A Diving Experience Like No Other.
Dive among the most incredible ice formations in the world with the best and only Canadian Arctic dive operator. The ultimate Arctic dive experience at the only dive camp of its kind in the world. Immerse yourself in a world of icebergs, drifting pack ice, the Arctic sea floor and fascinating wildlife including narwhal, bowhead whales and polar bears, under the glow of the 24-hour sun.
Enter a world unlike anything you have ever imagined. The intriguing ice formations along with the fascinating wildlife you may encounter above and below water will leave you feeling exhilarated and surprised. With each passing day, your dives only get better.
Beyond Expectations.
The spring floe edge is a fascinating eco-system where wildlife thrives.
You may see pods of narwhal resting only meters from the floe edge, their misty breath sparkling in the 24-hour sun. This location also provides opportunities to see polar bears, a number of seal species plus bowhead and beluga whales that are occasionally in this area.
Arctic Kingdom has been leading scuba diving, rebreather diving, free diving and snorkeling trips trips throughout the Arctic since 1999. We are committed to making the Arctic an accessible diving destination. As cold-water experts, we can help you become comfortable in the Arctic waters so you can truly enjoy one of our favourite dive locations.
Dive Safari Highlights
- Dive in the most incredible ice formations found anywhere on the planet – pack ice, cracks, the Arctic sea floor.
- Dive under the light of the midnight sun, and possibly near grounded icebergs.
- Potential of viewing wildlife at the floe edge during their annual migration, including narwhal, bowhead whales, and polar bears.
- Stay in our Tented Safari Camp on the sea ice
- Possibly of icebergs to get that once in a lifetime picture.
REQUIRED DIVING CERTIFICATIONS
- If you have your Advanced Open Water PADI certification, Ice Diving certificate and your Dry suit Specialty, or equivalencies, you are good to go!
Suggested Itinerary
Discover a magical underwater world while diving in the Arctic while following a program of progressive dives. We may start off with simple dives in an open water environment off the floe edge and finish the trip with diving a grounded iceberg. Diving in the Arctic Ocean in a drysuit will require more weight than you are normally accustomed to, so we will inspect your equipment and ensure all is functioning correctly and that you are weighted for neutral buoyancy. Each dive will progressively build on the previous dive.
As we evaluate your diving comfort, we will attempt to dive in an overhead environment, perhaps through a seal hole, or through a crack in the sea ice, or maybe even under the floe edge on a line. Finally, the pinnacle of diving in the Arctic will be on a grounded iceberg. (Subject to local conditions: An iceberg must be present and a safe entry/exit point such as a crack or melt-water pool must be available)
Day 1
Upon landing in Iqaluit, you will continue your travel a selected desstion on Baffin island that coincides with the season and ice conditions. After arriving, you will be welcomed by your Expedition Leader and meet your Inuit guides and travel to our Arctic Safari Camp by qamutik (a traditional Inuit wooden sled pulled behind a snowmobile), where you will experience the exhilaration of gliding across the ice.
The journey’s time will vary depending on ice conditions but will include tea and coffee stops on the way to our Arctic Safari Camp.
*NOTE: Please prepare and hold onto a day pack with warm clothes for travelling to the Arctic Safari Camp because luggage will be inaccessible until arriving at the Camp.
Day 2-6
Spend the next few days reveling in some of the best diving you’ll ever experience. Following a program of progressive dives, you’ll enjoy new experiences every day as you become more comfortable with this unique underwater environment. Explore the Arctic sea floor and discover urchins, starfish, and glittering jellyfish.
Witness the surreal world of blue and turquoise ice juxtaposed with the black depths below. This is an underwater photographer’s paradise. Above the water and on land, you’ll experience other spectacular scenes and exciting adventures. Expect to see icebergs, ‘bergy- bits’, and drifting pack ice with playful seals poking their heads up out of the water to look directly at you.
On the floe-edge, you will have the opportunity to see narwhals, bowhead, and polar bears on the prowl, seals sunning themselves, possibly walrus and beluga, and other Arctic wildlife.
Day 7&8
DAY 7
After breakfast, depart camp by qamutik and snowmobile back to the local airport and fly to Iqaluit and spend your final night at local hotel. Enjoy dinner, followed by a special Inuit cultural show.
DAY 8
After breakfast, there will be an optional town tour or explore Iqaluit on your own. Then depart for Ottawa with the spirit of the Arctic, and a full photo album of memories and friendships.
