Geography and context
Lake Traful is located in the Los Lagos Department of Neuquén Province, within Nahuel Huapi National Park. According to Wikipedia, the lake covers 76 km² and sits at 975 metres above sea level — making it a high-altitude dive site — with a maximum depth of 300 metres. Its waters show “good transparency and oxygenation,” a product of glacial origin.
The lake’s tributaries are the Pichi Traful River and several mountain streams; the Traful River (25 km) carries the outflow toward the Negro River watershed and eventually the Atlantic. Villa Traful, a small settlement on the southern shore, offers basic infrastructure: camping, accommodation, fuel and supplies. Provincial Route 65 runs along the southern margin.
What you’ll see
The main attraction — one of the few sites of its kind in Argentina — is the submerged cypress forest. A landslide pushed an entire stand of Patagonian cypress trees into the lake. The trunks remain standing upright on the lakebed, creating a visually striking underwater scene, particularly when angled light filters between them.
Water clarity in Traful is high for a mountain lake. The lakebed combines rock, fine sediment and the standing trees. Native fish species include the puyén; the huillín (Lontra provocax), a critically endangered Patagonian otter that Nahuel Huapi National Park actively protects, also inhabits secluded lakeshore areas.
The site demands good buoyancy control: the submerged trunks are fragile and contact damages both the environment and the diver. The most commonly visited zones of the forest range between 10 and 30 metres, though the lake drops much deeper.
When to go
Spring and summer (November to March) offer the most stable weather and the easiest road access. Water is cold year-round; in winter access can be complicated by snow on Route 65. A drysuit or high-protection wetsuit is necessary in all seasons.
How to get there
From San Carlos de Bariloche, take National Route 237 north then Provincial Route 65 east through the Traful Valley, with unpaved sections on the final stretch. The nearest airport with regular service is Bariloche International Airport. There is no commercial airport at Villa Traful.
Protected areas and regulations
Lake Traful lies within Nahuel Huapi National Park, established in 1934 under Law No. 12103 — recognised as the first national park in Latin America. APN headquarters: Av. San Martín 24, Bariloche (Tel. 0294-4423111; [email protected]).
Diving is listed as a permitted activity in the park. Commercial operators and vessels require authorisation from the Argentine Naval Prefecture. Park entry fees apply at control points.
Technical tips
At 975 metres above sea level, Traful is genuine high-altitude diving: partial pressure is roughly 10% lower than at sea level, shortening no-decompression limits meaningfully. Every dive computer must be set to altitude mode before entering the water — or be able to detect elevation automatically — and divers using tables must apply the corresponding altitude corrections. Visibility is one of the lake’s standout features: in winter it can exceed 30 metres, but temperatures (7–9°C) make a drysuit essential. Spring and summer bring slightly reduced visibility due to biological activity, though it remains exceptional. Buoyancy control is critical: the sunken cypress trunks are fragile and any contact causes irreversible damage. Nahuel Huapi National Park charges an entry fee; pay it at the APN checkpoint before heading to the lakeshore.
Sources
- APN — Nahuel Huapi National Park (huillín, fish fauna, permitted activities, contact): https://www.argentina.gob.ar/parquesnacionales/nahuelhuapi
- SIB — Argentine Biodiversity Information System (Lontra provocax, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Salmo trutta, Galaxias platei): https://sib.gob.ar/especies/lontra-provocax · https://sib.gob.ar/especies/oncorhynchus-mykiss
- IUCN Red List — Lontra provocax (Endangered, EN): https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/12305/21939189
- CONICET/UNComa — Huillín distribution in Nahuel Huapi National Park: https://ri.conicet.gov.ar/handle/11336/207105