MS Sula

Join Orca Norway & Strmsholmen Seasportcenter's 3 or 6 day orca expeditions aboard a well equipped 91ft live-aboard cutter with compressor, tanks and weights for 12 divers, MS Sula.

The trips embark from Troms. Guests will need to fly in to Troms Airport (TOS).

Dive Overview

The trips main focus is observing and swimming with orcas (killer whales). Theres estimated 1,500 orcas in Norwegian waters and hundreds of them come to northern Norways fjords between late October and early February following the herring migration.

Orcas in Norway are of the North Atlantic Type 1 ecotype, living in closely related pods and sometimes observed in aggregations of hundreds strong. They employ the so-called carousel feeding technique, where they herd herring into dense balls, then slap them with their tails to stun the fish and proceed eating them one-by-one. These fjords also get visited by great numbers of humpback whales, preying on herring using the lunge feeding technique, a true spectacle to be witnessed top-side.

Read more about Norway here.

Accommodation Overview

The lower deck features three double cabins, each accommodating two guests. The upper deck offers an additional three double cabins with the same capacity. A single double cabin is located on the top deck, providing an elevated stay experience. All guests share access to three toilets and two showers.

Dive Information

Choose from a 3 days or 6 days orca expedition trips. Every year from the end of October to beginnng of February, the probably largest gathering of killing whales in the world take place in Troms region, far north of Norway, due to enormous amounts of herring. Sometimes as many as 50-60 orcas and humpback whales can be observed at the same time. We follow the orcas closely to watch them play and feed. When possible, we enter the water and swim with them. To be with these magnificent animals in their own habitat is an experience for life.

Water temperature in October - January is about 4 - 6C (39 - 42F) and air temperature ranges from -7 to +10C (20 - 50F).

A Typical Day Onboard

• Wake up at 07:30 am
• Breakfast at 08:00-08:30 am
• Boat leaves the harbour about 09:00 am.
• We go out to the fjord for seeking orcas.
• Sometimes we see the animals immediately and can start the operation soon.
• Other days we need hours to find the orcas. When we find the orcas we move to the less boat (dinghy equipped with dry-suit and keep the camera ready for photo action.
• Normally we are in the dinghy two to three hours and then back to the main ship for eating hot soup, coffee break and lunch.
• When the darkness is coming we go to the closest bay or harbor to stay the night over.
• Dinner onboard at 18:00 hrs.

USEA

USEA is the network for those who care about the respect of the comfort and the wild nature of marine mammals. Approved by scientists working in the field of marine mammals, USEA interactions are much better than enforced encounters for both diver and marine mammal.

On board the boat during ORCA EXPEDITION, guided by the best specialists you will learn with USEA techniques how to come close and interact in the best conditions with orcas and large whales.

Successful USEA interaction allows you to be USEA Diver, registered in the network with an unique number. You will have your own Certification.