Diving in Lofoten Islands

Explore 94 dive sites in Lofoten Islands, Norway. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Marine Life in Lofoten Islands

Home to 17 recorded species including 12 reef fish, 3 sharks & rays, 1 crabs & lobsters, 1 clams & mussels.

Dive Site Difficulty in Lofoten Islands

Lofoten Islands has 1 beginner, 9 intermediate, 1 expert dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Marine Protected Areas in Lofoten Islands

  • Karlsøyvær - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skogvoll - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Bliksvær - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Målselvutløpet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Eggøya - Wildlife Conservation Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Grunnfør - Wildlife Conservation Area (IUCN Category IV)
  • Gimsøymyrene - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Laugen - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Skittenskarvholman - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Grindøysundet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Grunnvågvatn - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Gullesfjordbotn - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Håkøybotn - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Kobbevågen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Lakselvbukt - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Nordkjosbotn - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Sørkjosleira - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Seinesodden - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skognesvågen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Bliksvær - Zoological Protection of Species (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Karlsøyvær - Zoological Protection of Species (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Åholmen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Vikosen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skålsvikleira/Ystleira - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Tverlandet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Nyke - Tussen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Dyngeneset - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skansenøyra - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Grunnfjorden - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Fjære - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Støttværet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Fugløya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Nupen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Leirvika - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Øya/Langholmen - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Ljønesøya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Fuglbergøya/Nautøya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Brennvika - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Brunvær - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Steinslandsosen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Steinosen/Sjømyrpollen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Tiltvika - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skjelstad - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Engelvær - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Svellingsflaket - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Nykan - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Måstadfjellet - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Borgværet - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Eggum - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Æsholman - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Oddan - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Lofotodden - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Ramnholmen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Måstadfjellet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Laukvikøyene - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Røstøyan - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Risøysundet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Hundholmen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Anda - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Osen/Sandværet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Tjeldneset - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Forfjorden - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Sauøya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Floholman - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Sørmela - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Borgværet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Stø/Nyksund - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Hovsflesa - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Bleiksøya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Frugga - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Nykvåg/Nykan - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Hongværet/Galtholmen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Seløya - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Ulvøyværet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Gåsøya/Geitholmen - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Leirpollen-Halsvatnet - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Hekkingen - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Bergsøyan - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Lemmingvær - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Håja-Røssholmen - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Froholman - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Steinavær - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Holmenvær - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category IV)
  • Auvær - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Gapøyholman - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Sjunkhatten - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Balsfjord Wetland System - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Bliksvær - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Karlsøyvær - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Skogvoll - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Målselvutløpet - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Røstøyan - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Måstadfjellet - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Laukvikøyene - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Anda - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ib)
  • Grunnfjorden - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Risøysundet - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Ia)
  • Saltstraumen - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Saltstraumen - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Lofotodden - National Park (IUCN Category II)
  • Rystraumen - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Rossfjordstraumen - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Karlsøyfjorden - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Kaldvågfjorden og Innhavet - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Auvær - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Tjeldneset - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Brunvær - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Fjære - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Øya/Langholmen - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Bleiksøya - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Karlsøyvær - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Steinslandsosen og Steinslandsvatnet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Engelvær - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Støttværet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Osen/Sandværet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Ulvøyværet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Gåsøya/Geitholmen - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Gimsøymyrene - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Risøysundet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Stø/Nyksund - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Æsholman - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Tverlandet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Målselvutløpet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Grindøysundet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Håja-Røssholmen - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Røstøyan og Nykan - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Bliksvær - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sørkjosleira - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Skogvoll - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sjunkhatten - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Leirvika - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Nordkjosbotn - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Dyngeneset - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Måstadfjellet - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)
  • Sørmela - Emerald Network (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Lofoten Islands - Nearest Airports

  • Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE), Evenes - 38 km away, approx 57 min travel time
  • Bodø Airport (BOO), Bodø - 134 km away, approx 162 min travel time
  • Tromsø Airport (TOS), Tromsø - 193 km away, approx 226 min travel time

Dive Sites

Dive Centres

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the typical water conditions and visibility for scuba diving in the Lofoten Islands?
The Lofoten Islands offer unique Arctic diving conditions, characterized by cold water. While specific visibility numbers are not provided in the data, divers can expect the typical characteristics of cold-water environments. The region is also known for its extensive kelp forests, which thrive in these conditions.
What kind of marine life can divers expect to see in the Lofoten Islands, particularly unique species or highlights?
Divers exploring the Lofoten Islands can anticipate encounters with fascinating Arctic marine life. The area is renowned for its extensive kelp forests, providing a rich habitat for various species. A significant highlight for winter divers is the chance to witness majestic orca encounters, alongside sightings of sea eagles. For more information on species, visit our marine life database.
Are there any notable wreck dives or specific natural dive sites recommended in the Lofoten Islands?
The Lofoten Islands are a wreck diver's paradise, boasting 92 dive sites, many of which are historical wrecks. Notable wreck dives include the Z19 Herrman Kunne, HMS Hunter, and the Z2 Georg Thiele, all offering intermediate-level exploration. For natural sites, divers can explore reefs like Akkarvika or experience the thrilling drift dive at Moskstraumen.
What is the best time of year to go diving in the Lofoten Islands, considering seasonal variations, water temperature, and marine life encounters?
The best time to dive in the Lofoten Islands depends on your diving interests. Summer offers the unique experience of 24-hour diving under the midnight sun, maximizing your time underwater. Winter is ideal for those hoping for incredible orca encounters, adding a thrilling dimension to your dive trip. For more seasonal insights, check our when to dive guide.
What level of diving experience is required for scuba diving in the Lofoten Islands, and are there options for beginners?
Scuba diving in the Lofoten Islands generally requires an intermediate level of diving experience, as indicated by the listed dive sites. While specific beginner options are not detailed in the provided data, divers should be comfortable with cold-water conditions and potentially challenging environments. It's advisable to consult one of the 14 local dive centres for suitable courses or guided experiences.
How do divers typically travel to and around the Lofoten Islands to access dive regions and sites?
Information regarding typical travel methods to and around the Lofoten Islands for accessing dive regions and sites is not provided in the current data context. Divers planning a trip should research local transportation options, which often include ferries, rental cars, or organized tours from one of the 14 dive centres.
What are the average water temperatures in the Lofoten Islands throughout the year, and what type of exposure suit is generally recommended?
While specific average water temperatures for the Lofoten Islands are not detailed in the provided data, the region is characterized by Arctic diving conditions. This typically implies cold water, necessitating appropriate thermal protection. Divers should generally prepare for cold-water diving, likely requiring a dry suit or a very thick wetsuit, along with suitable equipment for comfort and safety.
Beyond kelp forests, what unique underwater landscapes or geological formations can divers explore in the Lofoten Islands?
Beyond the extensive kelp forests, divers in the Lofoten Islands can explore various underwater landscapes, including numerous reef formations. Sites like Akkarvika, Nusfjord, and Raftsundet offer diverse reef environments. Additionally, the region features unique conditions such as the thrilling drift dive at Moskstraumen, providing a different type of underwater experience.