Diving in Norway

[Michael Moore]

Can anyone recommend a decent dive centre as I am looking to organise a dive holiday next year in Norway.

Either a land based centre or liveaboard, am aware we would probably have to fly to Norway, but would be grateful if anyone could offer any pointers/ suggestions.

Thanks in advance

Michael Moore

[Adrian Kelland]

Can anyone recommend a decent dive centre as I am looking to organise a dive holiday next year in Norway.

Either a land based centre or liveaboard, am aware we would probably have to fly to Norway, but would be grateful if anyone could offer any pointers/ suggestions.

Thanks in advance

Michael Moore

I don't know of any dive centres, but 'Jane R' does summer trips over there. Pick up in Norway.

It is possible to be shore based, there is plenty for a week in the Narvik/Harstad area.

Narvik also has a w/e dive festival around the end of August (last year it was our bank holiday w/e).

Bit of info here <a href="http://www.divernet.com/travel2/supp04/norway.shtml" >http://www.divernet.com/travel2/supp04/norway.shtml</a>

Frank Bang is a local diver to Narvik who might be able to help if you want to go shore based.

Be warned, Norway is very expensive, but you may already know that ;-)

HTH,

Adrian

[Matt Duke]

www.gulen-dykkesenter.com are a top choice. Great for a mix of wreck and scenic diving.

Most notable wrecks being:

Ferndale & Parat:
<a href="http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?topic=385.0" >http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?topic=385.0</a>

Frankenwald:
<a href="http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?topic=384.0" >http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?topic=384.0</a>

If you don't want to use the local dive centers then Jane R and Gaelic Rose do the summer season, (The latter doing every other season)

For a good deal of info on diving in Norway try:

www.diving-in-norway.com
<a href="http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rascarsbrook/Norway/" >http://homepage.ntlworld.com/rascarsbrook/Norway/</a>

To "Ask the locals" you can post on a visitor forum for english speakers here:

<a href="http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?language=english" >http://www.diving-in-norway.com/snakk/index.php?language=english</a>

Look for the section "Information for visitors" at the bottom.

Cheers

Matt
Bergen, Norway

[richard scarsbrook]

The British liveaboards Gaelic Rose <a href="http://www.gaelicrose.com/" >http://www.gaelicrose.com/</a> and Jane R <a href="http://www.divescotland.uk.com" >http://www.divescotland.uk.com</a> are your best bet, and cheapest. Both boats are in Norway at the moment, and both are doing Norway next summer. There's also a Swedish liveaboard, Galten, in Narvik <a href="http://www.narvikdykaventyr.nu" >http://www.narvikdykaventyr.nu</a>. I think there are Norwegian ones in Lofoten (Lofodykk) and Alesund also. The British ones are both good, and the cheapest way to dive Norway. The Swedish boat is reasonable as well for the trips based in Narvik, but pricey if you wish to travel further afield. The Norwegian operations are very expensive. I've also used a Norwegian shore-based setup in the Arctic, which was OK but again very expensive.

There's good diving all the way up the west coast (I've dived from Stavanger up to Narvik) but most people I know who've been to both Narvik and north of Bergen feel that north of Bergen is best - some of the wrecks there are world class.

You can fly from the UK to the major coastal towns: Stavanger, Haugesund, Bergen, Trondheim, Bodo, Narvik/Harstad etc. This usually involves more than one flight. You can also get a ferry from Newcastle to Bergen. Flight/ferry costs are similar - about ?200 - to Bergen, more further north (Norway has a very long coastline - Narvik is 1000 miles north of Bergen). It's practical to drive or get the fast ferry to go up to a hundred miles or so north of Bergen, but not much further. You can also get a train from Stockholm to Narvik for about ?130 return.