Silistria Shoal - Alaska

Austgavlen, just outside Stavanger, is one of those sites that always surprises us, even if the general vibe of a cold water dive isn’t for everyone. It's a shore dive, straightforward entry, usually calm enough to make suiting up on the rocks a relatively easy affair. What we love here is the sheer density of green sea urchins, scattered across the rocky bottom like forgotten emeralds, and those curious light-bulb sea squirts clinging to every surface. They’re a real delight to find. Keep an eye out for haddock; they’re often lurking in the kelp, watching you with those big, solemn eyes. Visibility can vary, but we’ve had some cracking days where it stretches to 15 metres, revealing whole beds of blue mussels just waiting to be explored. It’s not a deep dive, making it ideal for longer bottom times, and we find it’s a brilliant spot for photographers who want to focus on macro life without battling strong currents. It’s certainly not a tropical reef, but for a taste of Norway’s genuinely unique underwater world, Austgavlen is our pick.

Location

Alaska, United States, North America

Coordinates

51.249733, -127.937670

Type

pinnacle