Getting a diver’s license in Norway usually means earning an internationally recognized scuba certification that proves you can dive safely in our chilly, clear waters. Norway is a cold-water paradise with kelp forests, wrecks, and tidal currents that demand proper training and the right gear. If you are wondering how the process works here, which agencies operate, and what to expect from courses and conditions, this guide lays it out in plain language.
The short answer is that there is no government-issued “diver’s license” for recreational scuba in Norway. You earn a certification from a training agency such as PADI, CMAS, or SSI, and dive centers, clubs, and air-fill stations will ask to see that card before renting gear, guiding you, or filling tanks. If you mean commercial or professional diving, that is different and requires formal vocational training and a medical by an approved diving doctor.
Let’s take a deeper dive into how to get certified, what to expect from Norwegian conditions, and how to keep building your skills once you have that shiny certification card.
What “diver’s license” means in Norway
Outside of professional work, Norway treats scuba as a recreational activity. There is no state-issued recreational diving license. Instead, certification cards from recognized agencies serve as proof of training. Most shops and clubs want to see your certification and may also ask for a recent logbook entry showing cold-water or drysuit experience. For guided trips, operators will often check your recent dive count and comfort level.
The main certification paths
The most common entry-level certifications you will see in Norway are:
PADI Open Water Diver. Offered by many dive centers. It takes you from zero to independently diving with a buddy to a recommended depth of 18 meters. PADI courses in Norway commonly add Drysuit Diver as a combined package since most of our diving is in a drysuit.
CMAS One Star (CMAS).* Often taught through clubs affiliated with Norges Dykkeforbund, the Norwegian Diving Federation. It emphasizes strong fundamentals, buddy skills, and progressive experience. CMAS’s star system continues with Two Star and Three Star for more advanced training.
SSI Open Water Diver. Similar to PADI in scope and recognition, with local centers offering modular e-learning and in-person sessions. Many Norwegian SSI centers also combine drysuit training early.
Any of these entry-level cards are widely accepted for renting equipment, joining club dives, and getting tanks filled in Norway and abroad.
Age, health, and paperwork
Entry ages depend on the agency, typically 10 to 12 for junior certifications with depth limits, and 15 or older for standard adult programs. You will complete a medical questionnaire before training. If you answer “yes” to certain conditions, you will need a physician’s clearance. Even if you tick “no” across the board, cold water diving is physically demanding, so treat the medical form as a serious safety step, not a formality.
Drysuit training and cold-water readiness
This is a big one. Most diving in Norway is in a drysuit, not a wetsuit, especially outside midsummer or in northern regions. Drysuits keep you warm, but they add a second buoyancy bubble and change trim, which affects safety and control. A solid beginner pathway here is:
- Do pool and confined-water sessions in a wetsuit or rental drysuit to dial in buoyancy.
- Complete a Drysuit Diver specialty early, ideally before your first open-water dives.
- Learn weight management for heavier undergarments and steel cylinders commonly used in Scandinavia.
Water temperatures can be 4 to 8 degrees Celsius in winter and spring, often 12 to 16 in summer depending on region. Hands and head protection make a big difference. Use thick wet gloves or dry gloves and a proper hood. Take time to practice valve drills and emergency skills with cold hands, because dexterity drops fast in chilly water.
Where to take your course
You will find training options across the country:
Major cities. Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim, Tromsø, and Bodø have active dive centers that run year-round courses. City centers often have pool access for confined-water sessions, with open-water dives at nearby fjords.
University and local clubs. Norway’s club scene is strong. Clubs provide community, compressor access, and organized shore dives. Many offer CMAS training at affordable rates and are great for building experience with patient mentors.
Northern Norway. For those headed north, centers around Lofoten, Vesterålen, and Tromsø offer training paired with world-class scenery. Expect cooler water and often better visibility, plus tidal planning for currents.
When comparing providers, look at class size, access to a pool, whether drysuit training is included, and how many open-water dives are guaranteed.
What the course looks like and how long it takes
A typical entry-level course runs over two or three weekends or across several evenings plus a weekend of open-water dives. Expect:
Theory. E-learning or classroom sessions covering physics, physiology, equipment, and planning. Norway-based courses usually emphasize cold-water risk management, thermal protection, and navigation in lower visibility.
Confined water. Skills in a pool or sheltered cove, including mask removal and replacement, buoyancy, controlled ascents, and gas-sharing drills. Your instructor should include drysuit orientation here.
Open-water dives. Four to five dives in the sea or a lake, often from shore. You will practice descents on a line, neutral buoyancy, mask skills, navigation, and safety stops. Many centers add a bonus dive once you are comfortable.
