Faroe Islands · Faroe Islands · Reef · Sand slope
Shores at Tjørnuvík
Rock fissures near the end of the Tjørnuvík jetty
Photo: Simaron · CC BY-SA 2.0
A shore dive off the jetty in the village of Tjørnuvík, in a bay whose seabed is clearly split into sandy and stony ground. Visit Faroe Islands lists it as one of the archipelago's named diving spots, with 3 to 12 metres of water and seaweed growing over sandy bedrock. Catfish, edible crabs and monkfish are the usual finds.
Also known as Tjørnuvík.
Where it is and how deep
62.2936° N, 7.1465° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Everything starts at the jetty, which is where you park and where you kit up. The dive is done on the northern side of the bay, and the ground under you changes as you go: the bay is clearly divided into areas of sandy and stony seabed, with seaweed growing over the sandy bedrock. Depths run between 3 and 12 metres, so this is a long shallow dive rather than one built around a limit.
Follow the northern side round towards the end of the jetty, where fissures cut into the rock — the most structured part of an otherwise open site, and worth working slowly. Visibility is generally good and often around 10 metres, enough to read the shape of the bay instead of navigating feature to feature. Catfish, edible crabs and monkfish are all realistic sightings; look into the fissures and along the stony ground for them.
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season | Off-season |
Season follows Faroe Islands: May–Sep is the practical season; North Atlantic weather closes the islands for days at a time even in midsummer.
Know before you go
- Diving is not advisable during heavy swells because of the strong currents that come with them; check the sea state before committing to the entry.
- In swells it is not possible to land at the slipway. The fallback exit is over the stone area at the jetty further west, so plan it before you get in.
Photos from Shores at Tjørnuvík
Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0
Questions divers ask
How deep is the dive at Tjørnuvík?+
Visit Faroe Islands gives a depth of between 3 and 12 metres, so the whole site sits well inside recreational limits and the dive is limited by cold and gas rather than by depth.
Can Tjørnuvík be dived from shore?+
Yes. You park at the jetty and enter there, diving the northern side of the bay. In swells the slipway is unusable for landing, but you can come ashore over the stone area at the jetty further west.
What can you see at Tjørnuvík?+
Sandy bedrock with seaweed, a stony half to the bay and fissures in the rock near the end of the jetty. There is a good chance of seeing catfish, edible crabs and monkfish.
Sources
- Shores at Tjørnuvík — Visit Faroe Islands
- Diving in the Faroe Islands — Visit Faroe Islands
Photo credits
- Dark volcanic sand beach at Tjørnuvík with waves rolling in under a cloudy sky by Simaron, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Openverse
- The village of Tjørnuvík in a green valley with waterfalls, beside its dark sand beach by Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Steep green valley opening onto Tjørnuvík's beach and bay, seen from the approach road by Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Rocky, stone-strewn beach at Tjørnuvík with a sea stack visible in the distance by Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- Wetsuit thickness by water temperatureGear & kit · 11 min read
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- Cold-water diving: is it worth the drysuit?Cold water · 8 min read
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