Aqua-Firma's Arctic dive guides and professionally trained divers see this Greenland expedition as one of a kind. It offers exploration above and below water within the World’s largest National Park, home to Scoresby Sund the longest fjord in the World. Antarctic sized icebergs choke these calm, clear, avenues of ice water, sheltered by 2000m high mountains and crowned by the impressive Greenland ice sheet.
This is a magnificent and tranquil area where you can witness the Greenland Ice Sheet pouring seawards in a series of stunning glaciers, the icebergs beautifully sculpted beneath the water in hues of tropical turquoise. Some stand up to 100 metres high and at up to a kilometre in length, rival only those of Antarctica. Besides diving this experience offers divers and non diving partners the chance to explore by kayak in ice choked Greenland fjords, zodiac cruise around bergs, hike on expansive tundra in search of wildlife and with luck marvel at the incredible northern lights.
Another advantage is that your journey starts in Iceland where can arrange extensions to explore its spectacles and dive the mid Atlantic trench at Silfra or Strytan- the only geothermal cone in the world you can scuba dive. This unique feature pumps out over 1000year old freshwater and is home to wonderful creatures including wolf fish. Boarding your ice strengthened ship at Reykjavik, the journey across the Denmark Strait from Iceland is an experience in its own rite and in the past White Beaked Dolphins and Humpback Whales have escorted our passage.
The fjords of East Greenland will be your diving grounds. Expert guides will use dedicated zodiacs to dive around icebergs and explore the steep sided fjords in search of arctic macro life. You will also have the opportunity to explore on foot, and seek out wildlife opportunities including Musk Oxen, Arctic hare and even the elusive polar bear has been spotted on these shores!
Those keen on trekking can enjoy memorable scenic walks in East Greenland, with groups often split between those who want to scale higher up the island’s dramatic coastal mountains and those who want to take a more leisurely stroll closer to the shore. Looking back out to sea, the ship will look incredibly small and the sea usually devoid of any sign of another visitor.
Greenland is a sparsely inhabited island and on this voyage we will aim to visit the modern Inuit settlement of Illoqqortoormiut. You will also visit sites where humans have tried to live in the past, but have long since abandoned their settlements. At Danmarksø you can find a well preserved village some 200 years old. A rich cultural heritage remains here and we will have the chance to visit local Inuit hunting communities.
A team of expert polar divers alongside natural history guides and lecturers will make this a very memorable experience. With just one departure each year, this is a very exciting way to enjoy diving in an otherwise wild, inaccessible and breathtakingly scenic part of the Arctic where few have dived before.
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Diving in East Greenland is pioneering and its remote location means few have dived here before. The dive group will be led by highly experienced polar divemasters and you will have the chance to explore around deeply grounded icebergs, exquisitely sculpted and second only those of Antarctica for size. The slopes of the outer fjords are blanketed by kelp and home to a macro fauna including anemones, urchins, starfish and life yet to be discovered. Important plankton species live here including the beautiful Clione limacina - the sea angel pteropod which feeds on the winged snail Limacina spp. Please Click Here for further information on polar diving. |
If you are trying to decide which polar voyage to consider, call one of our polar guides and experts who describe to you in more detail the differences in voyaging to different polar locations.
Itinerary
Sample Itinerary 2026 (MV Plancius - 10 Days)
Please note that the following itinerary is draft only, designed to provide you with a flavour of this Arctic and sub-Arctic voyage. All polar voyages are expeditionary in nature and the actual route will depend upon sea and weather conditions, seasonal opportunities to sea wildlife, birdlife and scenery, decisions made by the expedition crew, Captain and local authorities - and in particular ice conditions which can vary considerably year by year.
Day 0: Arrive in Reyjkavik
We strongly recommend that you arrive into Reykjavik today and have a hotel night in the city, ready to begin your adventure tomorrow morning.
Day 1: On the Iceland Road & Embarkation in Akureyri
Your journey begins in this morning, where you can join an optional overland transfer from Reykjavik to Akureyri. This is a pleasant journey which takes around 6 hours including a rest stop and follows a portion of Iceland's Ring Road. This coach journey must be pre-booked in advance (please ask us for the latest price). You will embark in Akureyri this afternoon, setting sail for East Greenland.
Day 2: At Sea crossing the Denmark Strait
You will spend today at sea crossing the Denmark Strait. While sailing north you likely see fulmars, kittiwakes, gannets, and common guillemots. You then cross the Arctic Circle, possibly spotting whales. By evening the first icebergs flash into sight with the approach of the east Greenland coast, near Brewster.
