We believe in running ethical, safe and low pressure operations which not only offers the best experience for our guests but also places an even higher priority on the well-being of the animals we are fortunate enough to encounter. We have the flexibility to move over great distances and to avoid the situations outlined below due to more days at sea and more flexibility to look for suitable groups to interact with (away from ‘busy’ areas).

For the most part day operators:

• have poor or no preparation briefings, no checks and no prerequisites for clients to be able to enter the water, creating not only unsafe situations for the people in the water but also high stress and unsafe conditions for the animals.
• often takes as many as 12 people per trip, some of whom do not have an experienced or qualified in-water guide or supervisor.
• have a matter of hours to ensure clients get the experience they pay for. This unfortunately places a lot of stress on the operator to deliver and results in animals being chased, harassed and very often overwhelmed by boat traffic. In Nov 2018 we witnessesd as many as 26 boats on a single pod of 9 to 12 orcas. Situations like this can last hours (for as long as there is  daylight), all boats chasing and trying to get ‘the best position or view’ which directly influences the normal behaviour of the animals.
• operate illegally. In recent years far too many operators (day, long-term, topside and in-water) are not registered in Norway and/or are taking guests to sea without the correct certification or training required by Norwegian law in order to operate any form of whale watching activity. This has resulted in the authorities taking matters into their own hands and some much needed regulations are expected very soon.

To have the best experience we advise anyone planning to join to try and join at least an openwater freediving course with a recognised agency (for example SSI, AIDA, FII) before arriving. This usually takes two to three days and there are schools throughout the world – have a look at the SSI Level 1 course as offered by Freedive International who has centers in Dahab, Tenerife, Thailand etc. Here you will learn the basics to get started (you’ll dive comfortably to at least 10 meters / max 20 meters by the end of the course) and can then do additional training with friends / a center to build up even more confidence.

In addition to this, as an in-water participant you need to be able to meet ALL of the requirements in the REQUIREMENTS section of this website

The water activities are primarily aimed at individuals who are confident in the water as freedivers or experienced snorkelers, including comfort with full dive equipment suitable for colder water. The reason for this is that we want to offer guests the best possible experience and therefore cannot directly supervise anyone during the dives who is not comfortable / requires constant assistance. If you would simply like to just be watching the animals and scenery in the comfort of our luxury catamaran, you are of course more than welcome!

Please refer to the question above. Being a strong swimmer does not necessarily mean clients will be comfortable with snorkelling while using the required equipment for colder water. Therefore we urge clients to be have enough experience to join us in the water (either while snorkelling or freediving). Please refer to the REQUIREMENTS section for more information

Should any client prove unable to take part in the in-water activities without direct supervision / assistance they will not be allowed to enter the water.

Using a fictional week of 13-20 Nov as an example:

• Day 1 – 13 November –  Welcome – Accommodation at cabin getting to know each other.

• Day 2 – 14 November – Testing of equipment, Fun dives, Presentations & Briefings.

• Day 3 – 15 November – Transport to the boat – Diving

• Day 4 – 16 November – Diving

• Day 5 – 17 November – Diving

• Day 6 – 18 November – Diving

• Day 7 – 19 November – Diving – Return to shore in evening (roughly around 14:30ish, but this can change).

• Day 8 – 20 November – Morning departures

Not at all. Some of our guests are perfectly happy watching the animals and scenery from the comfort of our yachts. In some cases a spouse might not want to dive or perhaps parents would like to bring their kids along.

Although we prefer guests to be older than 12 years of age and the minimum age for all in water activities on our trips follows international diving standards and is set at 16 years of age (with parental consent). For this reason we will unfortunately not be able allow anyone under the age of 16 to enter the water to snorkel/dive although they would be allowed to use the two Stand Up Paddle Boards we have on-board under direct supervision (if the conditions allow).

Not quite…As we are observing wild animals who arrive only for a few months based on the migration pattern of spring spawning herring, there is never a guarantee as to when the whales will arrive, when they will leave or for how long they will stay. That being said, historically (for the last few years), the activity begins towards the end of October  and usually lasts into he first few weeks of January.

One of the most common questions we get asked!

Although it goes without saying that proper winter clothing is essential, you might be surprised how little concern you will have with the outside temperature during your expedition.

Our lyachts are fully heated and you can move around the whole interior without even realising you are right next to the Arctic Circle. Fully equipped with hot showers, it’s as comfortable as can be.

With the proper freediving/snorkelling equipment (see below) you will be nearly oblivious to the water temperature when freediving / snorkelling in northern Norway. Arctic Freediving partner, freediving expert and guide Jacques de Vos has been in the water for hours on end during trips and will be happy to assist clients in choosing the right equipment for their trip.

Clients who wish to take part in any in water activities will be required to bring their own diving or snorkelling equipment as we do not have rental equipment available. The diving or snorkelling equipment should be of sufficient quality and specifications for use in arctic weather and ocean diving. This includes:

• Proper fitting full body Exposure suit with a hood. The following types are recommended as a minimum:

  • Open Cell Freediving suit of at least 7mm thickness
  • Wetsuit or Semidry wetsuit of at least 8mm thickness

• Thick, full coverage diving gloves with a minimum thickness of 6mm

• Diving socks (minimum 3mm) OR dive booties if using open heeled fins

• Fins suitable for snorkelling / freediving

• A rubber or elastic weight belt (weights will be provided if needed)

• Diving Mask

• Snorkel with a highly visible marked tip (waterproof quality, reflective tape is advised)

• It is strongly recommended to have a windbreaker or jacket to wear over the wetsuit in between dives.

