Pictures and text:  Erling Svensen

Spitsbergen is an exiting area, both above and below the surface.
The coastline is heavily affected on the drifting icebergs and the marine animals have to adapt to this rough, changing conditions. The water temperature on the north east coast of the island is 1.7 degrees below the freezing point !
However, many small bays and inlets are sheltered from most of this, and they may contain rich and varying marine life, even more colourful than people think for this latitude.
The Amphipod on this image has the descriptive scientific name hysterix (parampamphthoe hystrix). Looking at this small crustacea make you wonder why it has its funny shape. It has to be a skilful escape artist to do a ecdysis.
The diversity of the life seem to have no limits. Spitsbergen has amphipods which may grow to a length of more than 70 mm and only thrives in water colder than 1.5 grades above zero ( Celsius).
This picture is taken on the depth of twenty metres on the east coast of Spitsbergen. Above our head was a polar bear watching us carefully from the ice edge.
It was in many ways was a very exiting dive