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Sumburgh Airport
LSI • EGPB
40 km to Lerwick • About 40 to 50 minutes by road
Logistics · Destination Guide
Cold-water wrecks, cathedral caves and clear North Atlantic light
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Most air travelers arrive at Sumburgh Airport (LSI), about 40 km south of Lerwick, on Loganair services from major Scottish gateways and other routes that vary by season. The alternative is NorthLink's overnight passenger ferry from Aberdeen to Lerwick, operating year-round. A direct sailing is about 12 hours; services routed through Kirkwall take roughly 14 to 15 hours. The ferry is often the easiest answer for drysuits, cylinders arranged with a charter, rebreather cases and a vehicle, but cabins and vehicle space can sell out.
Confirm the charter's exact joining point and boarding time before choosing a flight or sailing. January to March ferry maintenance can alter timetables, and wind or technical disruption can affect both air and sea links. Build a protected connection margin rather than planning a same-hour handoff to a liveaboard.
Sumburgh Airport
LSI • EGPB
40 km to Lerwick • About 40 to 50 minutes by road
Shetland's principal airport, served by Loganair from core Scottish gateways with some routes varying by season.
Transport: Service 6 public bus, Pre-booked taxi, Rental car, Charter or accommodation pickup when arranged
Tingwall Airport
LWK • EGET
10 km from central Lerwick • About 15 minutes by road
A small inter-island airport used for services to Fair Isle and Foula rather than mainland UK arrivals.
Transport: Pre-booked taxi, Dial-a-Ride booked in advance, Operator pickup when arranged
A rental car gives the strongest diving and topside flexibility. Shetland drives on the left, and many rural roads are single track with passing places. Never park in a passing place. Book the car early, especially if collecting at Sumburgh or taking it onto inter-island ferries.
Buses connect Lerwick with Sumburgh Airport and principal settlements, and payment can include cash, card or mobile methods on supported services. Feeder buses and Dial-a-Ride fill some rural gaps, but sightseeing often requires a walk from the stop. Taxis should be pre-booked for early flights, remote accommodation and charter boarding.
Fuel is available on several larger islands but not everywhere. Check opening hours before a long outer-island day and avoid returning a rental with an uncertain reserve.
Shetland follows United Kingdom immigration rules. Most overseas visitors need either a UK visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation, depending on nationality and purpose. As of the research date, a UK ETA costs GBP 20, permits qualifying visits of up to 6 months and is required separately for each traveler, including children. British and Irish passport holders and some people with UK immigration status are exempt.
Use the official GOV.UK visa checker before booking because eligibility can change. Carry the passport or other travel document linked to the ETA or eVisa and make sure it remains valid for the whole stay. Domestic travelers should still carry the photographic identification required by their airline or ferry operator.
Ask the charter for a written equipment list before choosing transport. Confirm cylinder sizes and valves, weights, nitrox, trimix, oxygen, helium, sorb, booster access, bailout storage, rebreather charging and any restrictions on personal cylinders. Do not assume every gas or consumable is stocked locally at short notice.
Airline baggage allowances can make the overnight ferry attractive for a full drysuit or technical setup. Remove cylinders and other prohibited pressure items from flight luggage unless the carrier's current dangerous-goods rules explicitly allow them. Protect regulators and computers in hand luggage where permitted, and label every bag with the charter vessel and a mobile number.
Bring critical spares for drysuit seals, batteries, lights, rebreather cells and model-specific fittings. Rinse and dry equipment as the vessel directs, keep charging areas uncluttered and secure loose kit for rough transits.
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Cards are widely useful in Lerwick and larger businesses, and supported bus services accept cash, card or mobile payment. Carry some cash for small community venues, donations and rural contingencies where connectivity or opening hours may limit card use.
Cash machines and full banking services are concentrated in Lerwick, with post-office banking available in a number of communities. Withdraw before an outer-island day rather than relying on a specific rural ATM.
230V • 50Hz • G
Bring a UK Type G adapter and ensure every charger is rated for 230V. Ask the vessel which charging points are permitted and keep batteries in approved, ventilated locations.
Communications
Mobile coverage reaches most inhabited islands but varies by network and can weaken in rural valleys, remote headlands and offshore areas. Download maps, tide tables, ferry details and operator contacts before leaving Lerwick. Public Wi-Fi is available at several terminals, museums, visitor facilities and transport hubs, but it should not be treated as an emergency system.
A dive charter should carry appropriate VHF and position-reporting equipment. Shore-based freedive and snorkel teams need a waterproof phone or VHF, a named shore contact and the exact access-point description. An eSIM can be useful for international visitors, but compare UK network coverage rather than choosing on price alone.
Language
English is the working language. Shetland dialect is a form of Scots with strong Norn and Scandinavian influence, and local place-name pronunciations may differ from mainland expectations. Ask rather than guessing when confirming a harbor, voe or landing point.
Insurance
Buy travel insurance that explicitly covers the planned maximum depth, wreck or cave profile, drysuit use, technical gases or rebreather use where relevant. It should include search and rescue, medical evacuation, recompression treatment, missed transport, weather disruption and non-refundable charter payments.
Carry the insurer's emergency number and policy details on the boat and with the shore contact. A European Health Insurance Card or UK Global Health Insurance Card can help eligible travelers access necessary state healthcare, but it does not replace evacuation, repatriation or specialist dive cover.
Packing list