norway
ITINERARY
Join us to the absolute epi-centre of orcas swimming - the fjords of Norway. The best place in the world to observe and swim with Orca, the actual king of the ocean.
We will be going on a 7 day trip with 5 days in the water. Aboard the Norwegian expedition vessel M/V Freya we will be searching for the best Orca feeding grounds. Only when Orcas are actually found will we be going on the Zodiacs to get close to the action and swim with them. This is the most comfortable way to experience Orcas in their natural habitat.
DATES
03/11 TO 09/11/2025
09/11 TO 15/11/2025
03/11 TO 09/11/2026
09/11 TO 15/11/2026
THE WHALES
Orcas are the actual top of the food chain in the cool seas. They prey on small and large, even Great White, Tiger Sharks and Blue Whales are on their menu. Yet, there has never been an incident between humans and Orca (except under duress in captivity). They are amongst the smartest beings on this planet and they just seem to sense that we are not food.
The Orcas come to this area of Norway to hunt for Herring which aggregate in large schools in the fjords. While the orcas are busy with the hunt they care for nothing else, so we will be able to watch them up close. The herring season is November to February but the best season is November and January as in December the daylight hours are very short.
THE ACTIVITIES
This is a snorkel and freedive trip, no scuba diving. It is not necessary to be able to freedive but you will need to be ready to fin and swim to the action. We will be based on Zodiacs that can be a bit bumpy.
The mothership will always be close by, so you can also wait for the action on the warm boat or even in the hot tub. This set up is by far the most comfortable way to experience the Orcas in action. The normal land-based approach means that you have to stay out all day on the boat, even if there is no action. Also, the landbased boats are restricted to one area which is why they normally only run in November. In january only the liveaboard can go where the Orcas are and we will have the action to ourselves.
Every evening we will anchor somewhere else, mostly in a fishing port. We can go out exploring the towns and pubs and try weird Norwegian food. On every clear night we will be taken out into the mountains to see the Nordic Lights aka aurora borealis.
Other activities may include sledging, a walk into the local village or a visit to a local brewery or salmon farm
On days where the water if too rough they plan short-notice for dogsledding, snowshoeing or visiting a reindeer farm at an optional extra cost.
Our hosts Alex Pham will host photo talks on whales and photography. Dont miss Alex mini-workshop on taking photos of the polar lights.
THE COLD
It's arctic winter, no getting around talking about the cold. The water will be 5-9 degrees and the air temperature will range from -2 to +5 but can also be colder or warmer. In November is the key season for whales as it's a bit warmer than in other parts of the winter and the days are longer than in December. In December there are not trips because the day light hours are too short.
Some of the best action has been recorded in November to January so it is well worth the cold. If you are too cold you can always be brought back to the mothership to warm up with drink, food and the hot tub and come out again when orcas have been spotted.
YOUR insider ON THese TRIPs
SIMON LORENZ
Simon is an underwater photographer and journalist whose images have appeared in articles worldwide including many about sharks. He has often been invited to talk on stage old about his favorite animal group - the sharks.
Simon is the founder of Insider Divers and has been running workshops since 2015. he has been photo coaching for many years on numerous workshops, 1-to-1 coaching and on his Youtube channel. If you have any questions on this workshop he will be more than happy to help in a personal phone call.
THE ACCOMODATION
The M/V Freya is a classic expedition ship originally used as a lighthouse-building vessel. Her sturdy, ice-strengthened 1A hull makes her perfect for exploring the Nordic waters. With room on board for 18 passengers but only 12 guests the ship has an intimate atmosphere, and her large size gives lots of room for comfort.
There are two zodiacs for the 12 guests that offers more flexibility. Each boat is equipped with a driver and a naturalist and your Insider Diver will rotate between the boats.
The comfortable rooms are equipped with a window, table and an ensuite bathroom and shower, ensuring that you have all the necessary amenities for a pleasant and convenient stay. Freya will keep you warm after a long day
on the icey water by offering a outdoor jacuzzi and indoor Sauna!
BIANCA
I joined the Insider Divers Trip to Norway this winter, which was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can’t predict nature, and you can never be 100 percent sure that you will have wildlife encounters – however, Simons's wise planning made sure that our prospects were pretty good. We saw hundreds of Orcas, groups of humpback whales, and fin whales. Aside from unbelievable encounters I will never forget, it was an amazing journey with fun, like-minded people. Thank you, Simon!
MAGDALENA
I am very happy I have decided to book my trip to Norway. I have received support from InsiderDivers during the booking process - team was very understandable. For which I am very grateful. Trip itself was full of WoW and OMG expressions. Guides were working very hard to ensure we will get the experience we all were looking for-
The Bait Ball. And we Did it! Swimming with Orcas is addictive 😅 that's for sure. Equipment was professional as well as the team. Everyone was respectful towards the animals comfort space. Norwegian fjords are stunning and we also managed to see the northern lights. If you are concern about water temperature- don't be. Its warmer than the air. Plus excitment and adrenaline rush keeps you warm. Professional photographer, Tobias and Evan managed to capture memories of a lifetime. My dreams came true. Thank you!
MARIE
rcas of Norway 2022 organized by Simon Lorenz from Insider Divers was the most magically, unreal trip of a lifetime. Yes, it was sooo cold, but if I can do it (55-year-old, “cold weather is torture” woman) anyone can do it! This is my second trip with Simon, and the only question is which will be my next one? Simon takes care of everything: he finds the most extraordinary experience available per location, he answers all your pre-trip questions and needs, he answers and fixes any issues during the trip (1st trip - He realized I had a scuba diving training deficiency and took the time to instruct me, plus fixed the settings on my complicated dive watch. 2nd trip - He fixed my GoPro settings, and got me last minute a freediving 7mm wetsuit since my custom-made one wasn’t delivered on time), so he basically takes the time to make sure your adventure is the most possibly perfect and safe one. Furthermore, it is such a welcoming experience where different people from different age groups become wonderful friends. I will keep reliving for a long time with everyone’s videos and photos the 3 bait balls, 100s of orcas, several humpbacks and fin whales we saw, and our little escapades thru small towns along the way and the Tromso cable cars (Fjellheisen). Going back home, you realize how fortunate you are to be one of the few people on Earth to have snorkeled/freedived with these beautiful, majestic animals. Finally, for the icing on your chocolate cake…the photos Simon took of you!