Country

Diving in Norway

9 dive destinations in Norway, up to 2,060 km apart. Water temperature across them runs -2 to 22 °C. 7 of 9 are in season in September. 35 named dive sites have their own pages.

Oslofjord — Nesodden & Fornebu · photo Vidar A from Gozo, Malta

Destinations: 9
Dive sites: 35
Water: -2 to 22°C
Most in season: September

RegionCold Water

Where are the dive destinations in Norway?

1SvalbardJun–Aug
2SkjervøyNov–Jan
3NarvikJun–Aug
4Lofoten IslandsJun–Aug
5SaltstraumenMay–Sep
6Skarnsundet & the Trondheim FjordSep–Oct
7Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean RoadJun–Sep
8Gulen & the SognefjordJun–Jul
9OslofjordSep–Mar

Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Norway
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	SvalbardIce diving and Arctic kelp walls from an expedition ship at 78° north	Jun–Aug	-2 to 6°C	5–25 m	5–25 m	Advanced	Liveaboard	4
2	Skjervøy — Orca MigrationSnorkel alongside orca pods hunting herring baitballs in Arctic fjords	Nov–Jan	4–13°C	10–20 m	2–12 m	Intermediate	Day boat	—
3	NarvikA German destroyer's bow rises to 10 m where she was run aground in 1940	Jun–Aug	3–12°C	10–30 m	10–45 m	Advancedsites from intermediate to advanced	Shore, Day boat	3
4	Lofoten IslandsWell-preserved wrecks and anemone-carpeted walls above the Arctic Circle	Jun–Aug	5–12°C	—	to 20 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat	3
5	SaltstraumenDive the slack-tide window of the world's strongest maelstrom	May–Sep	4–14°C	5–15 m	5–30 m	Advanced	Shore, Day boat	1
6	Skarnsundet & the Trondheim FjordCold-water coral walls within nitrox range of the surface	Sep–Oct	4–12°C	5–15 m	10–40 m	Advanced	Shore, Day boat	5
7	Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean RoadRavines, kelp and drop-offs beside the Atlantic Ocean Road	Jun–Sep	5–17°C	—	4–25 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	6
8	Gulen & the SognefjordOver 30 well-preserved wrecks at the mouth of Norway's Sognefjord	Jun–Jul	6–22°C	15–35 m	6–30 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Day boat, Shore	6
9	Oslofjord — Nesodden & FornebuFive popular wrecks at Svestad Brygge, a ferry ride from Oslo	Sep–Mar	3–18°C	2–25 m	10–30 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore	7

When is the best time to dive Norway?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in September: 7 of 9. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Norway
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1Svalbard	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season
2Skjervøy	Prime	Fair	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Prime	Prime
3Narvik	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Off-season	Off-season
4Lofoten Islands	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good
5Saltstraumen	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Off-season
6Skarnsundet & the Trondheim Fjord	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Good	Good
7Kristiansund & the Atlantic Ocean Road	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good
8Gulen & the Sognefjord	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
9Oslofjord	Prime	Prime	Prime	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime
Good or prime	6	5	5	5	5	6	6	6	7	5	5	6

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.

179 km end to end

In season together: Apr–Aug