beginner
Current: low
Type: bay
Coordinates: 47.66935, 18.30828 (approximate)
Highlights: thermal spring water 18–25 °C year-round, boiling quartz-sand spring vents, aquatic plants, water lilies (spring–summer), pike, carp, Abramis brama, small fish, very soft sandy bottom
Permit: Nature-protection area (within the Duna–Ipoly National Park's remit): diving only with permission and as a guided dive. In practice book through the on-site dive base or a club trip (e.g. Oxygene, Aquanauta, Titán, Horizon, Scubaland). The managing/permitting body could not be confirmed – check current terms.
Issuer / contact: Duna–Ipoly National Park Directorate
- Phone: +3613914610
- Email: dinpi@dinpi.hu
- Website: https://www.dunaipoly.hu/
- issuing body not confirmed in sources; Duna–Ipoly NPD is the park authority for the area
Tips: Organized diving only: the springs are in a protected area and diving is possible only with permission, as a guided dive through the local base (inside the Fényes camping/beach complex, Fényes fasor, Tata) or with a club that books it. Group sizes are small (one source: 2–3 divers at a time in the Katonai-tó; try dives max. 8 people). The sand is extremely loose – keep off the bottom and keep good buoyancy, or visibility drops to almost zero. A wetsuit is enough all year.

Fényes-források (Tata)

Facts

Sources