Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich provides many dive sites along the left and right shores. Usually the visibility in the water is worse than that of Lake Lucerne, but there are more fish (in general). The upper part of the lake (between Rapperswil and Schmerikon) is usually unclear because the river Linth provides many particles. Probably the sink to the ground before the water passes the dam between Rapperswil and Pfäffikon. There are also no dive sites listed in the Swiss Dive Guide.

Underwater Snail — Fig. 1: An underwater snail on the muddy ground. If you look very close you may see some sweetwater polyps, which are relatives of the anemones. — Nikon D200, Nikkor Micro AF 60mm 1:2.8, Hugyfot housing, Hartenberger strobe, Küsnacht Ermitage, Lake Zurich, 23 May 2007 Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 100; 23 May 2006 19:16:06

Diver with light — Fig. 2: Flex Keller with artificial sun, descending into the green unclear water. I did not use the strobe during this dive because of the bad visibility and many backscatter. — Nikon D200 Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Hugyfot housing, Peninsula Au, Lake Zurich, 3 June 2007 Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=15 mm; f/5.6; ISO 200; 3 June 2006 10:52:26

Pole — Fig. 3: Hmmmmmmmm ... interesting ... Flex is studyng a wood pole covered with shells. — Nikon D200 Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Hugyfot housing, Peninsula Au, Lake Zurich, 3 June 2007 Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=12 mm; f/5.6; ISO 400; 3 June 2006 11:15:51

Burbot — Fig. 4: A burbot in a rock crevice at about 25m depth which observers the stranch bubble fish with light beams. In the foreground one can see a sweetwater polyp. — Nikon D200 Nikkor AF-S DX 12-24mm, Hugyfot housing, Herrliberg (small parking place, towards left), Lake Zurich, 13 June 2007 Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 200; 13 June 2006 19:10:24

Perch — Fig. 5: An perch (Egli) in Lake Zurich. Nothing special — Nikon D200, Nikkor Micro AF 60mm 1:2.8, Hugyfot housing, Hartenberger strobe, Herrliberg, Lake Zurich, 20 June 2007 Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=60 mm; f/16.0; ISO 200; 20 June 2006 19:33:03

Crayfish — Fig. 6: A crayfish close to the shore of Küsnacht. Somehow the strobe did not fire off until I noticed the slave switch was not in the right position. Diving makes stupid and indifferent but I don't care! The light from the diving lamp gives a very special look. — Sea&Sea DX-8000G + Sea&Sea YS-110 strobe, Lake Zurich, 10 June 2009 Caplio GX8; Δt=1/64 s; f=11.3 mm; f/3.3; ISO 100; 9 June 2009 19:16:32

Crayfish — Fig. 7: A crayfish close to the shore of Küsnacht. — Sea&Sea DX-8000G + Sea&Sea YS-110 strobe, Lake Zurich, 10 June 2009 Caplio GX8; Δt=1/64 s; f=11.3 mm; f/3.3; ISO 100; 9 June 2009 19:17:51

Crayfish — Fig. 8: A crayfish close to the shore of Küsnacht. — Sea&Sea DX-8000G + Sea&Sea YS-110 strobe, Lake Zurich, 10 June 2009 Caplio GX8; Δt=1/53 s; f=11.3 mm; f/3.3; ISO 100; 9 June 2009 19:18:13

Crayfish — Fig. 9: A crayfish close to the shore of Küsnacht. — Sea&Sea DX-8000G + Sea&Sea YS-110 strobe, Lake Zurich, 10 June 2009 Caplio GX8; Δt=1/46 s; f=9.3 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 9 June 2009 19:27:09

Intake pipe — Fig. 10: The intake pipe from the pumping station in Rüschlikon on Lake Zurich. Here, drinking water is drawn in from a depth of 40 metres. First photo after ten years in Lake Zurich. The lake was exceptionally clear, especially since I was all alone at the dive site that Friday. Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with Glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/25 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 09:17:50

Pedalo wreck — Fig. 11: Follow the intake pipe for about 29-30 metres and then turn right towards Pfäffikon. Here lies the wreckage of a sunken Pedalo boat. Two Sea&Sea YS-110 flashes with glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/15 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:26:11

Tree under water — Fig. 12: If you dive a little further down to a depth of 29 metres along the bottom of the lake in the direction of Pfäffikon, you will come across the first tree. Who do you think sank it? Two Sea&Sea YS-110 flashes with glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/15 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:27:13

