1. Get online
Follow the Shetland Orca Sightings Facebook page and look out for notifications – people are great at adding sightings as soon as they happen.
2. Be prepared ...
To maximise your chances of seeing killer whales you need to be very flexible and very mobile. Orcas don’t stay in one spot for long. You may need to drop other plans and go for it.
3. ... And be patient
Find yourself a good vantage point and just sea watch for a while – you may be lucky! Look for signs such as birds feeding, tidelines or unusual splashes.
4. Experience Shetland
Don’t come to Shetland just to see orcas. There’s lots of other amazing things to see and do. If you see orcas, that’s the icing on the cake!
5. Stay on shore
We’re lucky in Shetland that you can see orca and lots of other species from the shore. You don’t need to go out in a boat.
6. Read this code ...
Read, and follow the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code. It details how you should keep your distance if you are in a boat or in the water, but also how to behave if watching from the land.
7. ... And these ones
If watching from the shore, be respectful of others and follow the Highway Code and the Countryside Code.
8. Watch where you're standing
Don’t disturb livestock and don’t damage native plants or agricultural crops while trying to spot marine wildlife.
9. Look out for birds
Remember that many of the coastal locations where you may see orcas are also used by breeding birds such as tirricks. Do not disturb the birds.
10. Respect property
There is a right to roam in Scotland but be respectful of other people’s property and land.
11. Enjoy a variety of wildlife
Don’t forget there are lots of other amazing marine mammals to see in Shetland including harbour porpoises (known as neesicks), dolphins, otters and seals.
12. Report your sightings
Please report your sightings of all cetaceans – even if you are not sure what you have seen, there is always someone ready to help with ID. A false alarm is better than no notification and someone has to be the one to first spot them!