Killer whale (orca) diving: where and when
Ecotype-dependent: herring-following pods in Norway (Nov–Jan), salmon specialists in British Columbia, sea-lion beach-hunters at Valdes, bluefin-tuna hunters at the Strait of Gibraltar, and open-ocean hunters off Bremer Canyon, Australia. 9 known encounter sites across 9 countries: Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Iceland and Argentina and others. Best single site: Tromso / Skjervoy fjords, Norway — very high reliability, peak nov-jan. No certification is required at the easiest sites — some are snorkel or freedive only.
- Sites
- 9
- IUCN status
- Data Deficient (species)
- Min. certification
- No certification
- Typical depth
- Surface
9 countries
Every known killer whale (orca) site
Very high reliability
Tromso / Skjervoy fjords
Norway
Peak Nov-Jan · Surface
No certification needed
High reliability
Vancouver Island (Johnstone Strait)
Canada
Peak Jul-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Bay of Islands / Hauraki Gulf
New Zealand
Peak Year-round · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Bremer Canyon, Western Australia
Australia
Peak Jan-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
High reliability
Grundarfjordur / Snaefellsnes
Iceland
Peak Oct-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Punta Norte, Peninsula Valdes
Argentina
Peak Mar-Apr · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
San Juan Islands, Washington
USA
Peak May-Sep · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Antarctic Peninsula
Antarctica
Peak Dec-Mar · n/a
No certification needed
Moderate reliability
Strait of Gibraltar (Tarifa)
Spain / Morocco
Peak Jun-Aug · n/a
No certification needed
Other whale encounters
Explore it on the globe
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