Orcas & Whales

Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure in Arctic waters? These trips are perfect for those new to exploring the ocean’s depths with a mask and snorkel. Here are all the trips, Sail & Swim with Orcas & Whales.

Are you an experienced free diver?

These trips are for advanced free divers who are confident in free diving in choppy seas. Here are all the trips, Sail & Freedive with Orcas & Whales.

It’s a fair question – “killer whale” is a big name for a big animal. But there are no recorded cases of orcas attacking humans in the wild.

In our experience, they’re curious, calm and often playful.

Our experienced freediving instructors will go through everything you need to know before we enter the water, so you know what to expect and how to behave around the whales.

The whales always come first. We never chase or swim towards them. We enter the water only when they’re already close, stay calm and let them decide whether to approach us. We follow all guidelines for responsible whale encounters and always keep the animals’ welfare in mind.

We meet the whales on their terms, not ours.

Being in the Arctic means being close to wild nature – and wild nature is never completely without risk. Sailing, skiing, hiking and freediving all involve elements that we cannot fully control. Our job is to understand those risks, prepare for them and make good decisions along the way.

We offer freediving with orcas because we believe it can be an extraordinary way to experience these animals – when it is done responsibly and on their terms.

Safety is always the first priority. Our experienced freediving instructors assess the conditions, brief everyone thoroughly and decide when it is safe to enter the water. Not every situation is suitable for swimming, and sometimes the right decision is to stay on the boat.

There are no guarantees when you travel with us – neither of seeing orcas nor of getting into the water with them. That’s part of experiencing wildlife in the wild.

For us, it’s about finding the balance between adventure, safety and respect for the animals. And sometimes, good seamanship means deciding not to go.

The Humpacks migrate from the Caribbean to the Arctic to feed on the herring that gather in the fjords during winter. Humpback whales are easily recognized as large whales with stout bodies, rounded heads covered in bumps, and long white-undersided flippers. Their dorsal fins are low and vary in shape. They are mostly black, often with white markings on the throat and belly. Adults average 14 m in length and 40 tons, with females slightly larger than males.

Orcas are found in oceans worldwide but are common in Norwegian waters, where they follow herring into the fjords during winter. They are striking black-and-white dolphins with robust bodies, a white patch above each eye, and a distinctive white underside. Males have tall, straight dorsal fins up to 1.8 m high, while females’ fins are shorter and curved. Adults typically range from 6 to 8 m in length and can weigh up to 6 tons, with males being larger than females.

Fin whales, minke whales, and harbor porpoises can also be spotted, though less frequently.