NORWAY
BLACKWATER

This tour combines the autumnal beauty of
Scandinavian nature with exciting night dives
and encounters with bizarre marine life.

When the days get shorter in autumn and the arctic polar night approaches, creatures from another world can be seen in the deep fjords of Norway. They migrate to the surface of the water from inaccessible depths.

During the day we explore different dive sites, such as kelp forest, steep walls and wrecks. When night falls, however, we pay full attention to the small and sometimes extremely bizarre larvae, shrimps, squids and other creatures that are attracted by the light of the lamps. Some of the dives take place from the boat and over water depths of several hundred meters, while on other nights we dive directly from the coast. Therefore, we not only have the opportunity to discover a wide variety of species, but also get impressions of the different habitats at night.

A tour where there is still a lot to discover and we continue to do pioneering work, as there was no organized diving expedition of this kind in the far north before. A must for every ambitious macro photographer!

Price per person

2.850 Euro

Highlights

Different dive sites by day and night
Deep sea species at depths of 0-30 meters
Rarely photographed macro creatures
Shipwrecks, steep walls, kelp forests
Autumn landscapes (Indian summer)
Tips and tricks for underwater photography upon request
Northern lights possible
Moose, white tailed eagles and whales possible
Typical norwegian/local dinner – Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for vegans!

Tour dates

2024

Services

Tour price INCLUDES the following services:

Airport transfer from/to Trondheim (TRD)
Local transfers during the trip
Accommodation in twin rooms (single rooms free of charge, if available!)
All boat dives and dives from land (incl. cylinders/tanks, air, and weights)
Trips and excursions on land
Breakfast, dinner and non-alcoholic beverages during the trip
English-speaking support
Travel planning assistance

Tour price EXCLUDES the following services:

Getting here/flights (incl. possible overnight stopovers)
Single room (if available: see above)
Activities that are not included in the itinerary
Alcoholic beverages
Entrance fees (e.g. museums)
Personal expenses such as souvenirs & tips
Gratuities
Insurances
All services that are not listed as included here

Arrival

Tour schedule

Day 1: Arrival

Flight from home airport to destination airport Trondheim (TRD). Airport pick up. Moving into the accommodation. Dinner.

Day 2: Diving in the fjord

After breakfast we prepare the diving equipment and do the first dives in the close range. Night dives are scheduled every day starting today. Dinner. Night dive in front of the pier/entry from land 0-20 meters.

Day 3: Wreck or steep face?

Today is a wreck or a steep face in the fjord on the program. There are many fish and other sea creatures on the wreck, while the wall is particularly impressive and with anemones. Dinner. Night dive at the entrance to the fjord. We set down a drifting rig with lamps attached. The light attracts many pelagic organisms.

Day 4: Underwater cliffs

Second day of diving in the fjord. Today we dive underwater cliffs and mixed bottom to explore the animal life here. On request, we can also dive another exciting wreck. It is completely overgrown with peacock feather worms. Dinner. Today’s night dive takes place in a bay in which we have placed a bait during the day. Let’s get surprised which fish, crabs and lobsters were attracted and explore the area around.

Day 5: Exploring the coast

Today it is time to explore the coast. Within a few minutes by boat, we can reach extensive kelp forests and deep canyons and often enjoy first-class visibility. Dinner. Night dive from the boat or from land, as the group wants.

Day 6: Diving at the coast

We would like to explore the coast and the underwater world here again during the day. There are different places to choose from and in the group, we can decide which dive site we want to visit. Dinner. Night dive from the boat at an exposed spot off the coast (depending on the weather) or an alternative.

Day 7: Day on land

Depending on the departure time, a dive is possible during day time. Then we dry and pack the equipment. We use the afternoon/evening for a lecture or look at photos taken in the last days. Together we can also identify the species that have been photographed, which often is not easy as there are so far only a few underwater images of many species. Dinner.

Day 8: Departure day

Transfer to airport and end of tour.

Weather

Late summer and fall are a period of transition into the Scandinavian winter. It is very difficult to forecast weather conditions. First snow on the mountains is possible, as well as “warm” summer temperatures. On average we expect 0 to 4°C (32 to 40°F) at night and 6 to 12°C (43 to 54°F) during the day. Along the coast it is slightly warmer than inland. We have to expect wind and rain. From October on, daylight time decreases noticeably every day.

