Narvik

[__vader]

Hi,

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the conditions in Narvik around November?
Air, water temperatures on the wrecks? bottom and top (Deco) and if there
is thermoclines etc.

Thanks.

[snuuba]

Quote: (Originally Posted by __vader)

Hi,

Does anyone have first hand knowledge of the conditions in Narvik around November?
Air, water temperatures on the wrecks? bottom and top (Deco) and if there
is thermoclines etc.

Thanks.

I was there mid october 2007. We did only one dive in Narvik, rest of the dives were done on wrecks around Lofoten. Water temperature was around 8-10 C. Horizontal visibility wasn't that good because of particles in the water, maybe 10-20 meters, but vertical visibility was just amazing, especially on the outer wrecks, on one occasion you could see clearly the hull of our support vessel 55 meters above us.

If you plan to drive there, use winter tires, as the mountains are quite high and there might be lots of snow.

[__vader]

Hi,

Quote: (Originally Posted by snuuba)

I was there mid october 2007. We did only one dive in Narvik, rest of the dives were done on wrecks around Lofoten. Water temperature was around 8-10 C. Horizontal visibility wasn't that good because of particles in the water, maybe 10-20 meters, but vertical visibility was just amazing, especially on the outer wrecks, on one occasion you could see clearly the hull of our support vessel 55 meters above us.

If you plan to drive there, use winter tires, as the mountains are quite high and there might be lots of snow.

Thanks for the info, 8-10 C is not so bad.
I just fear the deco, I think its much colder in the shallow part,
some say 2 C.

The plan is set, 2 guys drives a van with all the gear, the rest of us take the train

[snuuba]

Quote: (Originally Posted by __vader)

Hi,
I just fear the deco, I think its much colder in the shallow part,
some say 2 C.

The plan is set, 2 guys drives a van with all the gear, the rest of us take the train

I don't recall much difference in surface & bottom temperatures, surface is definetly not 2 C. That kind of temperature would require ice cover or cold melting waters flowing over the site.

We did upto 60 minutes of deco per dive and I didn't feel too cold, but then again for me 8 C is warm water

[Andreas Rosland]

I have lived in Lofoten from 2005-2007 and you can expect 7-5 C. Except on the shallower parts. Because Narvik is on the mainland and you have fresh water coming down from the mountains. So the temperature near the surface depend very much on air temprature and how much fresh water is coming down form the mountains.

If you are really unlucky you can have -1C on the water surface near land in November. But then you have to be really unlucky and of course near the coast. The gulf steam keep the area ice free all the year. And the water is rarely under 3C. The only month the average air temperature is under zero is february (sealevel).

The viz is brilliant in the winter but it is also very cold on and near the surface. April is maybe the best wreck diving month. It is warmer but the seaweed(?) has not yet ruined the viz. (10m is very bad, 6m is terrible) In 2006 we had 50m wiz in Mars The visibility is also of course dependent on wind and sea. Average visibility is 20-25m

[GLOC]

Quote: (Originally Posted by snuuba)

Horizontal visibility wasn't that good because of particles in the water, maybe 10-20 meters, but vertical visibility was just amazing, especially on the outer wrecks, on one occasion you could see clearly the hull of our support vessel 55 meters above us.

I am so looking forward to the trip in the summer with Rich