Oslofjord
Diving around Oslo
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Sure, diving in Oslofjord is not as beautiful as in other parts of Norway, but there is many inetersting dive sites that are within half hour drive from the capital and offer many different experiences, from wrecks to scenic dives, lakes and even an underwater sculpture park. Here is a list of some dive sites that can be easily explored from the shore.
Diving Conditions
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Water Temperatures: in winter drop to 2-3°C, in summer up to 15°C on surface, below 5m usually around 8-9°C
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Visibility: Generally best in winter (January-February), in summer first 5m are very poor (about 2m) because of the algae bloom, but clears up at depth (about 10-15m) although it can be quite dark.
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Current: most places have very little or no current, the speed can be checked at yr.no (under coastal weather)
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Type of Bottom: in most places sandy/silty with some rock walls
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WIldlife: Sandy areas have lots crabs of different species, sea stars, flat fish, in rocky areas it is more varied with anemones, sponges, sea-squirts, fish and lobsters hiding in the cracks. In winter you can find lots nudibranches of different species and sizes. Autumn is very rich in comb jellies.
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Dive Sites
Botnerbaugen, Larkollen
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°20'46"N 10°39'38"E
Location: Larkollen
Depth: up to 30m
Type of bottom: sandy, rock wall/ledges
Interests: shore dive
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Description: Scenic dive off a very nice public beach. Swim out about 50m (its just flat sandy bottom) to be in line with the rocky peninsula. There you can find a rocky wall/ ledges, follow it in westerly direction. At each ledge you find different life, including dead man fingers, anemones (25-30m) and many species if crabs (hermit, edible, spider).
Drøbak - Helikopterplassen
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°39'46.41"N, 10°37'32.54"E
Location: Drøbak
Depth: up to 30m
Type of bottom: sandy, rocky wall
Interests:
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Description: Very nice dive site, right next to small marina in Drøbak. There is plenty of parking and public toilets. Enter to the right from the rocky pier. Follow the sandy bottom down to about 20m-30m. There is lots of life, including anemones, sea cucumbers, flat fish. As it is close to marina in summer months its a good idea to have dSMB up. Also do not use the pontoon and ladder on the right belonging to University of Oslo marine station (grumpy people will tell you off).
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Siggi V
Drøbak - Pumpehuset
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°39'33.06"N 10°37'45.40"E
Location: Drøbak
Depth: 5-60m
Current: sometimes a bit of current
Type of bottom: sandy, wall
Interests: Scenic dive, shore dive
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Description: We did not dive this spot yet, but its very close to the other site in Drøbak, with good parking and very easy access through a shallow bay. It is mean to have a lot of life and especially on boulders in the shallower parts.
Geir-Finn wreck
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59 ° 43 '36 "N, 10 ° 43' 50" E
Location: Nesset
Depth: 5-20m
Type of bottom: sandy
Interests: Shore dive, Wreck dive
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Description: This dive site is still on our wishlist. The wreck is located very close to land in Bonnefjorden right of the E6 road. It can be found just below the bridge/bus stop, approximately 5m from the shore. It stands at a depth of 4 to 20 meters and is well intact, the mast apparently used to be visible from shore.
Hulvika
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59° 32'43.1952"N, 10°39'24.4836" E
Location: Hulvika
Depth: 5-40m
Type of bottom: sandy
Interests: Shore dive
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Description: This site is about 100m from the parking lot, there are toilets and nice hikes along the coast with some nice camping spots. The dive per se is not extremely exciting. Especially within the bay, which is sandy with rocky walls. So it is worth to follow the west wall and go out of the bay as the rocks here have much more life.
Knatvoldstranda, Hurum
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°31'13.94"N, 10°28'25.12"E
Location: Oslofjord
Depth: up to 50m
Type of bottom: sandy slope, some rocks
Interests: Scenic dive, shore dive,
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Description: This dive site is interesting in late October/November when its squid season (usually they stay very deep and only in autumn come shallower to reproduce). You can see some baby squids during a night dive in this place. Other than that it is a sandy bottom slope, with lots of hermit crabs, more life on the rocks on the right side. To get here follow signs for the camping place, you can park next to some huts on the right side of the camping. The road is private and therefore paid.
