Scuba Diving
Scuba Diving is the one of my keep-your-feet-off-the-ground hobbies that I've been part of the longest, I started diving in 1989. I like any kind of scuba diving: Wreck diving, cave diving, cliff diving, or a dive just to have a chat with some fish, but I pre-fare to spend my time above 30m.

Scuba diving is a hobby it is easy to take along to other corners of the world. One of the best dives I've ever had was in the Kelp forest outside of South California, but when it comes to colorful corals and different types of fish, no place I have ever been can be compared with the Red Sea. I've also been diving in the Caribbean: Outside of St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands) and off Isla de la Joventud (Cuba). I've been diving in the Indian Ocean outside of Durban (South Africa) and outside of the island of Zanzibar, in the Arabian Sea outside of Muscat (Oman) and in the Mediterranean on the shores of Malta, and of course have plenty of dives in the North Sea off the coast of Norway. All dive sites have their own charm, and I am always smiling for days after a good dive.

(The picture is shot while snorkeling in the Red Sea, Nama Bay, Egypt)

Hiking/Mountaineering/XC Skiing
During summer, I spend most of my weekends somewhere in the backcountry of Oslo, or up in one of the many mountain ranges in Norway. Sometimes I bring a hammock and do little hiking and much lazing. For the time being I am trying to learn the technique of fly-fishing and spend a lot of time by the lakes making "swoosh" sounds. There is usually also a mountain-top around that needs to be conquered. Take a look at this panorama movie a friend of mine made from one of our trips to a National park in Norway called Rondane

There are quite a few glaciers in Norway and I have visited some of these. I have done a little bit of ice climbing, but mostly crossed the glacier to reach a mountain-top.

XC skiing is a favorite, however the weather can be quite nasty in the mountains during winter so the amount of time I spend in the mountains at that time of year, is severely limited by the weather.

(The picture is of Odd mounting "warning-fireworks" around the tent. The fireworks was meant to warn us about approaching polar-bears. The picture is taken at about 1 o'clock at night at the arctic island of Spitsbergen, north of Norway)

Hang Gliding
I sold my Hang Glider yesterday (18/10-2000). I don't want to call it the end, I am taking a temporary break (my Hang Glider was old and shabby anyway :-D). No matter how you look at it, I do enjoy flying. As I write below, Hang Gliding require you to spend much of you time on this one hobby. It is not a "once every second month" hobby. I was caught by this, I did not prioritize my flying high enough to safely keep flying! :-(

Hang gliding is the latest addition to my hobby list. I started in early 1995 and are still considered a student and not a HG pilot. Nevertheless, I've already managed to have a landing accident which resulted in a concussion and a broken wrist (rather annoying). I must add though that hang gliding is considered a fairly safe sport.

If you have ever looked at the birds and wondered how it is up there, Hang gliding gives you a pretty good idea. It is an incredible feeling flying around chatting with the birds and making fun of the stressful people hurrying from one place to another down on the ground. However Hang gliding requires quite a lot of time. It is difficult to have this as a "once every second month" type of hobby.

(The picture is of Johannes waiting for "perfect" conditions for take-off at Frya, Gudbandsdalen, Norway)

Kayaking

My kayaking experience started in 1992. I've been spending most of my time in a kayak on the ocean, either on overnight touring trips, paddling through caves and tunnels on the Santa Barbara Channel Islands, or trying to stay head-side up surfing on the waves. I've spent some of my paddling hours as an assistant instructor for beginners kayaking classes.

(The picture is of Bjorn kayaking in the Swedish "skjergård" next to Stockholm.)

Rock Climbing
This is lots of fun as well. However, I'm not much of a sports climber, I'm more of a mountaineer, or let's put it this way: I want to be a mountaineer. One of my (many) dreams, is to get to the summit of at least four of "The seven mountains": Elbrus, Kilimanjaro, Denali and Aconcagua, but any trip to a pretty area with a mountain stuck in the middle of it, is appreciated.

(The picture is shot by Bjorn on our trip to Kilimanjaro. Note: we did not climb the mountain, we hiked to the summit)