Diving

Diving allows you to explore the unknown world.

Finland is the land of a thousand lakes and tens of thousands of islands. The underwater world includes clear groundwater lakes, brown humus-rich waterways, streams and, of course, the Baltic Sea. When you slide into the cool water from smooth shoreline rocks, you often find yourself in a bladder wrack algae meadow. You can see amphipods, juvenile fish and isopods darting between the clusters of algae. An aggressive 5-cm male three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) may bump into your mask while defending its nest.

Underwater photography is challenging but also rewarding, and there are hundreds of ship wrecks on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Spearfishing when diving without compressed air equipment is a demanding activity in which the fisher becomes part of the living environment of their catch. A harpoon is used when spearfishing. This activity requires payment of the fisheries management fee and a lure fishing permit.

Snorkelling is suitable for almost everyone regardless of their age, gender or physical condition. In addition to the basic mask, snorkel and fins, snorkelling requires only moderate swimming skills. Courses are provided by the Finnish Divers’ Association course (sukeltaja.fi), but you can also manage without lessons.

Snorkelling can be done throughout the ice-free season in almost any body of water. Although you can snorkel without a wetsuit, using a neoprene suit in Finland’s cool waters makes the activity safer and more comfortable. The most interesting snorkelling areas are found in coastal waters, where aquatic vegetation and algae grow and young fish, invertebrates and other small bugs thrive.

Snorkelling is safest with a partner or with someone watching the shore. When you go snorkelling, you should take a dry towel and enough warm clothes to ensure that you don’t get cold after leaving the water. Boat routes, harbours and busy boating shores should be avoided because boaters may not notice a person snorkelling in the water.

During the ice-free season, Metsähallitus maintains an underwater nature trail suitable for snorkelling near the shores of Stora Hästö island in the Archipelago Sea. You need to have your own boat or organise, for example, a taxi boat ride in order to get to Stora Hästö.

Scuba diving is a fascinating activity that offers diverse possibilities for observing underwater nature, photography or exploring ship wrecks. Scuba diving is suitable for young people and adults with a normal fitness level who have completed at least a basic scuba diving course. Courses are organised by Finnish Divers’ Association member clubs (sukeltaja.fi).

Scuba diving can be done all year round. Many diving sites can be accessed directly from the beach, but some require a boat. Local diving entrepreneurs and clubs often organise diving trips to the best-known destinations in the area. During the ice-free water season, the best sites for underwater photography are shallow and light-filled vegetation or rocky shores where, for example, bladder wrack algae (Fucus vesiculosus) grow. Winter diving, on the other hand, offers the clearest waters but requires a group of at least three people.

In terms of everyman’s rights, scuba diving is quite comparable to swimming and it is permitted in nearly all waters. There are restricted areas in Archipelago National Park where scuba diving requires a permit from Metsähallitus. A permit is required for scuba diving in Finnish Defence Forces restricted areas (puolustusvoimat.fi). A permit from Metsähallitus is required for any movement within half a nautical mile of rocky islets favoured by seals in the seven seal reserves located on the Finnish coast.

The safety instructions issued by the Finnish Divers’ Association (sukeltaja.fi) must be observed when scuba diving. You must have a partner with you when scuba diving. When you go diving, you should always carry your phone in case of an emergency and inform someone of the dive destination and the time you intend to return. Scuba divers should take out dive insurance (sukeltaja.fi).

You can scuba dive in almost any body of water where diving is allowed, but the most interesting areas include bladder wrack meadows and ship wrecks. During the ice-free season, Metsähallitus maintains one underwater nature trail intended for scuba diving. The trail is located near Stora Hästö Island in the Archipelago Sea.