Salò, Lombardy, Italy

Salò

Salò is a popular freshwater shore dive on the western shore of Lake Garda, close to the historic centre of the eponymous town. The dive entry is from a public lakefront and the bottom slopes gradually from the shore, with a mix of pebbles, mud, sand and submerged tree branches that act as fish-aggregating structures. Depths reach about 35 metres on the main slope, but most of the dive activity stays between 5 and 20 metres. The fauna is freshwater and includes pike (Esox lucius), perch (Perca fluviatilis), lake trout, carp, bullhead, small shoals of bleak and the occasional eel; resident shoals of perch are characteristic. The site is widely used for training and freshwater experience dives. Visibility ranges from 4 to 12 metres depending on season and weather, with the best clarity typically in late spring and autumn. The cold thermocline below 18–20 metres is noticeable and divers should be prepared for chilly water year-round.