Jumping into the ice cold water, adrenaline pumped through my body. Never have I felt so small… the breathtaking Fjords of Norway surrounded me as I bob up and down in the water. The pink and orange water coloured sky filled with soaring birds and as I plunged my head under the water, I saw them. The king of the ocean, the panda of the sea, a synchronised dance of the magnificent orcas had me hypnotised. I feel like I had been waiting for this moment all my life, and it did not disappoint.
Swimming with orcas in Norway is something that not a lot of people have on their bucket list. Firstly, not a lot of people are aware that this type of adventure exists, but there are other reasons why some think it’s not for them, and today I’m here to change your mind.
Reason number 1… “Are you crazy? I am not getting in the water with a predator that eats seals…
when I wear my cosy wetsuit, I tend to look a lot like a juicy seal!”
Ah yes so this is the most common misunderstanding (and totally understandably too). When we watch animal documentaries, we are taught that orcas hunt and kill whales, seals and other creatures which is true, but did you know that there are different types of orcas? The ones that reside in Norway are called ‘residents’ which means that their diet does not consist of mammals but of herring. We would never claim that any ocean adventure is 100% safe, even when you go to your local beach you have to be aware of your surroundings and act with caution but rest assured that when you go swimming with orcas in Norway, you are not on the menu.
Reason number 2…. “This kind of adventure is only for dare devils”
Let me tell you that you can do this! You do not need to dive, you just need to be able to snorkel and have a decent fitness level. Just because you are an accountant from Michigan, an artist from Paris or a chiropractor from Sydney that does not mean that you cannot be an absolute boss and have an adventure that you will remember for your lifetime. If swimming with the orcas isn’t your thing, you can absolutely watch the show from the boat (and it is one hell of a show, even topside) and if that is not reason enough, let me just leave you with these words….. husky sledding, northern lights, hot tub, reindeer, snow, fjords, magical wonderland, epic guides, trip of a LIFETIME!
Reason number 3… “I care about the orcas well being and don’t want to harm them”
Guys!! … Us Too!! We are conservationists and absolute animal lovers. That’s why we got into this career in the first place. Animal safety is our top priority and we always adhere to guidelines in every place we visit and every whale we swim with. If given a choice of harassing an animal to get an encounter or missing out… we will always choose to miss out and try again next time. This is why we always have plenty of days out on the water to maximise chances and to be honest if this doesn’t sit well with you, it is probably the wrong tour for you. When you connect with an animal in its natural environment you hold that in your heart forever and chances are you will become like us and do everything in your power to try and protect them.
Reason number 4… “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr”
Haha ok well this one is fair enough. Yes it is cold cold cold! But…. The boat is heated and when you are in the water you will be given a drysuit to wear which insulates the water coming in. Your hands and face tend to be the coldest but trust me it is honestly the last thing you are thinking about when you are in that water. Take it from me as someone who wears ten layers of clothes when the weather gets slightly chilly, please don’t make this the reason you don’t go to this truly magnificent piece of paradise. You just need to be prepared with the correct clothing, and whenever you are inside everywhere nice and warm.
Well there it is, all the myths busted about swimming with orcas in Norway. If you are up for the adventure of a lifetime in the most magical place on earth, click on this link for more info.