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Lyngstøylsvatnet, a place that had been on our "to-dive list" for some time. It captured our imagination. Some websites describe it as the Atlantis of the north or the flooded village in Norway. While that is a rich exaggeration, it is definitely a flooded valley. Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet is a very special experience. We have returned there twice now during a round trip through Norway and find it definitely worth the beautiful drive as well as the cold dive.

In 1908, the river running through the beautiful Nordangsdalen valley was blocked by rocks due to a landslide. The valley and also the access road and summer farm, flooded, creating the present lake Lyngstøylsvatnet.

Diving in flooded village Norway

Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet in brief

Where is it located?
This Norwegian lake is located in the Norwegian province of Møre og Romsdal. Over seven hours' drive from Oslo. The scenery along road Fv655 through the mountains is beautiful, with the fjords never far away. A great route if you are making a round trip through Norway.

How deep is it?
The lake is not very deep, 9 to 10 metres, but it is 150 metres above sea level. If you take a tour, you might pass over higher mountain passes. So even though it's not that high to have to watch out for after your dive, it's a good idea to check how high you'll get any further that day.

How is the visibility?
Depending on the weather, between 2/3 metres to as much as 40 metres. We encountered visibility of around 10 metres the times we dived there (mid-summer).

And the temperature of the water?
Cold! We were diving in the middle of summer and our dive computer indicated 10 degrees. A thick wetsuit or dry suit is definitely recommended.

What does it cost to dive in this Norwegian lake?
It's free.

Can you fill tanks there?
No, there is nothing around this area.
We arrived with full tanks, filled in Oslo or in Bergen. Perhaps there are other options nearby, perhaps through a diving club or something similar.

Also useful to know
There are no facilities or toilets at the lake.

Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet Norway
Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet, a Norwegian flooded village

What will you see while diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet?

The bright blue of the water and the bright green of the freshwater algae are super beautiful. You swim past stacked walls and across the road that ran through the valley before the flood.
There is a place where you can swim under the road, where there used to be a little stone bridge. The trees have become ghostly groves, with trout now swimming between them.
To the left of the boarding you will find the flooded summer farm. They are quite shallow, just 2 or 3 metres and it is very messy. Still, fun to swim over at the end of your dive.

Diving in Norwegian mountain lake Lyngstoylsvatnet

Parking, access and navigation

Park along the edge of the road, next to an information board and a spring grid. The entrance to the water is right next to it. A small path to a stretch of pebbly beach. You can see it right away. After you have entered the water, you can follow the stone wall to about 5/6 metres.
At the end of the wall, you come across the old road. You can then choose to follow the road to the left (north) or to the right (south).
On the right, you can see the bush and the little bridge you can swim under. On the left, you see more stone walls and the flooded huts. We saw the most fish on the left side during the times we dived in this lake, but of course that could be a coincidence.

Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet, a mountain lake in Norway
Diving in Lyngstoylsvatnet, a mountain lake in Norway

Other activities

It is also fun to hike in this area, for example the mountain Slogen, a short drive away. Kayaking on the lake might be fun for fellow travellers who are not into diving. The lake is not very big, so if you want a bit more of a challenge you can paddle on the fjords a little further away.

Where to stay?

We travel around in an RV and at this lake there is room for wild camping. You can park in the car park by the spring grid. It is a quiet road, but there is occasional traffic at night especially early in the morning.
On the south side of the lake is a nice spot for a couple of small tents and our small camper fitted there too.
The spring grid indicates that there must be cattle somewhere, so you may be visited by curious cows. We did not meet them.

Diving in a Norwegian mountain lake, flooded village
Our campingspot
Diving in a Norwegian mountain lake, flooded village
Diving in Norwegian mountain lake Lyngstoylsvatnet
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