Germany – Mines & Caves
Germany has no open cave-diving region like France or Mexico, but centuries of mining have left flooded galleries that a few operators open to divers. The largest is the Nuttlar slate mine in the Sauerland, with about 12 km of flooded passages, a cavern area for trial dives and courses up to full mine diver. In Saxony the old lime mine at Miltitz near Meissen is dived only on announced winter weekends, and the Felsendome Rabenstein in Chemnitz offers guided dives in its two flooded levels. The famous karst springs of the Swabian Jura – the Blautopf, the Aachtopf and the Wimsener Höhle – are research caves: diving is banned or allowed only with special permission. Mines are private property and show mines are under mining supervision, so you always dive through the owner or the operator, with booking, certification checks and their house rules. The water stays at about 7–8 °C all year.