Plan buffer time. Weather, swell, or heavy snow can delay sessions. Good instructors will not rush you just to hit a calendar date.
Gear choices for Norwegian conditions
Renting is fine for your first season, especially to experiment with sizing and undergarments. If you plan to dive regularly, buying makes sense in this climate. Priorities:
Drysuit and undergarments. Fit and warmth matter more than brand. Test different underlayers. Many divers prefer wool base layers with a purpose-made insulating mid-layer.
Regulators. Choose cold-water rated regs with environmental sealing to reduce free-flow risk. Local shops know which models handle winter best.
BC or wing. A wing with a backplate is popular for cold-water stability and trim, especially with heavier steel cylinders and thick exposure protection.
Computer. Look for easy-to-read screens in dim fjord light and with thick gloves. If you plan to use Nitrox, ensure your computer supports it.
Small details help. Spring straps on fins, a good hood, dry gloves, and a simple, robust reel or spool will make winter diving much more pleasant.
Costs and how to budget
Prices vary by location, class size, and whether drysuit training and rental are included. A package that combines entry-level certification, drysuit specialty, gear rental for training days, and e-learning is common here. Plan for additional costs if you continue with specialties like Nitrox or Navigation. Buying your own drysuit and regulators is the biggest investment, so many divers rent for a while to confirm preferences.
After your first certification
Norway rewards continued training. Useful next steps:
Drysuit Diver if it was not included in your entry course.
Enriched Air Nitrox for longer bottom times in the 15 to 30 meter range.
Advanced or CMAS Two Star to expand depth, navigation, and night diving skills.
Rescue Diver to become a more self-reliant teammate in the conditions we have here.
Joining a local club keeps costs down and experience up. Club divers head out year-round for shore dives in the Oslofjord, wrecks on the west coast, and kelp forests up north.
Getting air fills and joining the community
Air-fill stations and dive centers will ask to see your certification. Many clubs operate compressors and offer members affordable fills. Some stations request proof of recent experience before filling steel cylinders for those who have not dived cold water in a while. Keeping your logbook up to date and joining regular club dives solves this quickly and builds your local network.
Professional diving is different
If your goal is commercial or scientific work, you are looking at yrkesdykking, which is regulated. That path requires training at an approved school, surface-supplied skills depending on the class, and a medical examination by an approved diving physician. Expect a longer program, strict equipment standards, and on-the-job procedures that go well beyond recreational diving. Recreational certifications like PADI Open Water or CMAS* are not enough for paid commercial work.
Safety, insurance, and seasons
Norway’s diving is beautiful, but it is not tropical. Sensible habits make it safe and enjoyable.
Plan for visibility. Spring algae blooms can lower vis along the coast. Autumn and winter often bring clearer water. Carry a reliable primary light and a backup.
Respect currents. Tidal currents can be strong, especially near narrows and sounds. Plan dives around slack water and listen closely to your guide or club leader during briefings.
Surface signaling. A surface marker buoy and reel are standard. Many shore dives are near boat traffic, and the fjords are busy in summer.
Insurance. Standard travel insurance may limit coverage for scuba. Consider dedicated dive insurance that covers chamber treatment and gear, and check that cold-water diving and drysuit use are included.
Fitness to dive. Stay warm, hydrated, and honest about your energy level. Cold increases gas consumption and fatigue. Shorter, high-quality dives beat long, shivery ones.
Common questions about getting a diver’s license in Norway
Can I learn in Norway as a complete beginner? Yes. Entry-level courses run year-round. Many people start in spring or early autumn when conditions are kindest, but with the right gear and instruction winter courses are absolutely doable.
Do I need to own a drysuit before I start? No. Most centers rent drysuits for training and offer a drysuit specialty during your course. Try rental suits first to learn what fit and features you prefer before buying.
Will my Norwegian certification be accepted abroad? PADI, CMAS, and SSI are globally recognized. Your card from a Norwegian provider is valid in other countries, and your cold-water experience is a bonus when you show your logbook.
How long does it take to finish? Many complete theory, confined-water, and open-water dives over two to three weekends. Weather can add delays, and good instructors will prioritize safety and comfort over calendar speed.
What if I already have warm-water experience? If you are certified from tropical diving, do a drysuit orientation or specialty and a few guided shore dives to get used to buoyancy, weighting, and gloves before joining deeper or current-prone sites.
Earning a diver’s certification in Norway opens the door to a lifetime of kelp forests, playful seals, historic wrecks, and quiet winter afternoons when the fjord is glassy and still. Build your skills step by step, lean on the local community, and choose training that matches the conditions you will actually dive in. With that approach, your “diver’s license” will be more than a card in your wallet. It will be your ticket to some of the most underrated diving in Europe.