Day 3: Arriving at Earth's largest fjord
Today you reach Scoresby Sund - the largest fjord on the planet, sailing along the glaciated Volquart Boons Kyst. You may also enjoy a Zodiac cruise past one of the glacier fronts, along with a visit to the basalt columns and ice formations of Vikingebugt. In the afternoon, you will plan to sail by the east coast of Milne Land among a multitude of giant icebergs. Conditions permitting, you may also land at Charcot Havn to make a walk to the Charcot Glacier. You will then continue by Bjørneør and sail into Øfjord.
Day 4: Colours of the Cape
Today you will plan to make a Zodiac cruise near Sorte Ø, surrounded by icebergs. Their austere blue-white contrasts sharply with the sediment slopes nearby. The afternoon plan is to sail through the northern parts of Røde Fjord and into Harefjord, with the chance to see musk oxen and warm autumnal foliage.
Day 5: Enormous Bergs, Arctic Hares
In the morning you can expect to encounter colossal icebergs, some over 100 metres (328 feet) high and more than a kilometre (.62 mile) long. Most of them are grounded, as the fjord is only about 400 metres deep (1,312 feet). You will then plan to land near Sydkap, with fine views of Hall Bredning and a good shot of seeing Arctic hares.
Optional Activity: Long Hikes
If you choose to join the Long Hikes activity (free of charge), today you will plan to walk from Sydkap to Nordøstbugt (12 km, 7.5 miles to the northeast), where the river coming from Holger Danskes Briller flows into the sea. You will plan to walk south along the shore to Satakajik, seeing whale vertebrae and the remains of Thule summer houses. Passengers who opt out of the long walking group will have a morning excursion and then join back with the long hikers at this location for their second excursion of the day.
Day 6: Scoresbysund Settlement
Today you will plan to make a tundra landing on Liverpool Land, in Hurry Inlet. The afternoon stop is Ittoqqortoormiit, the largest settlement in Scoresby Sund at about five hundred inhabitants. At the post office you can buy stamps for your postcards, or just stroll around to see the sled dogs and drying skins of seals and musk oxen. In the afternoon you sail south, passing the picturesque landscapes of the Blosseville Coast.
Day 7: Stewart Ø
Today you will plan to visit the island of Stewart Ø, an important hunting station for the people of Scoresby Sund and also a good area to spot polar bears, narwals, and the beautiful remains of Thule houses.
Day 8: Remote Shores
Today you may explore Turner Sound and Rømer Fjord, which grant you the opportunity to sail far inland as they have no glacier front at the head and are not clogged with ice. In this location, you may get the opportunity to spot narwhals.
Day 9: At Sea crossing the Denmark Strait
Today you will cross back to Iceland, sailing the Denmark Strait. A day at sea grants you opportunities to spot whales and seabirds – and at night, perhaps the magical northern lights.
Day 10: Disembarkation in Akureyri
You disembark in the town of Akureyri on the north coast of Iceland, taking home memories that will accompany you wherever the next adventure lies.
You can either end your journey here or take a chartered coach journey back to Reykjavik. As with the northern journey, this coach transfer must be pre-booked in advance (please ask us for the latest price). You will arrive back into Reykjavik in the afternoon, we strongly recommend that you plan to stay another night in Reykjavik this evening to mitigate against any potential sailing or driving delays
Dates
Included:
- Voyage as indicated in draft itinerary
- All meals, snacks, coffee and tea
- All shore excursions and zodiac activities
- Group airport transfers to & from the vessel (when arriving/departing on
recommended group flight)
- Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced
expedition staff
- All miscellaneous services taxes and port charges throughout the programme
- Comprehensive pre-departure material
- Aqua-Firma automatically offsets the Carbon Emissions of your polar voyage
and flights booked through us in getting to and from your voyage.
Excluded:
- International flights
- Fuel surcharge where applicable*
- Optional activities (e.g. kayaking, diving) unless stated
- Land based accommodation
- Pre and post land arrangements
- Travel insurance.
- Passports and visas.
- Arrival and departure tax.
- Meals ashore.
- Excess baggage on flights.
- Items of a personal nature (alcohol, laundry etc).
- Tips.
Activity Level: Low to Medium
Single supplement:
There is no single supplement to pay if you are willing to share your cabin with someone of the same gender. For a cabin to yourself the supplement is between 1.5x - 2x the per person rate
*Fuel surcharge:
The cost of fuel is currently volatile, so a fuel surcharge may be applied by the ship without notice. We will let you know if this applies to your booking and send you an updated invoice.
