Diving in Norway: under the blue waters of the fjords lie shipwrecks and killer whales
Just west of Sweden, Norway is a very large area in Northern Europe. Two bodies of salt water, the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea, border it. Norway is rich in spectacular natural scenery, such as fjords formed by mountains that plunge into cold blue waters. This destination makes you really appreciate nature and large spaces. Scuba diving seems to be a given!
Despite the positive influence of the Gulf Stream, the water temperature requires a dry suit to dive. The dives are not really technical. Outside of ice diving, there are three types of diving in Norway that everybody talks about:
- First, you have the opportunity to snorkel with killer whales! This is only possible in winter when these mammals hunt down huge schools of herring along the Norwegian coast.
- Second, you have the metal possibility. We’re referring to the numerous shipwrecks preserved and found in the fjords. Many of them date back to WWII, especially near Gulen and Narvik where the fighting was fierce.
- Third, you can have a rather original experience diving in the crystal clear waters of Lake Lygynstøylsvatnet. In 1908, a landslide led to the gradual flooding of the valley and village that was there and ended up creating this lake.
Apart from the killer whales, you will also find spiny dogfish, wild salmon, seals, and a good number of nudibranchs. If all these types of underwater meetings—a tad lower than normal—and diving amongst huge kelp forests tickle your fancy, then Norway is the diving destination for you!
Diving in Norway: under the blue waters of the fjords lie shipwrecks and killer whales
Just west of Sweden, Norway is a very large area in Northern Europe. Two bodies of salt water, the Norwegian Sea and the North Sea, border it. Norway is rich in spectacular natural scenery, such as fjords formed by mountains that plunge into cold blue waters. This destination makes you really appreciate nature and large spaces. Scuba diving seems to be a given!
Despite the positive influence of the Gulf Stream, the water temperature requires a dry suit to dive. The dives are not really technical. Outside of ice diving, there are three types of diving in Norway that everybody talks about:
- First, you have the opportunity to snorkel with killer whales! This is only possible in winter when these mammals hunt down huge schools of herring along the Norwegian coast.
- Second, you have the metal possibility. We’re referring to the numerous shipwrecks preserved and found in the fjords. Many of them date back to WWII, especially near Gulen and Narvik where the fighting was fierce.
- Third, you can have a rather original experience diving in the crystal clear waters of Lake Lygynstøylsvatnet. In 1908, a landslide led to the gradual flooding of the valley and village that was there and ended up creating this lake.
Apart from the killer whales, you will also find spiny dogfish, wild salmon, seals, and a good number of nudibranchs. If all these types of underwater meetings—a tad lower than normal—and diving amongst huge kelp forests tickle your fancy, then Norway is the diving destination for you!
Diving in Norway: under the blue waters of the fjords lie shipwrecks and killer whales
Just ...