Fin Whale Encounter in Norway - First Time Ever Filmed Underwater

Simon Lorenz and his group came across a pod of hungry fin whales in Northern Norway. For the first time ever Fin Whales have been filmed underwater feeding on herring.
The Insider Divers group had been tracking Orcas hoping to witness hunting behaviour which includes coralling herring into baitballs. If we are really lucky we can maybe see humpbacks feeding on the baitballs. But fin whales is a novely. These are the second largest whales in the world, reaching up to 85 tons of weight and 27m in length. Essentially they are a prettier version of the blue whale, easy to distinguish by their white underside (which bizarelly always goes higher up on the right side of the whale than the left side).
Join us on our next Norway expedition www.insiderdivers.com/norway
Contact [e-mail]

[@zublu7526]

Just incredible! Insider Divers delivering amazing experiences for their guests yet again.

[@InsiderDivers]

Thank you ZuBlu

[@erica.5583]

Incredible!! The second largest animal on earth!!!

[@InsiderDivers]

indeed, and in full feeding more

[@sergiolaurencio7534]

Second longest whale. The 2 biggest animal on earth is the North Pacific right whale whit weight even more .

[@indyreno2933]

The Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) is a large baleen whale with a cosmopolitan range, it is the second largest baleen whale, the second largest whale, the second largest placental mammal, the second largest mammal, and the second largest animal in the world, it is the only extant species of the genus Balaenoptera and the subfamily Balaenopterinae.

[@InsiderDivers]

And the most elegant of the baleen whales

[@MH-ms1dg]

Now THIS is an epic title !

[@dolphingoreeaccount7395]

Not the only species in Balaenoptera tho...

[@indyreno2933]

@dolphingoreeaccount7395, actually it is the only extant species in the genus Balaenoptera, all other extant rorqual species are now believed to be more closely related to the humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the monotypic genus Megaptera than they are to the fin whale.

[@racheltomevalenciahamilton6381]

Every couple days I come back to this video - really one of the most increadible ones I've seen, and probably the best at conveying the sheer size and power of these animals! And Norway isn't that far from Finlanf so maybe one day I'll be able to come myself!

[@InsiderDivers]

Thank you, that is great!

[@zakariasen98]

Thank you for the whale content ❤ - a very high man

[@erikm8372]

If possible, pause the video around 04:50 - 04:52 and you’ll see a basic (but insane) size difference between human and whale! Granted, those divers were maybe five to ten feet (?) from the actual whale, from what it appears; the whale’s mouth could easily fit multiple people. Good thing their esophagus cannot.

[@InsiderDivers]

good spot!!

[@CheekyMenace]

They say that when their mouths are full they almost double in size and that a mouth full holds enough water and krill to fill a school bus. You could fit quite a few people in that mouth. Watch Bertie Gregory show Epic Adventures, Tracking Ocean Giants episode. Simply amazing footage.

[@HydreigonJ89]

That is very lucky to be able to swim with fin whales and risky too.

[@InsiderDivers]

As soon as it started happening we were retreating towards the boats.

[@ArchTeryx00]

That was a beautiful look very up-close at lunge-feeding, and how far the throat pleats actually stretch when they take a full mouthful of water and food. *Really* interesting to see rorquals and orcas all feeding together, considering that at least some subtypes of orcas *prey* on rorquals like Fin Whales. How much at risk were you? (Not rhetorical, genuine question). I've noticed (mind you, from a spectator's view!) that these big rorquals seem to have a very high level of awareness of what is around them, and avoid humans in the water. These big whales were lunge-feeding right next to you yet there was no collision, the whales seemed to know exactly where you and your visitors were. That and, of course, baleen whales have pretty narrow esophagi, so being actually eaten by one is a null risk. I'd guess at worst, you'd get caught up in the lunge and get promptly spit out again. But I've not been up close and personal to big whales like that, either.

[@InsiderDivers]

This was certainly a bit risky situation. As you say not in terms of the risk of swallowing, but collision. I have had this debate with scientists before - the official line is the rorquals do not have echolocation, but with their eyes so far back I am convinced they have a similar organ that allows them to sense forward. because this type of last minute avoidance is very common. Regardless an absolutely life changing experience. Join us on a trip some time and find out www.insiderdivers.com/trips

[@andrewsmomma2182]

Amazing!!!!

[@arkboi2145]

To be fair, the Fin Whale also probably was thinking: “Bloody hell!! I almost swallowed the human!”

[@southernxtravel]

Amazing encounters!!!

[@InsiderDivers]

thank you

[@SameerPrehistorica]

Amazing, they are also quite slender in build compared to the blue whale.

[@InsiderDivers]

in the water they look a bit more slender than a blue, but honestly the do look very similar. the easier difference to spot is the asymetric coloration of the ventral sack and pattern on the back.

[@pattimiller9157]

Fantastic 💗

[@InsiderDivers]

Thanks 🤗

[@MAte925]

Huge

[@sinetwo]

Amazing! I'd definitely get a gopro on my cold shoe mount for my photo setup, just for a trip like this!

[@InsiderDivers]

You should! That’s how I filmed this

[@sinetwo]

@@InsiderDivers well done, looks really nice and stable

[@noreensteding3848]

Wow! Absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing this!

[@gowhales3002]

You are onboard "Strønstad". When was this?

[@InsiderDivers]

Second week of November. We think that's the sweets spot time window for the experience. longer and warmer days and lots of action

[@roelantverhoeven371]

isn't it the second LONGEST animal not the second heaviest? because the bowhead whale and the right whals, while shorter, can get to 100 tonnes... and some extremely large sperm whale males could also get to equal weights as a finback...

[@InsiderDivers]

You are right about that. But largest can be seen as longest rather than heaviest. But you are right, bowheads can be heavier. Sperms I do not think so

[@jomoland]

“Second largest animal in the world?” Wait. Isn’t the North Pacific Right whale 🐳 the 2nd largest??? The Antarctic blue whale being number one. 1:36

[@InsiderDivers]

Second longest to be precise. Longer than Pygmy Blue Whales

[@AnuSharma-tf9ii]

I will literally kiss it and pet it

[@InsiderDivers]

The whales almost kissed us!

[@arvinrosario5101]

😂 Why it's like that to it

[@TheDuffman1986]

Wow Amazing…ye had a whale of a time 🐳 😜

[@InsiderDivers]

So we did!

[@johnsweeney8157]

The Japanese is still hunting them

[@maxb4074]

What the heck is this baseball you talk about. I am confused, won't subscribe.

[@InsiderDivers]

not sure what baseball you are referring to.

[@georgemallory797]

​@@InsiderDiversI think it's a play on words from your bait ball. 😃😂

[@InsiderDivers]

@@georgemallory797 well I guess we can't help him then