Highlights
- 6 days of diving in the fjords
- Supervision by a guide specialising in diving and orcas
- Unlimited dives
- Life aboard a sailing ship, an old Norwegian rig
- A very respectful approach to animals
- A group limited to a maximum of 6 people
- The Northern Lights
This extraordinary trip takes us up close to Norway's resident orcas and humpback whales, which gather every winter in the fjords of the Troms region for a feast of herring. From our sailing boat and accompanied by a specialist cetacean guide, we alternate between surface observations and underwater encounters with the queens of the oceans. An experience of rare intensity!
Descriptif
Every year, at the beginning of winter, the fjords of northern Norway are the scene of a spectacular natural phenomenon, with millions of herring gathering to seek refuge in the calm, deep waters after spending the summer feeding off the coast. This is a godsend for several predators, notably Norway's resident orcas (which feed exclusively on fish!) and humpback whales, which have made a habit of ‘stopping off’ here on their long migration to the warm waters of the tropics to reproduce.
From late October to late January, the orcas and whales feed frantically, offering us a fabulous spectacle under the northern lights on the eve of the polar night and the aurora borealis.
With several years of experience tracking, observing and immersing ourselves with cetaceans, we take you on a journey to discover these fascinating animals on the surface and in their underwater world. You will learn captivating things about these species and be eager to return again and again...
Jour par jour
DAY 1: FLIGHT TO TROMSØ
Day 1
We arrive in Tromsø, capital of the Norwegian Arctic located at 69° North. Welcomed on arrival by our guide, we head to the port overlooking the Barents Sea and our sailboat waiting for us at the dock.
Once on board and after a good dinner, the crew will give us instructions on life on board and safety. If sea and weather conditions allow, we will set sail in the evening for a night voyage to reach the area where the cetaceans gather in the morning. We have about 55 miles to cover (90 km). This voyage may involve passing the northern tip of the Lyngen Alps, known for its strong winds and sometimes rough seas, but that's all part of the adventure.
DAY 2: CHECK DIVE AND FIRST OBSERVATIONS/DIVES IN THE FJORDS
Day 2
After a night of sailing, we wake up on the outskirts of Kågen Island. The sailboat is anchored and breakfast time is devoted to a briefing, an important moment, as we will learn a lot about the social life of orcas, their behavior, and, above all, detail the techniques for approaching them on the surface and underwater, as well as the right attitudes to adopt. After more than six years of diving with cetaceans, we have accumulated a wealth of experience in maximizing the most respectful interactions possible with orcas and whales in Norway.
Next, with the sailboat still at anchor, we will conduct a"check dive" with a dress rehearsal: boarding the zodiac, familiarizing ourselves with the different techniques for launching, checking everyone's ballast, kicking and short breath holds, in order to "test the waters" of the Barents Sea in winter! We will spend the next few days entering the water in a sea that is sometimes calm, sometimes rough, sometimes snowy, and as safety is our top priority, it is necessary to ensure that everyone is comfortable.
The rest of the morning is devoted to searching for groups of cetaceans, an opportunity to make our first observations and undoubtedly our first dives for underwater encounters.
At this latitude and time of year, night falls quickly (around 2:30 p.m.). After spending time on deck and in the water, it is a pleasure to gather in the dining area for a meal prepared by our cook.
We find a sheltered anchorage for the most comfortable night possible.
DAYS 3 TO 7: SAILING, OBSERVATIONS AND DIVING WITH ORCAS AND WHALES
Day 3
Over the following days, we will devote all our time and energy to searching for cetaceans and situations that allow us to join them in the water without disturbing them. The schedule is as follows: breakfast around 7 a.m. and briefing, putting on our wetsuits, preparing our equipment on deck, and setting off. We use binoculars to look for spouts and fins that indicate the presence of cetaceans and their direction of travel. There are many animals in the area and it is not uncommon to see orcas playing in the wake of our boat!
If we see a situation where it is possible to get in the water (for example, if the orcas have gathered to feed on herring just below the surface), we quickly board the zodiac to reach the area. The zodiac always stops at a distance and it is up to us to swim the last few metres to ‘the encounter’!
Interactions with orcas (or humpback whales, which are also numerous!) are fascinating moments of incredible intensity. It is not uncommon to be overwhelmed with emotion when you come out of the water, which should not make us forget that we are insignificant in these icy waters!
Our guide will decide whether to continue or stop an encounter in order to ensure the safety of the group and to respect our ethics of interaction with the orcas.
At nightfall, we gather in the dinette to share our feelings, photos and videos, and learn a little more about orcas.
The afternoon is often spent resting after intense hours spent on deck and in the water. The tranquillity and warmth of the boat are conducive to napping or daydreaming, unless the Northern Lights call us back on deck!
Every evening, we anchor in a sheltered spot in one of the many fjords. We are at the gateway to the Arctic on the eve of the polar night, and storms are frequent. Our crew of professional sailors and our guide are in constant communication to make the best decisions.
Depending on sea conditions, we will begin our return voyage to Tromsø at the end of the morning on day 7.
DAY 8: DISEMBARKATION AND RETURN FLIGHT
Day 8
This morning, depending on our flight schedules, we leave our ship moored at the quay in downtown Tromsø and travel to the airport in 15 minutes.
FIN DE PROGRAMME
For reasons that cannot be foreseen at this stage, such as unpredictable weather, the physical fitness or lack of fitness of participants or other circumstancess (customs formalities, road conditions, traffic, landslides, force majeure, etc.), your expedition leader may have to adapt the program, if necessary, to ensure the smooth running of your trip. He remains the sole judge and the one who guarantees your safety. Activity times are given as an indication and may vary from one participant to another.
