Lofoten Islands

Norway

Arctic archipelago in Nordland known for cold-water walls, kelp forests and wrecks, warmed by the Gulf Stream despite its location above the Arctic Circle.

In the Lofoten Islands, granite walls drop into blue-green water broken by kelp ridges; Gulf Stream-warmed currents support soft corals and abundant fish including cod, pollock, halibut and wolffish. Water temperature ranges from under 5 to about 15 degrees Celsius in summer, with visibility up to 20-30 m. Notable sites include the 'Grand Canyon' kelp passage, the Ballstad canyons, and the wreck D/S Nordstjernen. Dive centres operate out of Ballstad, Svolvaer and Reine. Source: Underwater Atlas, Scuba Diver Life.