• We do not allow dry-suits of any kind as they make the user clumsy and slow to move in the water. If someone holds the group back, they will not be allowed to enter the water.
• We do not recommend using freediving ‘smooth-skin’ suits (if you do not understand this statement, simply ignore it). If you as the client insist on using a ‘smoothskin’ suit (no lining and extremely easy to rip), then please bring your own neoprene glue and make sure you know how to fix your suit as we will not be doing it for you 🙂 Remember – the thicker a smooth-skin suit is, the more likely it is to ripping.

If you are unsure what to get, simply send us an email and we will be happy to assist.

For the most part this should not happen. If clients know how to use and are careful, responsible, calculated and protective of their equipment things should not break / get lost. Due to the limited space we have on-board and our remote location we can not guarantee that we will have ‘spares’ of anything should it break / be lost. If you are nervous about losing a mask or snorkel – bring two 🙂

Of course! As long as the camera is of a reasonable size (does not require assistance to move / use) and does not pose a hazard to other clients. When interacting with whales and/or dolphins, the use of excessive external lighting (strobes, flashes etc) is prohibited where it would cause stress or harm to the animals.

How close they get is entirely up to the animals although it’s not unusual for humpback whales to swim right alongside our catamaran or for orca to pass within less than a 5 meters of our guests.

Boreal Yachting crew members all undergo training in order to practice safe whale watching by placing the comfort and safety of the animals first. All diving activities are performed in a manner which does not interfere with the normal activities of the animals and strict guidelines will be followed to ensure this while still offering guests an experience of a lifetime.

Absolutely not (please refer to the question above).

We have a few SUP boards on baord and clients are more than welcome to use them when conditions / activities permit. Most people learn to use the boards in a matter of minutes and using them in a seated position is also possible. It is a great way to explore the fjords or to see the animals up close from a different perspective.

Your arrival airport, unless otherwise stated, will be Tromsø (airport code: TOS). Most major airlines have connecting flights here so it is very easy to reach.

Use the contact section of our website to start your booking. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have and can supply additional information where needed. Clients will be asked to read, sign and return a client agreement covering all the relevant terms and conditions as well as send an initial deposit.

A booking only comes into effect once the signed agreement AND initial deposit has been received.

All food is prepared on-board and we do our best to cater to everyone’s needs. Should you prefer a vegetarian / vegan menu please indicate this at the time of booking.

In short – We do not serve or sell alcohol and its consumption is limited and only accepted in moderation. Spirits and distilled liquor is strictly forbidden on-board.

Clients are limited to the consumption of a maximum of two units of non-distilled alcohol per day, per person. The two units will adhere to an alcohol by volume content of 15 percent or less (that means beer, cider, wine). By joining, clients agree to abstain from exceeding this alcohol consumption limit or being in possession of / using mood-altering drugs as long as they are taking part in the scheduled week(s). The term “drug” as used here includes any prescribed or non-prescribed mood-altering chemicals (either legal or illegal).

Although the days in Norway are much shorter during winter, there is still enough light during the scheduled trips to enjoy the amazing scenery.

We encourage clients to check with the Norwegian embassy / consulate in their country for more information regarding visas.

Each expedition includes:

• 2 Nights in a guesthouse
• 5 Nights on board the yacht (2 berth cabin)
• Experienced skipper with local knowledge
• Experienced diving guide
• High quality local food prepared on board
• Beverages (not alcohol)
• Transport to and from airport/hotel/yacht
• Fuel, gas, and harbour fees
• One night In Tromsø hotel (night before departure)
• Farewell dinner

 This means that from the moment you arrive at Tromsø airport until the last morning of the expedition, pretty much everything is covered.

Due to local laws we currently only accept payment via bank transfer and can unfortunately not accept payments by credit card, PayPal or any other online money transfer service. All details for this are included in the client agreement at the time of booking.

The dates indicated on our website are all fixed and can unfortunately not be moved. For more information on available weeks, please refer to the price and availability section of our website.

It is important to know that the ‘Arctic Freediving’ product supports local businesses, tourism and job creation. It is offered by a legally registered, tax paying Norwegian company and member of the NHO (Confederation Of Norwegian Enterprise). Our crew and guides are all highly skilled and qualified and we adhere to Norwegian legislation.

Can you answer yes to all these questions?

1. Can you legally work in Norway?
2. Do you have the relevant experience for the role (or location) you are applying for?
3. Are you qualified for the position you wish to apply for?For reference:
   
   Our skippers and crew need to meet the legal requirements to be able to operate / work in Norway. If you are unsure what this means, please do your own research (for skippers/crew – D5L licenses, STCW qualifications for Norway etc). Crew members need to be able to legally drive the tender, cook as well as have relevant experience on boats (assisting with technical issues etc). Our in-water guides are also all required to be professionally certified and are all at an Instructor Trainer Level, each with the relevant insurance etc. Also note that we do not employ individuals for purely Media roles, as the person in charge (who is always present) is an award winning filmmaker and photographer and fills this role.
   

If you can answer yes to all the relevant questions, then feel free to send us your CV. We are particularly interested in skippers and crew as we have a rotation schedule which means both these roles require several people for each season.