Dive Review of Northern-Explorers in
Norwegian Sea/Skjervoy and east fiords

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Northern-Explorers: "Unique World Class Orca, Humpback Drysuit Norway Snorkeling via Duen", Nov, 2024, by Garth Peterson, OH, US ( Reviewer 3 reports). Report 13253.
Photos Submitted with this Report Click on an image to see an enlarged version and captions
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation	N/A	Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	I booked this northern-explore Duen III ship (8 customer 72 ‘ sailboat) “orca snorkeling trip” to Norway via world renowned Faith Ortins of Bluegreen Expeditions (Oregon) ; a great article about her in DAN magazine 2024. The trip was Nov. 12 thru Nov. 22, 2024 including a lot of travel from Clev. OH! Six days of actual snorkeling (avoid the 3 day to improve your odds); with drysuits transpires (11 days of total planned transit and buffer). Book it early as these weeks are going fast typ. I bought 2 separate tickets to allow for the spare night in Tromso via United (USA leg) and SAS the 2nd. USE THE SAS app religiously as they Bumped Back my flight a day unilaterally Without telling us. Northern Explorers supplies the drysuits, etc. (they have soe cold weather waterproof deck suits on board too for loan) but they are wet booties and wet gloves systems (better to bring your own gear to make sure it fits optimally and Faith hooked me up with a Totally dry system DUI suit that had a 7mm wet hood.) One spends up to 2 to 3 hrs. in a zodiac trying to get into position repeatedly for multiple water entries anticipating the path of the humpback, minke whales and orca pods. Owner Sven did a great job of being strategic in his Zodiac positioning strategies. Meals on board were adequate and strategic consistency for being possibly in transit to locations. NO alcohol is available on board so bring your own vodka. If time is available in Skjervoy buy beer before 6 pm. The ferry bus schedule won’t typ. allow you to do that as they don’t leave Tromso till 4 pm and one can’t get on the sailboat till 4 pm. There are airbnb’s in remote Skjervoy, but few hotels. Great little internet café in town and Xtra grocery store. More to do in Tromso Hotel Moxey and Radisson Blu I used. 2nd one much nicer. Hotel Tron was 1st choice. If it is rough the 2 hr. ferry will Not run and you then Have to take a bus. Tickets are only available 30 minutes before the segment (Bus 150 & then bus 155 via Svipper.) There is an ATM at the bus/ferry station and shops. 2 to 3 hundred in cash (tips < $200 optional) is about all you need as credit cards acceptable everywhere. A unique Reindeer burger and local beer at Nyt is a must in Tromso. Cell service in the remote fiords was amazing so use that as a lot of long hrs. to occupy yourself. They have books/games on board to read and I used eBook’s on my cell to pass the time. Great attentive smart crew of up to 4 . (20 yrs. Experience) No language issues. No wifi on board. First day we had an orca within 20 ft. of the mother ship swimming parallel to us popping up to breath. Saw a humpback up close caught in a fishing net on the surface. Unlike the stringent personnel offset spacing of Canada or the US the Norway ones are more relaxed due to the remote fjords, professional guides, etc. in the Arctic circle. There is only about 3 hrs. of daylight each day max. on a good day so utilizing the available light is imperative. A USA sub got caught up in a fishing net near Tromso while we were there. Norway is a safe, friendly, beautiful country. Weather potentials can affect your activities. One day we got shut out with no sightings, but these fiords are typ. a great area for the 3 month herring winter run that these predators feast on. Orca’s are safe we were told as only Seaworld or equiv. had a human fatality or 2 (over the yrs.) This is hypothesized to have a couple orca.s from different pods and the shallowness that cause their bent dorsal fin, stress, etc. I had the whole bow double bunk bedroom to myself as a single male traveler, but it is a low ceiling and one must walk thru the other bedroom and the shared jon to get out. Fortunately the German pair slept in so I got up at 730 am to use the toilet/shower. The sea water was probably < 40F and the air in the 30’s. It was getting down to a low of 8F after we left and snow (we lucked out as no snow during our trip). MUST HAVE WARM WATERPROOF GARB. Climbing on and off the boat at the pier can be an ordeal so this trip is not for the faint of heart. The crew insures it is done safely. A good trip but very pricey for all the components and travel. Ship portion is reasonable. Competitors can be much pricier! It was on my bucket list for yrs. Because No where else in the world can one do this Unique experience. We saw the amazing Northern Lights too! Hot tub on board too. The book Winter Whales in Skjervoy is a must buy, but you must have access to open store hrs. or ask crew to get it for you ahead of time (or Tromso area bookstore) and reimburse the $30 . Great pics! The cultural experience of a lifetime too!
Websites	Northern-Explorers
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Galapagos, Australia, Coco Island Costa Rica, Red Sea, Tahiti, Indonesia, Komodo Island, all areas of Carribbean, Bonaire , Great white shark cage diving
Closest Airport	Tromso, Norway	Getting There	SAS airlines/Svipper bus or ferry
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy	Seas	choppy, no currents
Water Temp	34-40°F / 1-4°C	Wetsuit Thickness	7
Water Visibility	20-25 Ft/ 6-8 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	snorkeling at your own pace
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	None	Whales	> 2
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals	N/A	Tropical Fish	N/A
Small Critters		Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Northern-Explorers in Norwegian Sea/Skjervoy and east fiords

Northern-Explorers: "Unique World Class Orca, Humpback Drysuit Norway Snorkeling via Duen", Nov, 2024,

Photos Submitted with this Report

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Northern-Explorers in
Norwegian Sea/Skjervoy and east fiords