Whale watching is wonderful and often almost magical. And yet - have you ever wished you could be next to them? Not on the protected boat, but free in the cool water? Wouldn't it be fantastic to see the whole whale? The full extent of its elegance? Underwater? In Skjervøy this dream becomes reality: In the winter season you can admire orcas (killer whales) and humpback whales in the wild and, with a bit of luck, snorkel with the whales.
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Male Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) – Snorkeling with Orcas in Skjervoy Norway
Skjervøy: The new insider tip for snorkeling with orcas
For years, the city of Tromsø was considered a mecca for whale watching and snorkeling with orcas in Norway. Then the orcas moved on: They followed the swarms of herring north. Since then, the small town of Skjervøy, about 3,5 hours' drive from Tromsø, has been an insider tip for snorkeling with whales in Norway.
Orcas killer whales (Orcinus orca) close-up – snorkeling with orcas in Skjervoy Norway
From November to January, snorkeling with orcas and humpback whales is possible in the protected fjords near Skjervøy. Fin whales and porpoises are also rarely spotted. So let’s get into your drysuit! Take the bold plunge into your personal snorkeling adventure and experience whales underwater in Skjervøy.
Personal experience snorkeling with orcas and humpback whales in Skjervøy
Magazine.Travel participated in four whale tours with Lofoten Oplevelser in Skjervøy. We experienced the fascinating encounter with these intelligent marine mammals both above and below water. Although the tour is called "Snorkeling with Orcas in Skjervøy," you also have excellent chances to snorkel with large humpback whales. Ultimately, the whale sightings of the day will determine where you jump into the water. Whether we were able to experience the beautiful killer whales or the massive humpback whales underwater on a tour in Skjervøy, snorkeling with the whales was always a unique experience that touched us deeply.
Snorkeling with humpback whales and orcas in Skjervoy - whale watching with Lofoten-Opplevelser in Norway
Snorkeling with orcas and humpback whales in Skjervoy - whale watching with Lofoten-Opplevelser in Norway
Large male killer whale (Orcinus orca) Whale watching in Norway – Snorkeling with orcas in Skjervoy – Killer whale facts
Itinerary of the whale watching and snorkeling tour
Before the start of the whale tour you will be provided with a dry suit and all necessary Equipment As soon as you are ready for the cold Norwegian winter, you can set off. Well-packed, you board a small RIB boat with a maximum of eleven other adventurous people. Often, just behind the port of Skjervøy Whales spotted, but sometimes you have to search. Please also be aware that the behavior of the whales or the weather may sometimes make snorkeling impossible. We were lucky: We were able to observe humpback whales every day during our whale watching trip in Skjervøy and see orcas three out of four days. We were also able to get into the water and snorkel with whales on all four days in Skjervøy.
It is particularly important always ready to go to be and the Snorkel ready to hold in case it suddenly goes into the water. Encounter with migrating orcas or humpback whales underwater often only lasts a few moments. But every second spent with these unique animals in the water will remain deeply etched in your memory. Many dream of snorkeling with hunting orcas in Skjervøy – however, finding feeding orcas is a A matter of luckOn the fourth tour we were able to experience this highlight personally: a good thirty minutes Orca group hunting herring And we're right in the middle of it. An indescribable feeling! Please remember that whale watching is always a matter of luck and a unique gift from nature.
A dream comes true: a unique underwater encounter with orcas
A group of orcas has turned and is heading straight for us. Excitedly, I watch their sword-shaped dorsal fins and quickly adjust my snorkel. Now it's time to be ready. Our skipper gives the command. I glide into the water as quickly and quietly as I can. I stare in awe through my goggles into the dark Norwegian waters. Two orcas glide past below me. One turns its head very slightly and briefly glances up at me. A wonderful feeling.
Just as we're about to climb back into the boat, our skipper gives a signal. Something is different than before. More orcas are coming. We stay. Air bubbles trickle past me. A single dead herring floats toward the surface. My heart rate increases. Hope. An orca swims past me—incredibly close. Then it glides into the depths. More air bubbles. The first songs. And suddenly a huge school of herring is below me. I cheer inwardly. Yes, today is our lucky day. The orcas' hunt has begun.
Magazine.Travel
Would you like to experience the orcas’ hunt? In the Magazine.Travel report, you will find all our experiences snorkeling with whales in Skjervøy, an original soundtrack with orca voices, and many beautiful photos of the orca hunt: Snorkeling with Orcas: Visiting the Orcas' Herring Hunt
Orca family underwater – Snorkeling with (Orcas Orcinus orca) in Skjervoy Norway
Orca (Orcinus orca) underwater photo taken while snorkeling with orcas in Skjervoy
Snorkeling with Orcas in Skjervoy Norway Large male killer whale
Magazine.Travel™ experienced snorkeling with orcas with Lofoten-Opplevelser:
Lofoten Oplevelser is a private company and was founded in Founded in 1995 by Rolf MalnesThe company has two fast RIB boats for daily use and more than 25 years of experience in snorkeling with orcas. The RIB boats are around 8 meters long and allow for trips in small groups of maximum 12 peopleLofoten-Opplevelser offers its guests a high-quality snorkeling equipment with drysuits, neoprene hoods, neoprene gloves, and a mask and snorkel. The additional provision of warm, one-piece undersuits significantly increases comfort.
