Why Skjervøy is the best spot to swim with orcas
Herring, sheltered fjords and a particular winter light: three simple reasons why orcas return to this corner of Northern Norway every year.
People often ask why we keep going back to the same place. The answer is one word: herring. Everything else follows from it.
A fjord, herring, and everything follows
Every winter, vast quantities of herring move into the shelter of the fjords of Northern Norway for the cold season. That concentration of food draws predators: orcas first, often alongside humpback whales.
The Skjervøy area sits right in the middle of these fjords. Three conditions rarely found together are met there: animals in numbers, relatively sheltered waters, and a harbour that lets you reach the area without spending hours getting to it.
A short window, in the depth of winter
The season is brief. It follows the fish, generally from late autumn into midwinter. At that time of year, above the Arctic Circle, daylight amounts to a few hours of low light, and the nights are long — which also multiplies the chances of seeing the northern lights.
That very low, blue-tinted light is part of the experience: it gives outings at sea an atmosphere you find nowhere else. It also brings its constraints, particularly for photography and video.
What "swimming with orcas" actually means
It does not mean diving into the middle of a group. You stay at the surface with fins, mask and snorkel, in a drysuit, floating at a distance while the animals carry on with what they were doing. They choose whether to come closer, or not.
- Slow, parallel approach — never cutting across the group's path
- Engine idling or off before anyone enters the water
- Calm entries, a few people at a time
- No contact, no feeding
- Distance kept from mothers with calves
- Back on board as soon as the skipper asks
Some outings end without anyone entering the water, because the sea is too rough or because the animals are not in a situation that allows it. That is normal, and it is actually a good sign: it means the decision is made on the spot, based on the real situation.
Why a small group changes everything
On the water, numbers matter. Eight people on a boat means orderly entries, a briefing everyone can hear, and the ability to react within minutes when a situation appears. It is also easier on the animals.
Ashore, the effect is the same: one house for the group, meals cooked together, and evenings that stretch out while watching the sky. The sociable side is not an add-on, it is the format.
Getting ready without overthinking it
No diving experience is needed: being able to swim and breathe through a snorkel is enough. Drysuit, mask and snorkel are provided. The rest fits in a bag: thermal layers, good gloves, a hat and warm boots.
The most important thing is the mindset. You are going to watch wild animals in their environment, in winter, above the Arctic Circle. Nothing is guaranteed — and that is exactly what makes the encounter memorable when it happens.
Tempted by the trip?
The full trip is described on the trip page, and dates are set with you.