Lutvann
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°55'3.22"N, 10°52'55.14"E
Location: Oslo
Depth: up to 50m
Type of bottom: silt
Interests: Scenic dive, shore dive, freshwater
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Description: This is a dive in a lake in the Oslo area, that requires little bit of determination and stamina. The nearest parking is in Lutvannsveien opposite the primary school and from there you need to hike little over 1km to the actual dive site. (There is a bench half way to take a break). The most interesting place is if you enter through a little beach further along the shore of the lake. You can see lots of fallen trees underwater which make the scenery very interesting. There is also fish in the lake but not that easy to spot.
ProDykk, Fjellstrand
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°31'13.94"N, 10°28'25.12"E
Location: Fjellstrand
Depth: up to 30m
Type of bottom: rocks
Interests: Shore dive, Wreck dives
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Description: ProDykk is a dive shop close to Oslo, where you can get fills, buy stuff, with a small cafe and heated changing rooms. There are several wrecks at different depths all reachable from the shore (map is available in the shop). They also have a rib and over the weekends organize trips to other local sites. There are also several training platforms.
Sculpture park - Sjøholmen
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°53'29.4"N 10°32'28.6"E
Location: Sandvika
Depth: up to 8m
Type of bottom: silt
Interests: shore dive, underwater sculpture park
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Description: Underwater sculpture park installed by Jason Taylor two years ago. Shallow and protected bay, popular for swimming in summer and freezes in winter, which makes it a nice spot for ice-diving. To get to the statues you need to swim out to the platform with a sculpture on it and drop down from there. There are 12 sculptures underwater organized in a circle so they are relatively easy to find. They look little bit creepy since some are suspended and look like drowned people. Fun fact, in summer some swimmers did not know that they were installed there and thought these are actually bodies of some drowned children and called emergency services. There is parking and a cafe/gallery nearby.
Sjøstrand - Vollen
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°47'47"N 10°29'54"E
Location: Vollen
Depth: up to 20m
Type of bottom: mud
Interests: shore dive, scenic dive
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Description: This site is quite popular for many divers from the Oslo area, especially for training, although we still have not figured out why as it is not very interesting. There is easy access through the sandy bay, slowly sloping down, with only some crabs and starfish to see. There is a wall to the northeast of the pier (some divers jump in directly from the pier) that is meant to be more exciting. There is good parking and heated toilets that are open also in winter.
Søndre Spro
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°45'15.894"N 10°34'58.0188"E
Location: Nesodden
Depth: up to 40m
Type of bottom: sandy, rock wall/ledges
Interests: shore dive
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Description: Scenic dive off a concrete pontoon. Access in and out of the water via step ladders. At the steps the water is about 3-5m and it very gently shelves until it reaches a small 2m ledge, which then continues to gently slope. If you swim straight out at about 14-17m there is a small wreck. The bottom is silty with big boulders covered in life (anemones, dead man's fingers, etc). This is a very good spot for nudibranchs especially during the peak season (March-May). There are no facilities just parking on the pontoon. Not far after the dive, it is worth going to see Spro mine.
Songsvann
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°58'13"N 10°43'37"E
Location: Oslo
Depth: up to 5m
Type of bottom: silt
Interests: shore dive, lake dive
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Description: Songsvann is a popular spot for Sunday strolls and swimming in summer. It is very shallow (max depth 5m) with silty bottom and not much to see. Firefighters do their ice diving training here in winter. The only advantage is that it is close and you can take a metro to the dive site.
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Storsand
Diving Conditions:
GPS: 59°38'35.67"N 10°36'24.46"E
Location: Storsand
Depth: up to 20m
Type of bottom: rocky wall
Interests: shore dive, scenic dive
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Description: Very nice dive site, with lots of life. Park at the left side of the little marina and enter through the beach. Continue along the wall to the left. There is plenty of life hiding in the rocks. Lots of fish and squidgy things, resident lobster at 15m. At around 20m there are big boulders sitting in the sand, with one side completely covered in white tunicates. To the right of the beach is sandy slope with lots of crabs etc but not very interesting. Nearby parking lot next to the restaurant has also heated toilets.
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Logistics
There are multiple dive shops around Oslo where you can fill tanks or rent equipment including:
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Fjords Underwater Explorers (FUE) in city center: www.fue.no
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ProDykk in Fjellstrand: www.prodykkoslo.no
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Oslofjorden Dykkesenter in Fornebu: www.ofds.no
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