Snorkelling with killer whales during the winter in northern Norway

Definition of a group of killer whales: All killer whales that can be seen in the area by the observer and that show a form of coordinated behaviour or activity

In General

• These guidelines are both for the public, commercial operators, professional divers and documentarists (photographers, TV-Teams and scientists)
• These guidelines only apply for snorkelling - all other activity in the water (free diving, diving and swimming) is not recommended
• These guidelines only apply to snorkelling with killer whales that follow the herring shoals close to the coast in the wintertime. Snorkelling with other whale species and at other times of the year is not recommended
• Snorkelling shall not be done in areas with boat traffic, in or close to a harbour, in fishing fields or in a sea lane
• The guidelines for other whale safaris also apply to snorkelling in terms of searching, approaching and watching whales

Weather and sea conditions

• Snorkelling shall only be done in conditions where the snorkelers will not be put in danger. There needs to be good visibility and visual contact with the snorkelers (no rough seas, fog, snow or darkness). It needs to be possible for the snorkelers to get safely out of the water (not too rough seas and not too strong currents)

Who can participate in these activities?

• All operators must ask their passengers to fill out a standard form for medical waivers of liability, where the participants confirm that their health condition is suitable to conduct the activity
• Participants needs to be more than 16 years old and accompanied by an adult if a minor
• There is no upper age limit as long as the participant signs the medical waivers of liability confirming that his/her health condition is suitable to conduct the activity and the captain agrees to this
• It is not recommended for pregnant women to participate in this activity

Before the trip

• All operators shall give the participants an introduction to the safety equipment before the trip
• The safety introduction should include all safety routines for a normal whale safari and snorkelling, an introduction to standard hand signals for diving, the biology of the killer whale and their behaviour and these guidelines

Equipment

• The participants will be equipped with a dry suit and masks. The dry suits should have a top hood with a highly visible colour (preferably orange)
• The participants can bring their own equipment, as long as they are willing to wear a top hood with a highly visible colour (preferably orange)
• Use of flippers are not recommended. This is to avoid the participants from swimming during the activity.
• Motorised underwater vehicles are not allowed.

Snorkelling

• At the beginning of every season, all operators agree on a common communication channel
• The first boat coordinates the situation. The captain must inform all other vessels in the area when snorkelers go in and out of the water
• The killer whales’ behaviour is to be considered before snorkelers are put in the water. If the killer whales shows evasive behaviour, snorkelling is not allowed
• Snorkelling can only take place when  killer whales are hunting, eating or moving at slow speeds (not when they are sleeping and are laying still in the water)
• When all criteria for snorkelling are fulfilled, the boats will adjust their speed to that of the killer whales (normally 4-5 knots) and approach the group from the side
•  When the captain gives the all-clear signal for snorkelling, the participants slowly slide in to the water from the side of the boat. Avoid jumps, splashing and noise
• There should not be more than one boat with maximum 6 snorkelers in the water in the snorkelling zone (20-50 metres from the killer whales) per group of killer whales at any one time. Other boats are to wait for their turn more than 50 metres away from the killer whales in the waiting zone (50-300 metres)
• Snorkelers must keep a minimum distance of 20 metres from the killer whales and keep still
• Snorkelers must always stay together in a group on the surface.
• Participants should avoid attempts to dive, swim, make noise and splashing as well as avoid approaching the killer whales or try to make physical contact
• Snorkelers must keep visual contact with the boat and respond quickly to signals from the crew
• Snorkelling usually last from 5 -10 minutes, depending on the weather, safety, and  the behaviour of the killer whales
• Snorkelling can last up to 30 minutes if there are no other boats waiting for their turn.  The captain decides when the snorkelling ends
• When the captain ends the snorkelling, the participants will be picked up and brought on board from the side of the boat, with the engine in neutral. It is recommended to have a platform or a ladder on the back of the boat to  make the pick-up easier
• The captain can end the activity immediately because of weather conditions, whale behaviour and if the snorkelers do not follow the safety instructions or because of other safety-related issues
• The participants that do not follow these guidelines will be warned or immediately picked up from the water. If the participants continue this behaviour after being warned, the snorkelling will be ended for these participants
• In addition to these points, the other guidelines for whale safari also apply

Notes about safety when snorkelling with killer whales

• At least one of the crew members/guides per trip (not necessary per boat) shall have training in rescue and diving, and shall be dressed in a dry suit
• All operators that offer snorkelling are to have an Alpha flag (A-flag) onboard the boat as a common navigational signal for divers/snorkelers in the water. This flag is only to be used when snorkelers are in the water
• In order to make the pick-up of participants easier better pick up of participants,  one can use a short floating rope, of maximum 4 metres in length It is not recommended to use ropes in the water between the snorkeler during the activity because of the increased risk of killer whales getting stuck in them or the ropes getting entangled in the propellers
• Crew members that are responsible for passengers during the season should get training in these guidelines and safety procedures