Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Autumn and Winter Experiences in Norway
Left: Olav Magne Strømsholm, CEO and captain at the Norwegian dive centre Strømsholmen, takes tourists on three and six-day killer whale safaris on the boat MS Sula. Photo: Pierre Robert de Latour. Right: In spite of their name, killer whales – often called orcas – belong to the oceanic dolphin family and do not have an appetite for humans. The Norwegian dive centre Strømsholmen started swimming with them in 1992. Photo: Nils Aukan
Swim with the killer whales The Norwegian dive centre Strømsholmen was among the first on the planet to swim and dive with killer whales. Since then, it has allowed tourists to take part in this thrilling experience – and much more.
can read their signals and recognise them like fingerprints, but always keep an open mind to learn something new,” Strømsholm assures.
By Eirik Elvevold
“Our crew has been in the water with them around 10,000 times and it’s never been a problem. The name killer whale can be misleading, as they don’t like to eat humans, but being that close still gets the adrenaline pumping,” says Strømsholmen CEO Olav Magne Strømsholm. Ever since Strømsholm saw the TV series Flipper as a child, he has been addicted to diving. In 1981, he decided to turn his passion into a business when he established the dive centre Strømsholmen right next to the world famous Atlantic Ocean Road on the Norwegian west coast. “A decade later, in 1992, I guided the first tourists as they jumped in with the whales. We give a security briefing on how to behave in the water, which is all the training you 70 | Issue 92 | September 2016
need to rent a dry suit, mask and swim feet and swim alongside the amazing mammals,” Strømsholm says. The Norwegian also works as captain on the 91-foot-long MS Sula, taking tourists on three and six-day trips to find the killer whales feasting on herring along the coast. On board is a tight-knit crew so experienced they can literally cooperate without talking. Both captain and crew are passionate about sharing their vast knowledge with the guests through lessons offered on the boat. “They’re highly intelligent and socially complex animals, and it’s important to know something about them before you go into the water. My crew knows killer whales like other people know dogs. We
In addition to the whale safari, Strømsholmen offers curious divers a range of activities such as fishing, skiing and kiting. You will find everything you need, from equipment and accommodation to an authentic divers’ pub – and, of course, the necessary expert advice on where to dive. “The clean water and powerful tidal currents make diving here very attractive. You can dive in the deep fjords, dive with seals or to various shipwrecks at different depths – everything from Second World War army ships to modern fishing vessels,” Strømsholm says.
For more information, please visit: www.stromsholmen.no