Tour members must bring their own warm and weather-resistant clothing and shoes.

Please transport all sensitive equipment such as cameras in water-resistant and shock-resistant bags or cases. All participants are responsible for their equipment for the entire duration of their journey!

Tips

The national language is Norwegian. Most people understand and speak English well.
The currency is the Norwegian Krone (NOK). Prices are high. Credit cards (especially VISA) are generally accepted. Customers are very often asked for a PIN. Currency conversion rates vary on a daily basis. Roughly, 1 € = 10 NOK, 1 £ = 11 to 12 NOK and 1 US$ = 9 NOK.
The time zone is Central European Time (GMT + 1).
Visa requirements vary by nationality. No visa is required for visitors from the EU or the US.
Electric appliances use standard European voltage (230 V) and plugs (types C and F).
Norwegian custom regulations must be respected, particularly with regard to tobacco and alcohol.
We strongly recommend complete insurance coverage (travel cancellation insurance, diving accident insurance, international health insurance, possibly also baggage insurance and camera equipment insurance).

Are you interested in an expedition with us?

Inquire now

COVID-19 travel information

The worldwide COVID-19 situation is changing constantly, some countries are opening up for tourism again while others may remain closed for months. Of course, this makes a booking a bit different. In case your trip has been effected, we will inform you. The impact of COVID-19 is a concern to everyone in the travel industry, including us and our local partners. We are working hard to avoid negative effects for your journey as good as possible.

The Covid-19 protection measures are different per destination. Approximately 30 days prior to departure at the latest, we will have a good idea whether a trip will be cancelled or not. Then we will contact you from the moment we have more information.

What happens if my trip with Northern Explorers gets cancelled?

In case we need to cancel your trip due to COVID-19 measures, you can rebook your trip to the next year. Your deposit will be transferred to the trip, and we will send you a new invoice reflecting your new dates. We will inform you about the options to cancel or change your booking.

What happens if the journey can’t take place due to corona measures?

If the trip can’t take place due to corona measures, there are two options:

1. The travel date will be postponed to a date in 2022.
2. The trip will be cancelled by us and you will receive a voucher to use for booking a new trip.

If you cancel the trip yourself, our normal cancellation policy applies. Please note that additional products (e.g. flights, hotels and other excursions) are excluded from above conditions.

How does Northern Explorers handle preventive and hygiene measures during the trip?

The safety and well-being of our guests and crew continues to be our top priority. We are in regular exchange with our partners regarding regular updates about the specific measures that will be taken to ensure your health and safety.

Do you have a risk-free booking policy?

All existing and new bookings for our 2021 season, will be free to rebook to 2022 season at no costs in case Northern Explorers need to cancel the trips due to the corona virus measures.

What procedures have you put in place for snorkelling activities?

To ensure your health and safety during our snorkelling activities, we recommend to bring your own snorkelling set for use during the trip. All guests keep the same rental equipment (e.g. dry suit) during their entire stay.

Do I need travel insurance?

We always strongly recommend complete insurance coverage (travel cancellation insurance, diving accident insurance, international health insurance, possibly also baggage insurance and camera equipment insurance) also in case of a COVID-19 infection (medical expenses, evacuation, and other expenses).

Important information - diving

The dives take place from the boat and partly from land. Currents are rare. Some dives take place in the dark. The dives in general do not take place deeper than 30 meters/90 feet. Swell is possible off the coast and also in the fjord.

Diving cylinders DIN, steel, double valve, 200 bar, 10, 12 and 15 liters are available. The water temperature is around 8 to 12°C in the fjords and off the coast. We recommend using a dry suit for all dives.

A diving torch should be carried on every dive. When diving at night, it is also mandatory to carry a backup lamp!

Picture galleries

Blackwater

NORWAY
BLACKWATER

Highlights

2024

Are you interested in an expedition with us?

Picture galleries

Northern Explorers AS

Destinations

NORWAY BLACKWATER

Highlights

2024

Are you interested in an expedition with us?

Picture galleries

Northern Explorers AS

Destinations

NORWAY
BLACKWATER