UW photography and nudibranchs
This is the event for you if you shoot pictures or like nudibranchs. Joining us will lift your knowledge of how to find and identify the different species.
Scientists and nudibranchs
Held in the spring every year, the Nudibranch Safari is hosted by internationally acclaimed experts. Are there things to know about Nudibranch? The scientists will teach you about identification, behaviour, feeding habits and biology.
Typically, are there things to know about Nudibranch shooting? The Safari also includes a lecture on how to photograph nudibranchs best. Join us for unlimited nudibranch fun – and experience first-hand the fantastic array of species we have on the Gulen house reef!
A great learning experience
Joining a workshop to learn more about your favourite subject is always a good idea. You’ll meet like-minded people who can help you learn more and better understand things, and it is always fun to share experiences. The Nudibranch Safari is no exception! After attending the Nudibranch Safari, you will know the differences between the different species.
See what we did find in 2025
From the 2025 Safari, “click” the images to get more information. Nudibranch finds 2025
Next Nudibranch Safari 17th to 22nd of March 2026
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Scientific fieldwork
There are several things to know about Nudibranchs, and the experts who lecture on the Nudibranch Safari are seasoned scientists. Often, the trip is part of their scientific fieldwork, and meticulous notes are taken down when they study the collected nudibranchs in close detail. They will all help you build a unique understanding of the subjects during the Nudibranch Safari.
Lars Stenholt Kirkegaard
Lars is a seasoned Danish photo/videographer with extensive experience in underwater photography, studio work, TV videography, and teaching. He has a background as a commercial photographer and graphic arts specialist. A leading voice in the European underwater community, Lars actively writes, teaches, speaks at events, and judges photo contests.
He also owns and operates FOTOGRAFIT.eu, one of Europe’s specialized underwater photography websites, offering popular photo equipment for scuba divers and the commercial dive industry.
At the Nudibranch Safari in Gulen, Lars will support participants with all photography needs and facilitate daily photo reviews. He will also bring a selection of photo equipment for testing, with a focus on macro photography and lenses.
Before departing for Gulen:
Make sure to check your camera equipment thoroughly—batteries, cables, clamps, fittings, vacuum systems, dome ports, wet lenses, macro ports, housing, and camera. If anything requires an update or replacement, you can order it directly from FOTOGRAFIT, and Lars will bring it to the event.
Dr scient Torkild Bakken
Current position is Head of Department, which also allows time for research and teaching. Main research fields are biosystematics and biogeography, particularly of polychaete worms (Polychaeta). I also have a great interest in nudibranch molluscs (Nudibranchia). My research focuses on phylogeny, taxonomy, and biogeography in these groups, as well as faunistics and biodiversity of marine invertebrates along the Norwegian coast.
Curator Bernard Picton
Nudibranch expert Bernard Picton recently retired from the National Museums Northern Ireland, where he was the curator of Marine Invertebrates. His 1995 book "A Field Guide to the Nudibranchs of the British Isles" inspired nudibranch research by SCUBA diving in Norway and a new edition “Nudibranchs of Britain, Ireland and Northwest Europe” was published in 2023 with a photograph from Gulen on the cover. Bernard first attended the safari in 2013 and has been involved in naming some of the new species found at Gulen.
Underwater photographer Erling Svensen
Norwegian underwater photographer Erling Svensen (69) started diving 48 years ago and continues to do so several days a week. This has amounted to more than 5200 dives on all continents, including Antarctica. Erling has published 15 books and has contributed images to more than 150 books internationally. He is on a species mission and has captured stunning images of more than 1470 species, amounting to 72,000 pictures from Norwegian waters alone. The many species he has photographed outside of Norway are yet to be quantified.
Klas Malmberg Aquatilis
Underwater photographer, Unit manager at Universeum, the national Science centre of Sweden, where he works as a senior marine biologist, educator and professional diver. Author of several marine biology books, especially the main Swedish books about nudibranchs: ”Svenska Nakensnäckor” and ”Nationalnyckeln till Sveriges flora och fauna. Blötdjur: Sidopalpssnäckor - taggsäckssnäckor”.
Summary
Our house reef at Gulen Dive Resort boasts one of the highest documented nudibranch species counts in the Atlantic Ocean.
Among our scientific contributions is the discovery of the species Gulenia orjani, Gulenia monicae and Fjordia chriskaugei, all of which were published in November 2017, along with a significant revision of the family Flabellinidae.
We have identified a staggering number of species of nudibranch at the Nudibranch Safari since its inception. Over the years, we have inevitably accumulated a few CFs
Read more on the topic and Safari here: Scubapixel.com
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