Hvaler and Fredrikstad sit within Ytre Hvaler, Norway's first marine national park, where roughly ninety-six percent of the protected area lies underwater. The coastline of the Oslofjord archipelago offers reef walls, drift dives, wrecks, and a freshwater lake site, covering a wide range of site types within a compact area. The Tisler cold-water coral reef, one of the largest of its kind in Europe, lies within the park. Sites suit beginners through to intermediate divers, with shore and boat access both available, and operators spread across nearby towns including Sandefjord and Tønsberg.
Monthly water temperature across Hvaler & Fredrikstad's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures stay close to freezing through winter and rise slowly, peaking in late summer before dropping again through autumn. A drysuit is practical for most of the year; summer months offer the most comfortable conditions for those new to cold-water diving.
10 operators
Water temperature around Hvaler & Fredrikstad ranges from about 4°C in February to 14°C in September, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 14°C) a 7mm or semi-dry suit is comfortable in Hvaler & Fredrikstad; in the coldest months (about 4°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 9 sites in Hvaler & Fredrikstad (9 scuba diving sites).
Across Hvaler & Fredrikstad's dive sites, June, July and August are most often reported as the best months to visit.
3 more sites to explore