Discover Canada's High Arctic
The High Arctic of Baffin Island, a breathtaking region nestled within the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is known for its rugged landscapes, towering fjords, and ice-capped mountains. This remote wilderness captivates adventurers and nature lovers alike with its pristine beauty and extreme environment. Home to a remarkable array of wildlife, including polar bears, arctic foxes, and migratory seabirds, the High Arctic provides a unique habitat that draws researchers and photographers eager to document the region's untouched ecosystems. Baffin Island’s High Arctic is also a land steeped in Indigenous history and Inuit culture, where traditional ways of life blend harmoniously with the natural environment. In this land of endless summer daylight and long winter nights, Inuit communities thrive, maintaining their rich cultural heritage while adapting to the challenges of life in the Arctic. For visitors, experiencing this remote part of Baffin Island offers a rare glimpse into both the breathtaking landscapes and resilient cultures that define the heart of the Arctic.
FLOE EDGE DIVING
Dive off the edge of the floe edge – the “line of life”. This dive will be similar to a shore dive, yet we are on a crust of 6-foot thick ice over the Arctic Ocean. Travel by snowmobile and qamutik to the floe edge and set up dive operations to dive under the ice or in open water. There may occasionally be pack ice that comes against the floe edge and can provide for interesting and different diving conditions and otherwise is sea ice and open water
Experience your first Arctic dive by dropping off the edge and seeing far under the ice. With visibility anywhere from 30 to 90 meters (100 to 300 feet) horizontal, this will be a memorable first dive.
PACK ICE DIVING
Every day at the floe edge is different. Pack ice, bits of floating ice anywhere from the size of a football to the size of a football field, come and go against the floe edge with the currents and shifting winds. One day the floe edge can be completely open water, mirror smooth reflecting the wispy clouds and mountains all around.
Other days, the currents will bring in the ice. This allows for incredible ice diving opportunities. Divers will find a dynamic play of light and shadow amongst the cathedral-like spires of ice that have been pushed up against one another.
See Mother Nature’s greatest works of art from under the ice. Surreal, sublime, amazing to photograph, and breathtakingly beautiful.
LEADS ‘CRACK’ DIVING
The sea ice, though stable, will have cracks that form at stress points. These cracks are typically very stable once they have formed. . Leads can open and close with the tides but larger ones to a lesser extent and even closing ones close slowly. We will only dive in a crack that has remained open for quite some time
Diving through a crack allows opportunities to access walls, the sea floor, and other interesting dive sites. The play of light through a long crack from below as we dive amongst pillows of shore ice is a memorable experience. These dives are considered an overhead environment and we will ensure you are attached to the surface with a line.
All signals between diver and line tender are practiced in advanced and necessary on all dive. To dive through 8 feet of ice on either side of you, opening a world below illuminated by a long beam of bright sunlight will feel incredible.
ICEBERG DIVING
Arctic Kingdom has pioneered diving on grounded, frozen-in icebergs. Diving on an iceberg can only be done safely in the Arctic on a grounded iceberg. These icebergs are calved from glaciers in nearby Devon Island or Greenland. The icebergs have grounded in anywhere from 30 to 150 meters (100 to 500 feet) of water. The sea ice has frozen around the icebergs and in some cases, we are able to find either melt-water pools that we can dive through or a crack that has formed to permit access.
Our most seasoned Arctic divers have stated that diving on an iceberg was the most incredible dive they have ever experienced. You may see icebergs towering overhead by a hundred feet or more. Remember, this is literally just the “tip of the iceberg”. Down below, the icebergs drop hundreds of more feet.
DIVING MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST A LIFETIME
Diving through a crack will be one of the most memorable dives you’ll ever experience. The golf-ball dimpled icebergs will dwarf all divers and seem impossibly large. From underneath the sea ice, the plays of thinner ice, to melt-water pools, and a spider web of cracks that emanate from the iceberg will make you feel like you have entered an alien world. You’ll find it hard to believe that this is actually real – until you look at your pictures afterwards.
TENTED SAFRI BASE CAMP
Our tented safari camp will be positioned on the sea ice near the selected dive site. The sleep tents are large and spacious at just over 2m (6’9”) tall and an interior of 13.378m2 (144 sq. feet). They include a large entrance vestibule, ample standing room and space for all your cameras and luggage. All sleep tents contain two twin beds with mattresses, duvets, comforters, and full-size pillows. Your camp experience will include a heated arctic oven tent on the ice with double occupancy. There is one tent per departure capable of accommodating a family of 4 persons. Each tent will also have it’s own small pop-up tent with a camp toilet for personal use. However, there will also be a heated shared bathroom tent and shared shower facility.
