Podpeško jezero
A small karst lake at the foot of Krim on the southern edge of the Ljubljana Marsh, only about 120 m across. The bottom slopes gently to about 10 m, then a near-vertical shaft drops in the middle and narrows at 25 m into a tight underwater cave passage. In summer the surface is around 25 °C and the shaft about 15 °C; thick silt means visibility can go to zero with one fin kick. The Slovenian diving atlas treats 25 m as the sensible recreational limit.
Facts
- Region: Slovenia – Lakes, Rivers & Caves
- Area: Central & East Slovenia (Ljubljana area, Velenje)
- Depth: 0–25 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: low
- Type: cave, wall
- Coordinates: 45.96903, 14.43146
- Highlights: small (~120 m) but deep karst lake, shelf to ~10 m, then a near-vertical shaft, shaft narrows at 25 m into an underwater cave passage, surface ~25 °C in summer, ~15 °C in the shaft, very fine silt – visibility drops to zero instantly, water lilies, mussels, fish, crayfish
- Permit: The sources checked mention no diving ban or permit for the open-water part of the lake. The passage below 25 m is a cave (ZVPJ Art. 2: water-filled voids count as caves), where ZVPJ rules apply (exploration only by certified cavers).
- Tips: Open-water part to 25 m: compass, light and a line are recommended; excellent buoyancy needed. Below 25 m the lake becomes a narrow water-filled cave – cave-diving training and equipment required, and the cave part falls under the Cave Protection Act (ZVPJ). No local club or air fill; parking at the lakeside inn. Atlas sheet dates from 2012 – check current local rules.