As one of Pioneer for whale tourism in Norway Rolf knows the animals' behavior well. In Norway, there are no rules for whale tours, only guidelines. Therefore, the individual responsibility the provider.
The most important thing, besides a good portion of luck, is a very good skipperA skipper who brings his guests close enough to the whales without endangering them. One who always offers his snorkelers the best possible experience while still keeping an eye on the animals' behavior. A skipper who enjoys the beaming smiles of his guests with every success, yet, when in doubt, aborts and lets the animals go. Magazine.Travel was fortunate enough to find such a skipper at Lofoten-Opplevelser.
Logbook of our 4 tours with Lofoten-Opplevelser
Whale Watching Experience in Skjervoy
practical example: (Warning, this is purely a personal experience!)
We took part in four tours in November. Logbook Day 1: Humpback whales from a distance - long boat trip - lots of time with an orca family; Day 2: Great sightings right in the first bay - lots of time with humpback whales - orcas at the end; Day 3: Difficult visibility due to waves - no killer whales - lots of humpback whales up close - a whale right next to the boat - got wet from the blow; Day 4: Main attraction: Orcas hunting for herring - occasional humpback whale sightings.
Experience snorkeling with orcas in Skjervoy
practical example: (Warning, this is purely a personal experience!)
We were able to snorkel on all four tours. Logbook: Day 1: Migrating orcas – 4 dives, three successful – brief underwater sightings of orcas. Day 2: So many dives we lost count – almost every dive successful – brief underwater sightings of migrating humpback whales or orcas. Day 3: Migrating humpback whales – 5 dives – four successful. Day 4: Our lucky day – stationary, hunting orcas – 30 minutes of nonstop snorkeling – hearing the orcas – experiencing the hunt – goosebumps – orcas up close.
Snorkeling with orcas and humpback whales in Skjervøy Norway 100% wild 1
Where can you snorkel with orcas?
In Norway, snorkeling with orcas used to be offered in Tromsø, but they can now be found in the fjords of Skjervøy.
The small town Skjervoy has fewer than 3000 inhabitants and is located on the island of Sjervøya in northwestern Norway, approximately 1800 kilometers from Oslo (Norway's capital) and a 3,5-hour drive from the tourist town of Tromsø. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge and is therefore easily accessible by car. Those without a car can travel from Tromsø to Skjervøy by boat or bus.
Lofoten-Opplevelser winter base camp:
You can find the provider directly at the harbor below the Extra Skjervøy supermarket. Address for navigation: Strandveien 90 in Skjervøy.
You should feel comfortable in the water, be able to use a snorkel and diving goggles, and have a minimum level of fitness.
Minimum age for Lofoten-Opplevelser:
Whale watching in a small RIB boat: 12 years
Snorkeling with whales: 15 years
Up to 18 years only with parental supervision
Freediving is also possible:
Freedivers in wetsuits who aren't afraid of the cold are welcome. Scuba diving is not permitted, as the air bubbles and noise created by scuba diving would frighten the whales.
The killer whales usually stay Beginning of November to end of January in the fjords near Skjervøy. Times vary slightly from year to year. Check with your provider in advance for the current situation.
The Snorkeling tour from Lofoten-Opplevelser starts in Skjervøy between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. (as of 2023). Current information can be found on the Homepage of the whale tour provider.
The tour lasts approximately 4 hours in total. This time also includes a brief briefing and fitting in drysuits. The actual time in the RIB boat varies depending on the day and group, but is approximately three hours.
Snorkeling with orcas depends on weather, waves and whales, which is why Magazine.Travel recommends two to three tours to book and a Time buffer for bad weather We spent one week in Skjervøy, doing four tours and taking rest days to increase the chances of changing conditions.
On windless, sunny days visibility is best underwater. Ultimately, however, every winter day from November to January Be perfect: we had our best experience on the gloomiest day. Snorkeling with whales is all about luck.
There is no particularly good time for orca sightings: The tours are based on the already short winter day in Norway and try to Make the best use of daylight.
Im December are commonly most killer whales on site, so the chances of good sightings are highest. However, December is the polar night. While it's not pitch black all day, the twilight makes it difficult to take good photos and reduces underwater visibility.
November and January offer at least a few hours of daylight, so that the Lighting conditions and underwater visibility are better There are usually enough orcas around for a good snorkeling adventure. We were in Skjervøy in November and were very satisfied with our experience.
Lofoten Opplevelser gives no sighting guarantee with money back option. The Success rate However, in recent years the number of sightings of orcas or other whales has been over 95%. Snorkeling was usually also possible.
