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.
7 operators
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
