Anis under Ice 2026 - 41st under-ice diving stage

The 41st edition of the well-known UNDER ICE, the under-ice diving stage organized by the National Association of Diving Instructors – ANIS – could not be missed.
This year again, the beautiful Lake Lavarone, in the province of Trento at over a thousand meters above sea level, will host divers from all training organizations and State Special Forces in a spine-chilling challenge!
The event is scheduled for January 31 and February 1, 2026.

On the ANIS website, it is possible to view the preliminary program and submit the registration form.
For some time now, the event has been the first true occasion of the new year for the entire Italian diving community, allowing participants to expand their experience with dives truly unique in their kind – all in complete safety.
Indeed, this edition will feature great Guests of Honor, such as the world freediving champion Alessia Zecchini. But that’s not all: Luca Da Prato, World Champion in Paralympic swimming and Torchbearer of the Winter Olympics in Cortina-Milan, will also be present. Finally, the welcome return of photojournalist Massimo Sestini is scheduled.
Friend companies producing diving equipment will also be present for free trials, including dry suits, diving lamps, and dive computers.

The event will begin on Friday, January 30, with the cutting of the ice using powerful chainsaws, creating squares of about 2 meters per side on the frozen lake surface.
Later that afternoon, there will be a briefing with the entire staff, particularly the divers from the Coast Guard, the State Police, the Diving Unit of the Guardia di Finanza, and the Local Police of Milan.

On Saturday morning, January 31, participants will attend a theoretical lesson to learn how this type of dive is performed, specifically being tied to a sturdy rope and entering the water in pairs through the pre-cut ice holes.
Divers will explore the lake waters, going under the ice to admire the light effects produced by the frozen surface.

There will also be an underwater performance by the world freediving champion Alessia Zecchini and Luca Da Prato, world champion in Paralympic swimming.
The same athletes will participate in the afternoon conference on Saturday, January 31, in the Lavarone Town Hall Conference Room, where they will share their stories. During the conference, the various State bodies present (State Police divers, Coast Guard diving unit, Guardia di Finanza divers, and the Local Police of Milan) will present their institutional activities to the public.

Finally, there will be a talk by photojournalist Massimo Sestini, who last year had a challenging adventure in Lake Lavarone.
On Sunday morning, February 1, the dives will conclude with the last registered participants.

A special thanks goes to the Alpe Cimbra Tourism Company and the Special Forces present, such as the divers of the State Police, the Guardia di Finanza, and the Coast Guard, as well as to the many Civil Protection volunteers.

These will be days full of intense emotions, amid the beautiful snow-covered mountains of Trentino, with dives open to everyone. Groups, schools, or clubs with at least five participating divers will be awarded.
All information is available on the website: www.anisweb.it

Email: lavarone@anisweb.org
or info@anisweb.org