Arctic expedition cruise routes and itineraries
The Arctic covers an enormous geographical area, and understanding the many different expedition ...
Scuba diving in the
ArcticThe Arctic covers a vast area of sea, ice and land within the Arctic Circle - a frontier like no other, defined by the polar night and midnight sun. This spectacular region offers visitors the chance to experience unique landscapes and cultures, exciting outdoor adventure activities, and impressive wildlife, and enjoy perfect isolation.
Diving Highlights
- One of the world’s most remote and rarely visited regions
- Home to isolated Inuit communities with traditional cultures
- Spot Arctic foxes, reindeer, muskox, and polar bears
- Sail through fjords, past glaciers, and between icebergs
- Dive among icebergs, ice floes and kelp forests
The Arctic extends from the North Pole over sea ice and open ocean towards the northern fringes of Europe, Asia, and North America - a vast area defined by the polar night in winter, and midnight sun in summer. With the Arctic Ocean at its heart, the region also includes the surrounding frigid seas, and touches a total of eight countries – namely Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, and the United States. Unlike its southern counterpart, the Arctic has no central landmass of its own and is not considered a continent.
The Arctic is a frontier wilderness like no other, with much of it left entirely to nature. For visitors, this guarantees unmatched adventure amongst pristine scenery and encounters with hardy species and seasonal wildlife, as well as the opportunity to visit the world’s northernmost communities. What’s more, experiences in the Arctic are remarkably diverse. Landscapes vary from black volcanic beaches to blue glaciers and pure-white tundra, inviting all sorts of activities including climbing, skiing, dog-sledding, kayaking, and even scuba diving.
Top Arctic experiences
May to September
Spot polar bears patrolling the ice
The Svalbard Archipelago is one of the best places in the world to spot polar bears in their natural habitat, with the north and east of the archipelago often offering the most reliable sightings.
May to September
Witness herds of wild reindeer and muskox
Greenland’s Northeast National Park is home to around 40% of the world’s muskox population, while herds of wild reindeer roam the west coast.
July to September
Scuba dive in the world’s largest fjord
Scuba dive beneath the surface of the planet’s largest fjord system, Scoresby Sund, situated on Greenland’s eastern coast.
May to September
Explore the wildlife capital of the Arctic
Nicknamed the “ wildlife capital of the Arctic”, the Svalbard Archipelago is home to diverse birdlife, seals and whales, and land mammals such as Arctic foxes, reindeer, and polar bears.
June to September
Watch icebergs being formed at Ilulissat Icefjord
Located on Greeland’s west coast, the UNESCO World Heritage Ilulissat Icefjord is home to the Arctic’s largest glacier, making it one of the best places in the world to witness glacier calving.
May to September
Dive polar kelp forests
The shallow kelp forests of the Svalbard Archipelago are home to an abundance of interesting macro life, from mussels, shrimp, and crabs to amphipods, jellies, sea angels.
Seasons
Expedition cruises rarely visit the Arctic during the winter months of October through March simply because the frigid temperatures, darkness, and solid sea ice makes travel extremely difficult. But during the summer months of May through to September, daylight dominates and temperatures climb to make life, and travel, a lot more comfortable. At this time, the Arctic is a place of unparalleled beauty and unbridled adventure, as some of the more remote and rarely-visited areas become accessible and the region explodes with an abundance of wildlife.
