Technical diver entering the icy water at Plura, Norway

ZOTZ Expeditions · Finland · Sweden · Norway

Scandinavia 2027

Arctic Cave, Mine & Wreck Diving

March 15–30, 202716 days · 15 nights

Request the expedition brief Explore the route

Flooded mines, Arctic caves and
a deep wreck in Norway.

01 / The expedition

Three countries · Seven environments

Sixteen days beneath Scandinavia.

A 16-day technical expedition through Finland, Sweden and Norway, connecting flooded mines, Arctic caves and a deep WWII wreck for a limited team of experienced overhead divers.

DatesMarch 15–30, 2027

Duration16 days / 15 nights

Countries🇫🇮 Finland · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇳🇴 Norway

Sites7 primary environments

DivingCave · Mine · Deep wreck

ConfigurationCCR · Twinset · Sidemount

WaterApprox. 1–8°C

TeamLimited group · application required

The route

Seven signature sites.

A progressive route through the flooded mines of Finland and Sweden, ending with Arctic caves and a deep wreck in Norway. Every dive remains subject to access, weather, site conditions and the readiness of the team.

🇫🇮 Finland

Montola

Remote mine

A remote, demanding mine reserved for appropriately configured CCR or twinset teams with complete bailout capability.

First-visit limit: 45 m
Low-traffic environment
Full bailout required

🇫🇮 Finland

Ojamo

Limestone mine

Finland’s best-known mine-diving destination, including the celebrated Hell’s Gate area and extensive overhead routes.

First-visit limit: 45 m
Levels begin at 28 m
Water: approx. 4°C

🇸🇪 Sweden

Tuna Hästberg

Flooded iron mine

A vast mine system with preserved artifacts, multiple levels and an unforgettable underground setting.

First-visit limit: 40 m
Water: approx. 4°C
More than 10 km mapped

🇸🇪 Sweden

Långban

Iron & manganese mine

Historic mine passages, strong visibility and layered industrial history create an exacting overhead environment.

First-visit limit: 40 m
Water: approx. 6°C
Initial levels: 21 m and 40 m

🇳🇴 Norway

Plura

Marble cave

A flooded marble cave renowned for clear water, dramatic passage and a unique Arctic surface environment.

Main route: 25–34 m
Water: 1–7°C
450 m to the dry air chamber

🇳🇴 Norway

Litjåga

Freshwater cave

A low-profile cave system whose flow and accessibility can change with rainfall. The final dive plan remains site-dependent.

Average depth: 13–14 m
450 m to an air chamber
Sidemount recommended

🇳🇴 Norway

DS Torgtind

Deep wreck

A WWII-era steamship wreck approached as a technical decompression dive. Any objective below 60 metres requires the appropriate certification.

Maximum depth: approx. 65 m
Shore-based DPV operation
CCR or twinset with stages

🇳🇴

Final Plura Cave dive

Complete the final Plura dive, care for equipment, hold the expedition debrief and close with sauna and a farewell dinner.

Day16

🇳🇴

Departure · Mo i Rana to Oslo

No diving. Breakfast, final gear preparation and transfer from Plura to Mo i Rana Airport. The domestic flight from Mo i Rana to Oslo is included. International departure must respect the required no-fly interval.

Participant profile

Built for experienced divers.

This is an expedition—not a training program or an introduction to cold-water overhead diving. Acceptance is subject to certification, recent experience, configuration and logbook review.

Who is this expedition for?

Divers prepared for long operational days, cold water, technical decompression, team gas and bailout procedures, multiple configurations, overland travel and conservative go/no-go decisions.

Minimum requirements

Full Cave certification from a recognized agency

Technical decompression certification to at least 60 m

Appropriate certification for any objective below 60 m

Documented cold-water overhead experience

Recent experience in the configuration to be used

Deep-wreck experience for DS Torgtind

Strong line, team, gas and bailout procedures

Ability to manage and maintain personal equipment

Certification and logbook review before acceptance

Personal equipment

Drysuit, suitable undergarments and dry gloves

Redundant buoyancy and thermal protection

Primary and backup lights

Complete cave, cutting and safety equipment

Approved CCR, twinset or sidemount configuration

DPV where required by the dive plan

A heated vest is strongly recommended

Operations

Gas, safety and local support.