Unlike other camps, Arctic Kingdom has a 1:2 ratio of staff to guests.
Featured at the camp will be a large dining tent facility where you will enjoy the comfort of warm gourmet cuisine prepared for you by first-class chefs. Meals will be provided at the camp and during daily excursions to the floe edge.
SAFARI CAMP FEATURES
- Large and spacious dining/lounge area and 24-hour snack and drinks buffet
- Shared washroom facility with on-demand hot water showers
- Set up on ice
IS THIS ADVENTURE FOR YOU?
This safari is perfect for anyone looking for an Arctic diving adventure. Things won’t always be easy and we’ll be heading off the beaten track and out of the usual tourist route. You don’t need to have previous Arctic experience, but you do need to have an adventurous spirit. Our expeditions are typically represented by a range of international participants. Having a laid back, open-minded and patient demeanor is important.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY
Arctic Kingdom’s expeditions are somewhat active, but not too strenuous. One can choose to do as little or as much as he/she would like throughout the adventure.
SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE REQUIRED
Arctic Kingdom trips are not intended to have set itineraries or sights to be seen crossed off in a short period of time. We believe in taking things as they come, to relax and enjoy the opportunities, be it a sunny or foggy day, to appreciate where you are in the moment, and fall into the lifestyle of the local people.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
DAYLIGHT HOURS
In mid to late spring, the circles the sky and sun shines high above at noon, and by 10PM it sinks low on the western horizon and continues to skim across the tops of the distant mountain ranges until it reaches the eastern horizon, where it then begins to climb higher into the sky again. A Photographers dream for perfect landscape shots.
WEATHER / MAY & JUNE
Temperatures during this season range from -5°C (23°F) to +10°C (50°F). The month of May will be cold (usually around -5°C), but the temperatures rise as the days lengthen. Dressing in layers will make adjusting to the temperatures easier.
WHAT TO WEAR
Polar Clothing Package
A recommended clothing packing list will be provided upon enrollment confirmation. We recommend that anyone travelling to the Arctic dresses in layers. The insulating outer layer is of particular importance. Regular ski jackets and pants are not suitable for the changing Arctic climate.
We realize that good quality Arctic-worthy equipment is expensive to purchase all at once, and my not be necessary for a one-time Arctic adventure. Arctic Kingdom has a top-of- the-line Arctic Polar Clothing Rental Package that will enhance your Arctic experience and allow you to enjoy your expedition in comfort, no matter what Mother Nature brings.
With more than a decade of experience in all types of Arctic weather, we know what works and what doesn’t. All of our staff have depended on the same clothing package for years of Arctic adventures, so you can rest assured you are getting the best options available.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This Arctic expedition is designed for diving in the Arctic and viewing animals in their natural habitat. However, there is more to this stunning vista of ice, land, and sea than the wildlife that inhabits it. For centuries, these creatures have shared this wilderness with Inuit people.
We encourage our trip participants to be sensitive to the cultural and historical ways of Inuit, including their traditional hunting lifestyle. You may see evidence of hunting, including dead animals, as you wander through the communities. Examples include the stretching of seal skin boots or gloves, and Inuit dog teams being fed Arctic char or seal meat. While on our adventures, we may also come across an Inuit hunting party returning or going to a hunt.
If you are open to the experience, these sights can provide a window into cultural traditions that stretch back for generations and exist in harmony with the wild Arctic. As part of the Inuit cultural experience and to enjoy some local food such as seal, caribou or Arctic char, you may even observe how an Inuit hunts the local wildlife. This tradition dates back thousands of years. They will show you how to stalk wildlife for viewing and photography, the same techniques a hunter does.
THE QAMUTIK EXPERIENCE
The mode of transportation to move over the ice is the traditional Inuit sledge pulled by a snowmobile called a qamutik (also spelled qamutiq or komatik).
Anyone with a history of back problems should contact Arctic Kingdom to see if this trip is for you.
OUR DIVE EXPEDITION LEADER
NATHALIE LASSELIN
An award-winning filmmaker who specializes in underwater and extreme environment expeditions, Nathalie joins the Arctic Kingdom team on our dive expeditions.
She is an accomplished explorer, dive instructor for Trimix, cave and rebreather diving, and commercial diver.
Nathalie shares her passion for geology and marine life through film and photography. View Nathalie’s photography on Instagram @aquapixnat
