Tour

Polar Noon 11.06-14.06.2010

Date

11.06.2010 - 14.06.2010

Region

White Sea

Accommodation

Arctic Circle Dive Center

Description

A well-found base and experienced instructors, clear water, vast natural beauty of the Russian north, an exquisite underwater environment lure divers and nature lovers from around the world to experience the best diving and natural scenery Russia has to offer.

HIGHLIGHTS:
Colourful underwater environment of the Arctic Sea: soft coral colonies, Gorgon’s head, hermit crabs, sea anemones, shrimps, kelp forests, underwater cliffs and their inhabitants, mussel fields, seals and Beluga Whales. A wide variety of fish species, starfish, sponges. Shipwrecks – the fishing boat Yaroslavets and a patrol boat.

ACTIVITIES:
Drift diving with the current – the speed is up to 2m/sec. Daily diving from RIB poweboats.
Snorkeling and diving with Beluga Whales. Excursions to Pomor folk village, arctic fishing and daily Russian steam bath experience.

Programme

Do you know what a “Polar Day” is? According to the dictionary: “Polar day. In polar regions, the portion of the year when the Sun is continuously in the sky. Its length changes from twenty hours at the Arctic/Antarctic Circle (latitude 66°33' N or S) to 186 days at the North/South Pole”. Here on the Polar Circle the sun does not go down the Horizon just for 40 hours, during June 21-22! Can you imagine having the Sun two days in a row and no night?! Actually, their will be no strict night for at list couple weeks before and after this moment. It will get kind of grayish but not completely dark. Sound exciting! The nature gets pretty excited to during this time. That is why the waters of white sea a full of life during this period. One can enjoy the largest possible variety of all species!

TRAVEL:
You can choose one of the ways of getting to the Arctic Circle Dive Centre:

Option 1 (travel by rail from St. Petersburg): Train from St. Petersburg to Chupa (19 hours); transfer to the Dive Centre (2 hours).
Option 2 (travel by rail from Moscow): Train from Moscow to Chupa (28 hours); transfer to the Dive Centre (2 hours).
Option 3 (travel by air from Helsinki): Flight from Helsinki to Kuusamo (1:15 hour); transfer to the Dive Centre through the Finish - Russian border (7- 8 hours).
Option 4 (travel by air from Moscow): Flight from Moscow to Murmansk (2 hours); transfer from Murmansk to the Arctic Circle Dive Centre (5 1/2 hours).

SAMPLE DAILY DIVING PROGRAMME:
Day 1 Arrival at the Arctic Circle Dive Centre. Check dive; second dive – a slope near Maly Krestovy (Small Cross) Island. Kelp forests, crabs and starfish. Evening: a Russian banya and rest.
Days 2 - 3 Daily diving programme – 2 dives per day.

The programme includes:
Diving by a legendary cliff with sea anemones near the Krestovy (Cross) Islands.
Drift diving with the current.
Diving by a bank with soft corals.
Wreck diving: a wooden fishing boat Yaroslavets and steel scientific boat.
Lectures on White Sea biology.

Day 4 – Following the completion of the programme, at 23:30: departure from the Dive Centre for Chupa train station, Murmansk or Kuusamo Airport. Return to Moscow (the train arrives in Moscow on the fallowing day). The programme can be changed depending weather condition.

NOTE:
Itineraries can be tailor made on request;
The number of days in the programme can be changed upon request.
Overnight stays, tours and transfers in Moscow, St. Petersburg or Kuusamo can be arranged;
Due to the varying currency rates the Arcric Circle Dive Centre reserves the right to change the prices at any time!

Price

Economy + Daily-diving (4 days)

429 Euro

Comfort + Daily-diving (4 days)

571 Euro