Winter Diving Attraction Underwater Crib

The first underwater nativity scene for divers in Europe is located in Lake Attersee in Upper Austria's Salzkammergut region. Every year, the unique nativity scene is lowered into the water at the Dixi Pfahlbauhaus diving station in Weyregg am Attersee on the first Sunday in Advent and can be viewed until February 2.

In 2019, the board of the Diving Competence Center came up with the idea for Europe's first underwater nativity scene. Since 2021, the new winter attraction has actually been open to divers. "The underwater nativity scene can be visited every year from the first Advent until Maria Lichtmesse on February 2 in Weyregg am Attersee at the Dixi - Pfahlbauhaus diving station. A particular challenge in the realization was the reinterpretation of the nativity scene under water and the choice of material.

The idea for Europe's first underwater cot was born at a board meeting in 2019. Christine Acker from Austria Divers introduced the idea of the unique diving attraction. Günter Oberschmied, chairman of the Diving Competence Centre and operator of the Pension "Zur Nixe" in Steinbach am Attersee, immediately took care of the implementation and contacted DI Josef Stallinger from the HTL (technical school) Vöcklabruck. The HTL Vöcklabruck was immediately willing to support us in this project. The Salzburg artist Mag. Isabella Heigl was enlisted for the creative implementation and the project was financed by the Regatta's Leader support programme.

The greatest challenge and the heart of the project is to reinterpret the Nativity scene in the element of water. All the figures are depicted in the underwater world. Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were adapted to the element of water. For example, the Christ Child is in a shell and the Mother of God Mary wears a coral necklace. As an analogy to the three wise men from the east, the three sharks from the oceans visit the Christ child, the symbol for the Christmas star is a golden starfish, and the traditional sheep become "sea sheep", a type of sea snail that looks similar to sheep on land and therefore also bears this name.

Anyone who thinks that the new interpretation is a trivialisation of the Christmas cot is mistaken. On the contrary: among other things, old symbols from Christianity were used. Pearls as an indication of the preciousness of life, fish as an ancient symbol in Christianity or coral necklaces, which in Italy are regarded as an old symbol of protection to keep children safe from harm. The students at HTL Vöcklabruck were incredibly creative when it came to choosing the right material. An anodised metal was used.

Austria's first official underwater cot was christened in December 2021, thanks to the commitment of Gregor Bockmüller from the diving centre "Under Pressure" and a diving priest friend. On a trial basis and for photo material, the cot was launched in autumn 2019. Each year, divers will be able to experience the new winter attraction underwater.
The underwater nativity scene will be launched in time for the first Sunday of Advent at the Dixi - Pfahlbauhaus diving access point in Weyregg and can then be seen until Candlemas on 2 February.