P>You too can join the professional divers under water if you have a divers’ license. But most guests are content with seeing the big monster from ashore or a boat as it is surfaced and put into the boiling pot. Not surprisingly really, as the red king crab can reach two metres between the claws and weigh up to 15 kilos. A snap of its claw is enough to remove a man's finger.

A feast

Needless to say, the meal that follows the safari is an absolute feast: Succulent pieces of crab meat together with bread, home-made dressing, and for those who desire, white wine. The superb, white meat of the legs and claws is particularly juicy and has a naturally sweet taste. One leg is enough to provide a grown man with a filling meal.

The presentation is simple, but the taste is in a league of its own when it comes to seafood. Ordinary crab will never be the same after you have tried red king crab, or Kamchatka crab as it is also known as.

Scientific experiment

Soviet scientists introduced the red king crab to the Murmanskfjord near the border with Norway in the 1960s. The scientists wanted to increase the yield from local fisheries. Since then, millions of crustaceans have spread west into Norwegian waters.

Facts

Where:
Finnmark

When:
The whole year

Prices:
From NOK 990 for adults and NOK 495 for children

What to bring:
Warm clothes and footwear

Good to know:

• Book in advance
• Cancellations may occur, so you should not stake everything on one single day

Companies offering king crab safaris:

• Arctic Adventure Resort
• Varanger Panorama
• Destination 71° North
• Nordic Safari Wildlife Adventure