If your tour (e.g. due to Storm) has to be cancelled, you will of course receive your money backSubject to availability, the provider will offer an alternative date.
Information for your daily planning: Are there food and toilets available?
Restrooms are available at the meeting point at the Lofoten-Opplevelser base camp. There are no sanitary facilities on the RIB boat. Food is not included. You can bring a muesli bar if you get a little peckish.
Tips for afterward:
Right at the harbor, you can buy fish cakes, a delicious regional finger food, at a local shop. Just ask the skipper.
The Hotel Maritim in Skjervøy has a lovely restaurant with panoramic views. Enjoy a cup of coffee or hot chocolate and warm up while reflecting on your adventures.
The area offers one thing in particular: Whales, fjords and peaceThe top activities in Skjervøy are whale watching and snorkeling with whales. In addition, with good weather and suitable solar winds in winter, you can also Northern lights Tromsø, about 240 kilometers away, offers numerous tourist activities.
The water temperature when snorkeling with whales in Skjervøy is on average at 4-7°C, with the temperature decreasing from November to January. Due to these cold conditions, snorkeling is a Dry suit Included. This is a special diving suit with rubber cuffs. It keeps your body dry while you swim. The trapped air inside the suit also acts like a life jacket: you can't sink. The water temperature was surprisingly pleasant with the rental equipment. However, the wind on board can still make it cold.
Orcas eat seals and hunt sharks. They are the true kings of the sea. They are called killer whales for a reason. Is it a good idea to swim with orcas? A legitimate question. Nevertheless, the concern is unfounded, because Orcas in Norway specialize in herring.
Orcas from different regions have very different feeding habits. There are groups of orcas that eat marine mammals, while others hunt only salmon or herring. Killer whales are very reluctant to stray from their usual diet and would rather starve than eat something else. For this reason, snorkeling with orcas in Skjervøy is safe.
As always, of course: Do not harass and of course never touch. These aren't cuddly toys. Freedivers lucky enough to witness an orca hunting herring should also be careful not to accidentally scatter the school of fish.
The Orca (killer whale) belongs to the toothed whale family, the dolphin family. It has a distinctive black and white coloring and grows to about 7 meters in length. The unusually high dorsal fin is larger in males than in females and is called a sword fin. Orcas live and hunt in groups and are highly social.
Orcas are food specialists. This means that different orca populations eat different foods. Orcas in Norway specialize in herring. They propel the fish upwards with air bubbles, keep them in small schools and then stun them with the flapping of their fins. This sophisticated hunting method is called carousel feeding.
The Humpback Whale belongs to the baleen whale family and grows to about 15 meters in length. It has unusually large side fins and a distinctive tail underside. This species of whale is popular with tourists because they are often very lively and regularly jump out of the water, especially in their breeding grounds.
The humpback whale's blow reaches a height of up to three meters. When descending, the colossus almost always raises its tail fin, giving it momentum for the dive. Typically, a humpback whale takes 3-4 breaths before diving. Its typical dive time is 5 to 10 minutes, with times of up to 45 minutes being easily possible.
General information about whale watching in Norway
Norway is a fantastic destination for whale lovers all year round
In summer (May – September) you have the best chances in the Vesteralen sperm whales in Norway. Whale tours start from Andenes, for example. In addition to the giant sperm whales, you can sometimes also see Orcas and Minke whales be seen.
In winter (November – January) There are particularly large numbers of orcas and humpback whales in northern Norway. The top destination for whale watching and snorkeling with whales in Norway is Skjervøy, but tours also continue to depart from Tromsø.
There are both summer and winter several whale watching providersIn winter, some operators focus on traditional whale watching, while others specialize in snorkeling with whales. Prices, boat types, group sizes, rental equipment, and tour duration vary, so it's a good idea to read reviews and compare offers beforehand to find the perfect tour for you.
Please always look for responsible skippers who do not endanger the whales and respect the animals at all times.
This editorial contribution received external support
Disclosure: AGE™ services were discounted or provided free of charge as part of the Lofoten-Opplevelser report. The press code applies: research and reporting must not be influenced, hindered or even prevented by accepting gifts, invitations or discounts. Publishers and journalists insist that information is given regardless of the acceptance of a gift or invitation. When journalists report on press trips to which they have been invited, they indicate this funding.
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The content of the article has been carefully researched and is based on personal experience. However, if information is misleading or incorrect, we assume no liability. If our experience does not match your personal experience, we assume no liability. Since nature is unpredictable, a similar experience cannot be guaranteed on a subsequent trip. Furthermore, circumstances can change. AGE™ does not guarantee topicality or completeness.
Source reference for text research
Information on site, interview with Rolf Malnes from Lofoten-Opplevelser, as well as personal experiences on a total of four whale tours including snorkeling with whales in a dry suit in Skjervøy in November 2022.
Lofoten-Opplevelser (n.d.) Homepage of Lofoten-Opplevelser. [online] Last accessed on December 28.12.2023, XNUMX, from URL: https://lofoten-opplevelser.no/en/
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