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Saltstraumen

Nordland, NorwayDirections
AOW suggested5–26 m depthBoth entry

Saltstraumen at a glance

Saltstraumen is an advanced both dive site in Nordland, Norway with depths of 5–26 m (16–85 ft). The best time to dive is typically Dive strictly within the slack-water window calculated from the Saltstraumen tide tables; year-round but cold (drysuit essential).. Divers commonly see Sea anemone, Sea fans / bubblegum coral, and Atlantic halibut. Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 1h ago
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Tap a factor for its source and model point

Site hazards: Extreme tidal current outside slack - mistiming can be lethal; cold water year-round; whirlpools and down-currents; only a short safe dive window per tide.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

No dive windows in this week’s forecast — no stretch of daylight hours scored favorable or moderate for this site.

First light 3:09 · Sunrise 4:06 · Sunset 17:49

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 30 km from site · graded 1h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Sea anemone, Sea fans / bubblegum coral, Breadcrumb sponge
Best time: Dive strictly within the slack-water window calculated from the Saltstraumen tide tables; year-round but cold (drysuit essential).

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

No seasonal history for this site yet — historical marine data is still being aggregated.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Anarhichas lupus recorded here Jul–Aug (4 records)

    most recent 2014

  • Hippoglossus hippoglossus recorded here Jul–Aug (2 records)

    most recent 2014

Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

The world's strongest tidal current, a narrow strait near Bodo just inside the Arctic Circle where vast volumes of water funnel between fjords through a channel about 255 m wide with a 26 m sill, reaching flows of up to around 20 knots. Diving is possible only in the brief slack window either side of the turn, when divers drift over kelp forests and rock walls coated in sea fans, dead men's fingers, bubblegum coral and sponges. Marine life is exceptional, with huge cod, pollack, halibut and resident wolf-fish among the boulders. This is a cold-water dive demanding precise tidal timing and is unforgiving of mistimed entries.

boatdriftreefshorewall

Extreme tidal current outside slack - mistiming can be lethal; cold water year-round; whirlpools and down-currents; only a short safe dive window per tide.

Reviews

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