The itinerary for all our expedition programs, or the ascent program for our high-mountain expeditions, are given here as a guide only. They are flexible enough to adapt to weather conditions with a few contingency days. In any case, you should follow the recommendations of your guide, who may suggest that you cancel your expedition due to weather, safety or physical conditions.
It is important to remember that this is a truly unsupported expedition, and that anything can happen. Expeditions Unlimited, your expedition leader, your guide or our local teams can in no way be held responsible.
Any costs incurred as a result of a change in the expedition schedule (extra nights' accommodation, extra flights) will be borne by the participants and not by the organizers. "Contingency days" refer to the expedition in the strict sense of the term (base camp/base camp in the mountains, departure point/exit point on a traverse, etc.).
Any early return of the expedition or of certain members only (early success, abandonment, etc.), generating costs for accommodation, meals, changes to air tickets or other activities not provided for in this program, will be charged in full to the participants.
Fiche Technique
Accompagnement
This trip is accompanied by Sébastien Royer, a diving and freediving professional. A specialist in Norwegian waters, he has been organising cruises and boat trips to encounter Norway's resident orcas and humpback whales for over 6 years. Ensuring your safety, he will share with you the knowledge he has accumulated from hundreds of dives.
For unpredictable reasons at this stage, like adverse weather conditions, insufficient physical condition of participants, insufficient competencies of participants related to the intended activities, your guide may decide to adjust the intended program and/or activities. At all times, his decision will be final on all matters likely to affect the safety and well-being of the trip.
Taille du groupe
The group is composed of 5 to 6 participants maximum. The number of participants is deliberately limited to allow for greater immersion, to avoid embarrassing our hosts, and to develop freedom and flexibility. However, the maximum number may be exceeded if the last person to register wishes to travel with one or more other people. The services will not be modified, and the conditions of the trip will remain the same.
Équipement
Personal equipment is not provided. However, a complete list is provided to allow you to check that you are taking what is necessary.
Nos engagements pour un développement durable
Our commitment to a better planet has been a reality since the beginning of our story but we always need to do more and better. Please find out more about our charter and our commitments in terms of sustainable development. We have drafted our charter and take action through six themes on which we act as concretely as possible, most often with you: social equity and cultural respect, preservation of water, waste management in expedition, protection of biodiversity, raise public awareness on these subjects and finally, the optimization and recovery of CO2 emissions.
Regarding carbon emissions, most of which are due to air travel, we calculated and communicated in 2018 on the carbon footprint of each of our programs, expressed in tonnes of CO2.
And in 2022, we have set ourselves a carbon reduction target that we believe is unprecedented in the tourism industry, aiming to reduce the total emissions of our activity by 5% per year, taking 2019 as the reference year (3,430 tonnes of CO2). This commitment is in line with the trajectory of the Paris climate agreements of 2015, the current benchmark. By 2030, we aim to not exceed 2,160 tons of CO2. In 2024, all Secret Planet journeys emitted 2,064 tons, well below our maximum limit of 2,940 tons. The ceiling for 2025 is 2,800 tons, and in 2026 it will be further reduced to 2,660 tons. And so on until 2030. To find out more about all of our calculations and our commitments in terms of reducing our carbon emissions.
In addition, since 2019, we have been encouraging you when you book for your journey to contribute with a donation to an independent NGO, among the two we have selected that share the commitments made in our charter. We matched the amount of this donation to this program's carbon footprint. Thus, the journey you are considering generates 1,96 tons of CO2, which corresponds to a 100% donation of €59 for an estimated value today of €30 per tonne of CO2. This donation remains of course optional and you can decide to give between nothing and 100% of this amount. Since 2019, including covid years of 2020 and 2021, we have been able to collect thanks to you nearly €5,500 for these associations.
Please do not hesitate to come back to us with any questions you might have regarding this carbon footprint mechanism, our other sustainable développement commitments or even to share with us your experience through a chat or a mail at contact@secret-planet.com.
Dates et Prix
Please find below all dates and prices for this expedition. Prices are quoted "from" and may be adjusted notably according to the number of participants (see trip notes for details). Please note that dates and prices for years beyond 2024, when given, are for guidance only and are subject to change and readjustment to take account of current economic realities.
No date works for me!
I initiate a new dateLe prix comprend
- Accommodation and full board on board the sailing boat
- Accompaniment by a qualified freediving/diving guide
- A professional French crew of 3 people (skipper, first mate and cook)
- 1 and 2 kg lead diving weights
Le prix ne comprend pas
- Flights to/from Tromsø
- Taxi transfers from the airport to the port in Tromsø
- Snorkelling equipment (wetsuit, fins, mask, snorkel, gloves and booties, weight belt)
- Alcoholic beverages on board
Customized journey
Your custom expedition
We put our expertise, our knowledge of the terrain, our creativity, our experience, the quality of our guides and the reliability of our partners at your service to build your custom expedition. We can also personalize an expedition to your wishes as soon as you form a "closed" group, whatever the number of participants.
This means that, unless you authorize us to do otherwise, no outside participants join you, and we can personalize your expedition by adapting it to your own pace, with the program extensions you desire, a higher level of comfort, certain activities, other encounters, etc.
Every expedition of this type is subject to a specific quotation. To get in touch with us now, please fill in the short questionnaire below. One of our experts will get back to you to refine your request and make you a proposal.
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