Trees — Fig. 13: A little further from the intake pipe in the direction of Pfäffikon, you come across two trees. There is a mirror on one of them. Depth here about 27 metres. The lake was so clear, you didn't even need a lamp. Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/31 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:30:30

Fallen tree — Fig. 14: One of the trees in the back group has fallen. I mean, a few years ago it was standing upright too, or was I by a different tree then? Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with Glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/31 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:31:31

A selfie in the mirror — Fig. 15: A self-portrait in the mirror. It needed cleaning again, but I didn't want to stir up any suspended matter. Depth about 27 metres. Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with Glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/40 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:35:57

Dori — Fig. 16: Just swim, swim, swim. Dori here is probably dead. She doesn't swim any more. Depth about 27 metres. Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/40 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:36:20

Pile of stones — Fig. 17: A little above the second group of trees, at a depth of about 25 metres, you come across a pile of stones with tree trunks sticking out of it. What was sunk here once? Intentionally or by accident? Two Sea&Sea YS-110 strobes with glowdive diffuser domes. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/31 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:36:53

Selfie — Fig. 18: An underwater selfie of me in Lake Zurich. Shortly afterwards the batteries of the flashes were empty. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 14 June 2019 09:39:58

Jetty with ladder — Fig. 19: At the playground next to the pump house in Rüschlikon is the jetty with ladder for bathers. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 09:52:44

Pump house from below — Fig. 20: The pump house in Rüschlikon from below. In the dark, many fish and especially sunfish always hide here. With sidemount equipment you can dive almost all the way to the back. Cavern feeling in Lake Zurich. But since both my flash batteries were empty, I didn't swim in. You also like to stir up suspended matter. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/320 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 09:59:23

Intake pipe — Fig. 21: The intake pipe from the pumping station in Rüschlikon leads down to a depth of 40 metres. Dive 661: Dive site Rüschlikon pumping station, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/91 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 09:59:46

Underneath the pump house — Fig. 22: View from below the terrace around the pump house in Rüschlikon. Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 10:01:22

Pipe socket — Fig. 23: Did another pipe once lead into the depths here or is this meant for future higher water pumping? Dive 661: Dive site Rüschlikon pumping station, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/80 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 10:04:21

Underwater plants in the sunshine — Fig. 24: Unfortunately, there were still few fish here. Only a small shoal with young Eglis. Where are all the others? Did they end up in the deep fryer? Dive 661: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 14 June 2019 10:12:57

Intake pipe — Fig. 25: Diving makes stupid. I did not notice at below 40 meters depth that the autofocus of my camera was not working. Focus is hardly visible with fish eye through the eyepiece. Nikon D200; Δt=1/2 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 400; 21 June 2019 09:35:22

Pikes — Fig. 26: Two pike in the seaweed. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 09:56:01

Pike — Fig. 27: A pike in the seaweed. He wouldn't let me get any closer with my fish eye. It was maybe a metre away. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 09:57:16

Seagrass — Fig. 28: Just seaweed, because I had to do my deco time. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/4.0; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:02:06

Sunfish — Fig. 29: Many sunfish and eglis like to hide under the pump house. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/60 s; f=10.5 mm; f/3.2; ISO 200; 21 June 2019 10:12:38

Under the pump house — Fig. 30: View from underneath the pump house. Dive 663: Dive site Rüschlikon pumping station, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/125 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:19:01

Sunfish — Fig. 31: Many sunfish like to hide under the pump house and defend their territory against the supposed rival reflected in the dome port. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:24:58

Sunfish — Fig. 32: Many sunfish like to hide under the pump house and defend their territory against the supposed rival reflected in the dome port. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:31:36

Sunfish — Fig. 33: Many sunfish like to hide under the pump house and defend their territory against the supposed rival reflected in the dome port. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:31:59

Sunfish — Fig. 34: Many sunfish like to hide under the pump house and defend their territory against the supposed rival reflected in the dome port. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:33:47

Sunfish — Fig. 35: Many sunfish like to hide under the pump house and defend their territory against the supposed rival reflected in the dome port. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:39:28

Seagrass — Fig. 36: Sea grass with stones in the sunshine. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/2.8; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:40:41

Swarm of perches — Fig. 37: A shoal of young eglis makes its rounds above the lake grass. Dive 663: Dive site Pumpwerk Rüschlikon, Lake Zurich. Nikon D200; Δt=1/250 s; f=10.5 mm; f/5.6; ISO 100; 21 June 2019 10:46:06