De Groene Heuvels

De Groene Heuvels is an advanced freshwater dive site in the Gelderland province near Ewijk, reaching 25 meters. The name, translating to The Green Hills, evokes the rolling landscape of this section of the Netherlands, though the underwater terrain created by former extraction activities offers its own dramatic topography beneath the surface. The 25-meter depth provides a substantial range for advanced freshwater diving, with the extraction-origin lake offering the steep-sided profiles and depth variety that make these man-made water bodies more engaging than natural Dutch lakes. The advanced rating reflects both the depth and the conditions that experienced inland divers must manage, including thermal stratification, visibility changes with depth, and the psychological aspects of deep enclosed freshwater environments. The site has been developed for recreational diving with installed features that enhance the underwater experience. Submerged objects and training platforms at various depths create objectives for dives of different ambition levels, and the combination of natural freshwater ecology with man-made attractions makes De Groene Heuvels a versatile site for both recreational and training purposes. Freshwater life benefits from the moderate-to-good visibility conditions typical of extraction lakes in this region, with pike and perch among the larger species present. The depth range creates habitat diversity from warm shallows to cold depths, supporting different communities at different levels. De Groene Heuvels serves the Gelderland diving community with quality advanced freshwater diving that combines good depth, installed features, and the healthy aquatic environment of a former extraction lake.