Gas & consumables

Air, nitrox, oxygen, trimix, helium bailout and scrubber are expected to be available. Air fills are included. All other gases, sorb and consumables are billed separately according to actual use.

Safety framework

Every objective begins with a briefing and go/no-go review covering environment, weather, health, fatigue, thermal protection, equipment, team, gas, bailout, penetration, decompression, support and evacuation. The expedition leader may modify or cancel any dive.

Local operations

Plura Valley supports the Norway segment. Black Duck Diving provides specialized technical and overhead support within the expedition network.

Cave diver moving through a submerged passage

Divers preparing beside the Plura ice entry

Expedition life

Demanding diving. Shared experience.

The journey combines cabin accommodation, vehicle support, communal meals, equipment transfers and sauna culture. It is comfortable and purposeful, but it is not a conventional hotel itinerary: expect early starts, changing conditions and active participation in expedition life.

Accommodation is offered in double occupancy only. Single occupancy is not available.

For non-diving guests

Depending on the final schedule, accompanying guests may enjoy Nordic cabins and saunas, snowshoeing, seasonal dog sledding, Norway cultural visits, the Vasa Museum and Stockholm Old Town, mine tours or via ferrata, Turku, Helsinki and Suomenlinna.

Optional activities are not included unless they appear in the confirmed itinerary and may carry an additional cost.

What is covered

Clear inclusions. Clear expectations.

Included

15 nights in double occupancy

Domestic flights Stockholm–Hemavan and Mo i Rana–Oslo

Scheduled airport and ground transfers

Ground transfers Hemavan–Plura and Plura–Mo i Rana Airport

Vehicle and equipment transport

Overnight Turku–Stockholm ferry in a shared cabin

Scheduled diving program and site fees

Surface and logistical support

Required cylinders and air fills

Scheduled group meals, except during transit

Vasa Museum and confirmed cultural visits

ZOTZ expedition leadership

Not included

International flights to Helsinki and from Oslo

Pre- and post-expedition lodging

Personal dive equipment and rentals

Nitrox, oxygen, helium, trimix, scrubber and other consumables

Excess baggage fees

Meals during transit

Meals, drinks or dining selected independently

Optional activities not confirmed in the final itinerary

Travel, cancellation and diving-accident insurance

Personal, medical, rescue and evacuation expenses

Bank, card, currency and transfer fees

Expedition price

Reserve your place.

All prices are in US dollars and based exclusively on double occupancy.

Diver

^USD 7,500per person · double occupancy

Non-diver

^USD 6,500per person · double occupancy

Deposit

^USD 3,000per person · wire transfer or cash

Payment schedule

The balance is due January 15, 2027: USD 4,500 for divers and USD 3,500 for non-divers. A reservation is confirmed only after the deposit has been received and, for divers, participation has been approved. Airline tickets are non-refundable once issued.

Booking conditions

Cancellation, changes and insurance.

Before January 15, 2027

Payments may be refunded or transferred, less any issued airfare and applicable bank or currency charges.

On or after January 15, 2027

A USD 500 cancellation fee applies, plus issued airfare and any airline change or cancellation fees. The remaining balance is refunded after these deductions.

Participant substitutions

Substitutions require ZOTZ approval and remain subject to supplier and airline conditions. The participant is responsible for all resulting charges.

Mandatory insurance

Travel cancellation and interruption coverage, medical evacuation coverage and diving-accident insurance are mandatory.

The route, schedule and individual dives may change due to safety, weather, access, environmental conditions or team readiness.

Scandinavia 2027

Ready to dive beneath Scandinavia?

Request the complete expedition brief, participation requirements, current availability and your booking proposal.

Request the brief Apply for a place

Limited team · participation subject to review

Published expedition experience · Ricardo Castillo.

Read his polar-diving article in InDEPTH ↗