This dive site is Hälvälä Louhos, an abandoned quarry in Finland now filled with clear freshwater. It offers a unique diving experience with a distinctive topography, featuring areas suitable for divers of all levels. One end of the quarry is relatively shallow, ideal for recreational divers and training, while the other side plunges to extreme depths beyond 200 meters, making it a challenging destination exclusively for technical divers. The quarry's history as a former stone extraction site contributes to its dramatic underwater landscape of rock formations and sheer walls.
The quarry's ecosystem is notably sparse. Divers will find no fish or significant aquatic flora. The only observed life consists of small water insects, such as water hoppers and mosquito larvae, which primarily inhabit the shallower zones. This site is not a destination for marine biology enthusiasts but rather for those interested in unique geological features and deep diving challenges.
The best time to visit Hälvälä Louhos would likely be during the warmer months to mitigate the cold freshwater conditions, though drysuits are recommended year-round. Its varied depth profile makes it excellent for both introductory training in the shallow end and advanced depth progression for freedivers and technical divers. Divers should be prepared for cold water and the absence of marine life, focusing instead on the quarry's impressive rock formations and its challenging depths.
