Orcinus orca ater

A breathtaking moment in the presence of the ocean’s greatest predator – or was it?

When I talk about being in the water surrounded by killer whales, I’m often asked, “Were you scared?” or “What if they changed their mind about the menu?”

I can honestly say that not only was I completely comfortable swimming with these magnificent creatures, but every pass and every moment of curious scrutiny filled me with such joy that even the icy cold of the Norwegian fjords felt warm in their presence.

There are two significant subspecies of orca: Orcinus orca ater, or resident orca, and Orcinus orca rectipinnus, or Bigg’s orca. Bigg’s orca have become infamous for their brutal attacks on marine mammals and, to my mind, they truly are the ocean’s greatest predators. Resident orca, on the other hand, live symbiotic lives with a single fish species – in this case, North Sea herring – and seem to enjoy far more complex and richer social lives than their brutish cousins.

So whenever I’m asked what it’s like to swim with killer whales, I light up, beam a grin from ear to ear, and say, “It’s something quite special, and I can’t wait to do it all again.”


#Norway #Skjervoy #orca #fjords #travel #OrcinusOrcaAter #OrcinusAter