What is hidden under the surface of the water in Trześniowskie Lake?

Everywhere there are beautiful colourful photos of warm seas, fabulous trips, exploring the other side of the world. Magazines from the West, our country and all magazines about diving compete in showing sharks, clownfish, octopuses and manta rays. On the one hand, “You praise your own you don’t know”, and on the other hand, financial means, or money. How many divers can afford to travel to these distant countries? Sure, they are encouraging in many ways, if only considering the water temperature and clarity.

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Sure, to dive in the cold, our native waters, you need to be thick-skinned, or get a dry suit. After all, body thermals are very important, not only for comfort, but for safety. Divers, who dive only in the summer, have a problem with visibility in Poland. Its level decreases in the months from June to the end of August. However, there are places in our country, which are worth visiting…

Some time ago I wrote about Lake Płotki. Today, I would like to write a few words about a beautiful and large body of water located in Lubuskie Voivodeship, namely about Trześniowskie Lake, which is sometimes mistakenly called Łagowskie Lake. It turns out that the correct name is Lake Ciecz, which is a translation of the German lake name “Tschetschsee”.

Western Poland and a beautifully situated trough lake of over 180 hectares. The larger town, famous for its castle of the Knights of St John, its film festival and its tourist resorts, which is located on the lake, is Lagow.

Plenty of dive sites on all sides. It must be admitted that it is difficult to access, as the shores are quite steep. There are diving bases here during the holiday season. Using them is quite expensive, and you can dive on your own, which in my case happened many times in different company and from different sides. If you find yourself here in good weather and full sun, you will notice the characteristic emerald colour of the water, which in shady places will naturally turn dark green. The smell of the forest, the hot air and the colour make you want to jump into the water and swim right away.

Entering from the castle side, there is a lot of rubbish at first, mostly in the form of debris. Swimming to the left, or entering completely from the left, there will also be rubbish, but very soon you will see whole trees with spreading branches, sunken some time ago. Among them, pike hang in the depths, tench and curious perch swim by. The fallen trees stretch over several hundred metres from the entrance. You have to watch out for branches in order not to get entangled in the rush of watching fish. You can find here freshwater sponges, snails and crayfish, camouflaged in the rubbish on the bottom. Depth to several metres, mainly 4-8 metres.

A very interesting place is the coal wall, which goes down to a depth of more than 30 m. To get to it you have to cross the forest (a car with a 4-wheel drive comes in handy, especially if it rained earlier) or you can drive to a fisherman, borrow a rowboat from him and cross the cove. A little away from the wall there is a shallower dive site where branches and trees lie. Here, too, you will always find pike, and with a bit of luck you may spot burbot, catfish, eel or bream. The deepest place is near the Kormoran centre in Łagów-Kolonia. Driving along the main road, at a fork in the road, turn left and by a bus stop turn left into a paved road. Drive to the end and leave your car there. Going down the stairs you will see a pier. Diving here, we will quickly reach the maximum depth, which is 58 m. The lake Ciesz is classified as a first-class clean water, is one of the deepest lakes in the country and is the only lake trout site in this part of Poland.

A very good diving area indeed. You can take non-divers with you for a swim without any stress. The cost of travel and a filled cylinder. This is what we spend to dive here. Accommodation can be found on the internet without any problems for those who come from far away, and it is worth it.

Visibility in summer is often 5-6 metres, in spring and autumn it is up to 10 or more metres. Just make an appointment and get in the water!

Lake Ciecz (Trześniowskie)
52020’50”N 15017’26”E
On: Łagów National Park
Voivodeship: Lubuskie
Type of lake: trough lake
Area: approx. 180 ha
Average depth: 19 m
Maximum depth: 58.8 m
Length of shoreline: 12390
Maximum length: 4770 m
Maximum width: 620 m