Photo: Aleksander Nordahl, ettpust.com
In recent years, more and more people have discovered the joy of freediving and underwater hunting in Norway. For many, it is a welcome break from everyday life that offers intense nature experiences. And what could be better than combining this with short-traveled delicacies that you harvest yourself from the sea?
Underwater hunting is the art of catching fish with a harpoon using only the air you have in your own lungs. This has become a popular hobby in recent years, and many have opened their eyes to the fantastic freediving conditions along the Norwegian coast. In Norway, the ocean's rainforest lies just below the surface, a rich kelp forest with a bustling life and a great diversity of species. With the kelp forest in shallow water, you don't need to dive deep or long to succeed as an underwater hunter.
5 quick things that make us love underwater hunting
- Intense nature experiences
- Calmness and presence in a completely new world
- Mastering something unique
- A break from competitive society
- Fresh seafood on the table
Get started - equipment and courses
Many freedivers appreciate good seafood; fresh fish, shellfish and crabs. Short-traveled Sylph raw materials from our own coast. The Norwegian waters are so lush and rich in fish that the opportunities lie well.
Hunting technique
When hunting fish with a harpoon, it's all about getting as close to the fish as possible. The underwater hunter moves silently under water. All movements are as calm as possible. The fish must not be frightened. Being calm is also energy-saving for you.
You can run prospecting or waiting hunting. When hunting in wait, you lie down on a rock or in seaweed in fish-rich areas and wait for the fish to swim past. When scouting, you sweep over larger areas and try to get onto the fish before it moves away. When you get to know an area, you eventually know where the fish are, where there are good hiding places for you as a hunter, and where it is wise to go into the water. Read more in this article about Hunting Techniques . 
Photo: Michael Byø.
Underwater hunting (UV hunting) is about picking up a nice ling or cod for dinner, while exploring nature underwater. The old traditional culture of sharing the catch and fishing is maintained by many in the freediving community, and there are many family members, neighbors or friends who have the pleasure of knowing a UV hunter who delivers fresh seafood to their door.
Some underwater hunters also dream of the big catch , this usually comes with experience, when you know the fish's haunts and the technique is correct. These hunters like to hunt larger fish in tidal currents. See more big catches here.
The most common species for underwater hunting in Norway are cod, lyre, pollock, sole, catfish and halibut . Underwater hunting is a selective form of hunting fish. You only spear the fish you want to take home for dinner. Download the Recreational Fishing app from the Directorate of Fisheries to stay up to date on conservation and minimum size regulations.
Download the Recreational Fishing App for Android
Download the Recreational Fishing App for iOS
Underwater hunting all year round
The two main seasons for underwater hunting are spring and autumn. Then large shoals of small pollock gather which graze in shallow water, and this attracts larger predatory fish such as cod and ling. These are the two most common pelagic (swimming) fish species for UV hunting.
Summer is also a great time for underwater hunting , and it is easy to spend many hours in the sea, but when the water is warm the biggest fish tend to move to deeper water. This is the time for breadth in the catch. In summer, the sea is bustling with life, and you can catch red flounder, flounder, flounder and other flounder species, and gather scallops. 
With a net attached to the buoy, you can pick crabs and shells. A starter of scallops tastes lovely, and fresh mussels for the fish soup definitely elevates the dinner (remember to check the mussel warning).
In winter, the temperature in the sea drops, but that does not keep the UV hunter on land. The tight-fitting and warm suits mean that you can free dive all year round.
In winter, the water is completely crystal clear and it can offer great nature experiences. You can see far and spot scallops from the surface. As the sun sets early, it is also an excellent time to test out night diving. During the day in the winter months you rarely see large fish, but in the dark the sea comes to life. It is not uncommon to find cod and flounder resting in shallow water, and you can pick up crabs. With a light on the harpoon, night dives offer a great opportunity for hunting in winter.
Watch the magnificent film Saltstraumen - Underwater Hunter's Paradise