Arendal and Tvedestrand sit on the Skagerrak coast of southern Norway, and the sites here are reef and wall dives in open ocean conditions. Water temperatures swing more than elsewhere in Norway, cold in winter and reaching their warmest in late summer, making this one of the milder diving areas in the country. Visibility can be good, with reports reaching up to twenty-four metres. Sites range from shallow beginner reefs such as Bjorøy and Vrakvika to the deeper walls of Helvetessundet and Olavsgapet, with both shore and boat access available. Recorded species include harbour seal, conger eel, catshark, sharpnose sevengill shark, and bobtail squid.
Monthly water temperature across Arendal & Tvedestrand's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water is coldest from late winter into spring and warmest in late summer. The seasonal swing is pronounced, and a drysuit is advisable outside the summer months. Diving is possible year-round, and the warmer summer temperatures make this one of the more accessible periods for visiting divers.
5 operators
Arendal, Norway
Norway
Water temperature around Arendal & Tvedestrand ranges from about 5°C in February to 14°C in August, 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 Arendal & Tvedestrand; in the coldest months (about 5°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 8 sites in Arendal & Tvedestrand (8 scuba diving sites).
5 more sites to explore
