Swim with Orcas in Norway

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 whales.

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.

Weather Conditions

Its cold!! Our hotel 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..