Saltstraumen in Norway, located at the northern end of the Coastal Route (Kystriksveien) and about 30 minutes from Bodø’s city center. This place is known worldwide for its powerful whirlpools and is considered the world’s strongest tidal current. When the tide turns and flows in and out between the fjords, spectacular maelstroms are created in Saltstraumen. The nutrient-rich water that is pushed up from the depths also creates a unique fauna and a wonderful rich marine life.
The most incredible time to witness Saltstraumen is around the new or full moon. During these phases, the tidal difference can reach up to three meters, magnifying the natural force on display. With the currents at their strongest, it’s truly a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience.
Freediving in Saltstraumen has been one of my most extraordinary underwater experience. Here you can expect large schools of pollock, huge cods, halibut and the wolffish. I spent a lot of time simply watching the kelp forests sway in the current and admiring the beautiful nudibranchs. There is so much to discover in these rich waters. The strong currents make freediving here quite challenging, so it’s important to plan your dive carefully at the right time.
Although we brought our spearguns, hoping to find halibut and large cod, we were well aware of the local ban on spearfishing for wolffish. Shooting wolffish is strictly prohibited, and breaking this rule can land you in serious trouble with the locals.
How To Plan Your Freediving in Saltstraumen
If you are traveling to Norway by flight, you can book your ticket to Bodø, which is the nearest airport to Saltstraumen. From there, it’s just a 30-minute drive to the Saltstraumen bridge. I highly recommend renting a car to make your trip more flexible and easy to plan.
Diving and Camera Equipment
We visited Saltstraumen in the summer, where the surface water temperature ranges between 10-12°C (50-54°F). All of us were freediving with 5mm wetsuits and stayed in the water for almost 3 hours. So, I’d recommend at least a 5mm wetsuit with gloves and socks. If you have a 7mm, even better!
For this dive, I used the Insta360 Ace Pro to capture all my underwater footage. Despite the water’s low visibility, the results were surprisingly clear. Thanks to its AI correction system, there was no greenish tint, and I didn’t have to edit the videos afterward. Plus, the camera’s compact and lightweight design made it easy to handle in the strong currents.
Click here to check out the videos!
If you are thinking of buying any of the Insta360 products on their website, I do have a discount link for you. Or you can insert my discount code: INRZ3I9 at the check out page.
Important Timetable for Planning Your Freediving in Saltstraumen
Here’s a link where you can check the tidal schedule. ‘Flo’ means high tide, and the water is flowing from the ocean inland. ‘Snur’ is when the current changes direction, and ‘Fjære’ means low tide, when the water is going out back to the ocean.
If you’re diving on the north side of the bridge, plan to start your dive during ‘Flo’ and just before ‘Snur.’ On the south side, begin your dive during ‘Fjære’ and just before ‘Snur.’ For example, if you’re planning a 1-hour dive from the north side, start your dive during ‘Flo,’ around 30 minutes before ‘Snur.
We normally start our dive about 45 minutes before “Snur”. And slowly make our way toward the Saltstraumen bridge. We stop roughly 200 meters from the bridge and wait there until the current shifts. Once it turns, we ride the current back to the starting point.
If at any point the current feels too strong, try kicking your fins to slow down or swimming closer to the rocks for a break. If you’re feeling exhausted, you can even rest on the rocks for a few minutes. Overall, Saltstraumen is a pretty safe dive site as long as you time your dive correctly and maintain good communication with your buddy.
Freediving Spots in Saltstraumen
We explored three different dive locations in Saltstraumen, each offering something unique and exciting to discover:
This is my personal favorite. You can park here, and then walk down to the bay to enter the water. The bay is sheltered from the current, which makes it a great choice for your first dive. Start your dive during the time of “Flo” before “Snur”. As you swim out a bit, you can gauge how strong the current is. If it feels too strong, you can simply return to the bay, wait a while, and try again.
This spot is on the opposite side of the water. You can park your car here and enter the water directly from the shore. Start your dive during ‘Flo’ and just before ‘Snur.’
Park your car here. Since this is on the other side of the bridge, you will need to start your dive during ‘Fjære,’ no more than 45 minutes before ‘Snur.’ After ‘Snur,’ go with the current and dive back.
Of course, you can also dive from the opposite side of the third site. Just find a parking spot on Google Maps and experience it for yourself. The most important thing is to strictly follow the timetable and plan your dive around it.
My Final Thoughts
Freediving in Saltstraumen, the world’s strongest tidal current, is truly one-of-a-kind. There are also excellent spearfishing and diving spots around the area! During our 10-day stay, we spearfished every day and only ate what we caught from the ocean. Those meals were some of the best I’ve ever had, especially knowing they came from my own efforts. Keep in mind that spearfishing for wolffish in Saltstraumen is prohibited.
If you have any questions about diving in this area, feel free to DM me on Instagram—I’d be happy to help!
