Kristiansand lies on Norway's southernmost coast in North Sea waters, and its diving is notable for variety: the site list includes wrecks, reefs, and an artificial reef, with depths ranging from very shallow to well beyond recreational limits. The Dornier DO-24, a Second World War German flying boat resting upright on the seabed, is one of the more distinctive dives in southern Norway. The MV Seattle reaches deep enough to be advanced-only, while shallower reef sites suit beginners. Water is cool rather than freezing in summer and cold in winter, with a drysuit appropriate for most of the year. Diving infrastructure is well established, with several operators based in the area.
Monthly water temperature across Kristiansand's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Summer temperatures are cool, climbing to around twelve or thirteen degrees at their highest in autumn, while winter sees them drop to around five degrees. A drysuit is the practical choice for most of the year. Operators run primarily from April to September, though the sites themselves are accessible outside those months.
Water temperature around Kristiansand ranges from about 5°C in February to 12°C in October, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 12°C) a 7mm or semi-dry suit is comfortable in Kristiansand; in the coldest months (about 5°C) step up to a drysuit.
Fin maps 8 sites in Kristiansand (8 scuba diving sites).
3 more sites to explore
