Pictures and text by Erling  Svensen

In the splendour of shapes and colours in the underwater world is mentioned, then automatically warm, tropical seas appear in the mind. But it is wrong to believe diving and photographing is worthwhile there only. The cooler waters are particularly rich in nutrients and support a large number of organisms including some most unusual creatures. This is also true for the coast of Norway that is being influenced by northern Atlantic currents and hence the Gulf Stream. Aided by this underwater photo equipment Erling Svensen was able to catch the fascination of these habitats rarely ever visited by divers, and to bring it up from the deep close to our eyes....

Norway’s fantastic underwater fauna

Norway is continental Europe’s most northerly country. It streches from Lindesnes in the south to the North Cape beyond the Arctic Circle, a distance of 2.518 km. The country is distinguished by its rugged coastline, the mountains that rise steeply from the sea being scored by the deep, calm fjords. Almost all of the Atlantic coastline is fringed by many islands ranging from large rocks to inhabited islands nearly 100 km long. Much of this coast belies its geographical location as it is bathed by the warming influence of a branch of the Gulf Stream.
This is particularly marked around the town of Egersund on the southwest tip of Norway. The 10.000 inhabitats enjoy an equable climate with summer temperatures averaging 200C. Whilst coastal strip vegetation is relatively sparse, especially in winter, the marine vegetation and its associated fauna is luxuriant, thanks to the Gulf Stream. And this is the theme of the article.
 

Offshore kelps beds

During winter, huge waves from the Atlantic smash violently against the outer reefs. To the west there is no land nearer than the Orkneys and Iceland. The constant battering by the waves makes life in the area very difficult. Mobile animals (fish and crustaceans) can move into the sanctuary of deeper water. But what of the plants and sessile animals?
Extending from the surface down to some 30 m are the kelp beds. Several of its species and other seaweeds have their holdfasts at different depths and grow towards the surface. Holdfasts are the algal equivalent of the roots of higher plants and once they are establishes will keep the plant fixed during winter storms.
The two man kelp species, which can grow to 30 m deep and 5 m in length, are Laminaria hyperborea and Laminarlia digitata and it is amongst their holdfasts, too deep for the waves to disturb, that much of the other fauna and flora finds a haven. It is here that the brown algae (Phaeophyceae), red algae (Rhodophyceae) and green algae (Chlorophyceae) are found. In this region, as well as closer to the shore, one can also see limpets (Patella vulgata), concical molluscs that cling tightly to the rocks. Each limpet excavates a little depression in the rock in which it fits exacly. From this «home» it crawls out to feed. In bad weather it returns and closes down in this recess. Thus lodged, it can resists days of desiccation or battering.
Many different molluscs find security among the kelp. The small, beautiful blue-rayed limpet (Patina pelucida) spend much of its life among the holdfasts.