Swim with Orcas in Norway
Swim with Orcas, Humpbacks and Fin whales in the spectacular Fjords of Norway! Join an intimate group of just 4 guests to witness one of the largest gatherings of Orca on the planet. Orca by day and the Aurora Borealis by night- welcome to the arctic circle!
Our Accommodation
7 nights accommodation in the scenic village of Skjervoy.
We have our our cabin with all amenities just a 2 minute walk to the jetty and our boat
All meals are provided
6 Days on the Water
We have 6 days on the water aboard our 7.5m enclosed centre console. Plenty of deck space for our gear and an enclosed cabin to escape the cold and wind when the weather is not so sunny :)
Our Skipper is a highly experienced local guide who has worked with the BBC, Nat Geo, and other documentary crews filming Orca and has great knowledge of Orca behaviour and the best way to approach a good encounter.
Orcas, Humpbacks , Fin Whales
Vast schools of Herring create an incredible feeding opportunity for large pods of Orcas, Humpbacks and also the mighty Fin whales - second largest animal on the planet. It us not unusual to see pods of up to 20 Humpback whales hunting the Fjords and feeding on the herring. We will have the opportunity to swim with Humpbacks as well as the Orca. In a large feeding event there can be many pods of Orca predating and working together to keep the fish at the surface.
Aurora borealis
Humpback
Whale tails
Bull orca
Humpback whales
Spectacular backdrops!
Humpback Whales in Norway
Orca morning light
some of the incredible experiences you may have
The Experience
From mid October vast schools of Herring move from the North Sea into the Fjords for winter. This is a feeding opportunity that attracts huge pods of Orca, Humpback and Fin whales as well as Sei and Minkes. Predatory seabirds such as Eagles also gather in numbers to share in the abundance.generally Orcas are quite shy of people but when there is an organised feeding activity with a large ball of herring on the surface it is possible to be right amongst the action and witness the Orca rounding up the Herring and feeding all around you! The Humpbacks are commonly seen feeding on the same herring balls which is an incredible thing to witness. Norway allows people to swim with Orca and other cetaceans.
Location
We will be operating out of Skjervoy, a small fishing village on the far north coast of Norway
The town is located on the island of Skjervøya along the Kvænangen, near the mouth of the Reisafjorden. The fjords are absolutely stunning in their dramatic beauty with huge mountain peaks emerging straight out of the water in excess of 1000m.
There are daily flights to Tromso from Oslo. From Tromso its easy to get a ferry to Skjervoy.
Alternatively you can fly from Oslo to Sorkjosen which is about a 30 minute taxi drive to the village of Skjervoy
Weather Conditions
Its cold!! Our cabin is very toasty but for any outdoor activities you need to be well prepared,
Bring warm and waterproof clothing and footwear for wet and snowy conditions. Beanie, buff, gloves and boots to handle the snow.
In the water we recommend a custom made 7/8mm wetsuit, 7mm gloves and socks. You will need to bring your own mask,fins and rubber belt. Weights will be provided.
On deck you will want an exposure suit or overpants and jacket as well as large rubber boots to put over your dive socks.
Daytime temperatures vary from 5C to -10C. Water temperature is around 6C.
Our Boat
Our boats are 8m fibreglass speed boats with an enclosed centre cabin to protect you from the elements. They are powered by 150hp outboards. We have a small group of just your local guide and skipper, your host and just 4 guests. This allows us to have an up close and personal experience with the Orca.
Photography
The scenery is so cinematic it's ridiculous!!
For underwater photography you will want a wide fast lens with an aperture of at least f2.8. This is generally a good lens for time lapse with the aurora at night.
We are struggling with light so preferably a camera that is full frame and that performs well in low light conditions..
A telephoto lens is great for topside - capturing orcas and whales on the surface as well as the eagles and spectacular scenery..
Safety
You will have received a liability waiver form in the booking confirmation email. Every participant is required to complete the waiver. Parents can sign for their children. If you did not receive a pre-arrival waiver email, please click the button below to complete your "Waiver". You will be asked a series of important questions and will be required to electronically sign the waiver, with legal guardians signing for children. This is mandatory before boarding our vessel, as is the safety briefing prior to departure.