Is Narvik & Lofoten good for beginner divers?

Yes, partly: 4 of the 12 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Diether von Roeder (Framnesodden), Hans Lüdemann (Rombaksbotn) and Junkers Ju 52 (Hartvikvatnet). The others need more experience or a higher certification.

What is the water temperature in Narvik & Lofoten?

The water is usually between 2 °C and 15 °C over the year.

What marine life can you see in Narvik & Lofoten?

Divers regularly see saithe, crustaceans, starfish and urchins, nudibranchs, anemones and cod.

Narvik & Lofoten

Diving in Norway

12 documented dive sites, 4 of them for Open Water divers. Known for saithe, crustaceans and starfish and urchins.

Best months: Jul–Aug
Water: 2–15 °C
Levels: Open Water, Advanced, Experienced, Technical
Nearest airport: EVE

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

Narvik & Lofoten in October

Good season

Air: 6 °C; 2 °C at night
Rain: 200 mm; one of the wettest months
Wind: 8 km/h; on average

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Lofoten Diving (Ballstad) is open all year but runs only one dive daily 1 Nov–31 May; summer is the most popular season and July–August has the richest flora and fauna (Visit Lofoten). Winter offers visibility up to 40 m but water of 2–6 °C, and a drysuit is recommended. No source says diving stops in any month.

Source: visitlofoten.com

Dive sites in Narvik & Lofoten

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

Open Water friendly

usual dive down to 18 m4 sites

Wreck

down to 18 m

Diether von Roeder (Framnesodden)

WWII destroyer wreck near Narvik lying at 10–18 m, the shallowest of its neighbours Anton Schmidt and Wilhelm Heidkamp.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 15 m

Hans Lüdemann (Rombaksbotn)

WWII wreck near Narvik lying at 12–15 m, close to the Wolfgang Zenker and Bernd von Arnim wrecks.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 9 m

Junkers Ju 52 (Hartvikvatnet)

A Second World War Junkers 52 plane lying quite intact at 2–9 m in Hartvikvannet, about 3 miles from Narvik.

Open Water

Wreck

down to 16 m

Wolfgang Zenker (Rombaksbotn)

WWII wreck near Narvik lying at a shallow 10–16 m.

Open Water

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m3 sites

Wreck

down to 24 m

Wilhelm Heidkamp (Framnesodden)

Middle of three destroyers moved to Framnesodden in 1964; she sits on her keel with her stern blown off.

Advanced

Wreck

down to 27 m

Anton Schmitt (Framnesodden)

Destroyer leaning on her starboard side about 7 m from the Wilhelm Heidkamp.

Advanced

Wall

down to 20 m

Nusfjord Wall

A steep rock face opposite Nusfjord harbour carpeted with Dahlia anemones from half a metre down to almost 20 m.

Advanced
Anemones

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m4 sites

Wreck

down to 40 m

MV Gudrun Gisladottir (Ballstad)

A 71 m Icelandic trawler lost off Ballstad in 2002, in even better condition than the Hadsel and lying between 27 and 40 m.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 45 m

Georg Thiele (Rombaksfjord)

A 1940 Battle of Narvik destroyer that broke in two and capsized, now one of the most popular dive sites in Narvik.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 42 m

Hermann Künne (Herjangsfjord)

Destroyer wreck starting at the low-water line, described as a fine subject for photography with many fish living in and around it.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 40 m

MV Hadsel (Reine)

Passenger ship lost near Reine in 1958, standing almost upright on a flat sandy bottom at around 40 m.

Experienced
Jellyfish

Technical and specialty dives

1 site

Wreck

down to 50 m

D/S Nordstjernen (Raftsundet)

Passenger steamer lost in 1954 at the north end of Raftsundet, counted among the finest wrecks on the Norwegian coast.

Technical

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Saithe
Crustaceans
Starfish and urchins
Nudibranchs
Anemones
Cod
Jellyfish
Minke whales
Orcas
Seals
Halibut
Wolffish

Where is Narvik & Lofoten?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Narvik Municipality (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Nearest airport: EVE

Narvik & Lofoten: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Narvik & Lofoten?: The best months to dive Narvik & Lofoten are Jul–Aug. Lofoten Diving (Ballstad) is open all year but runs only one dive daily 1 Nov–31 May; summer is the most popular season and July–August has the richest flora and fauna (Visit Lofoten). Winter offers visibility up to 40 m but water of 2–6 °C, and a drysuit is recommended. No source says diving stops in any month.
Is Narvik & Lofoten good for beginner divers?: Yes, partly: 4 of the 12 dive sites we document are suited to Open Water divers, including Diether von Roeder (Framnesodden), Hans Lüdemann (Rombaksbotn) and Junkers Ju 52 (Hartvikvatnet). The others need more experience or a higher certification.
What is the water temperature in Narvik & Lofoten?: The water is usually between 2 °C and 15 °C over the year.
What marine life can you see in Narvik & Lofoten?: Divers regularly see saithe, crustaceans, starfish and urchins, nudibranchs, anemones and cod.
How do you dive Narvik & Lofoten?: The nearest airport is EVE.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash