TUESDAY, 2 JULY 2019

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 9:00

Report from Eldey: The day started out very beautifully, sunshine and perfectly calm sea! We sailed out in this perfect whale watching weather, and we found about 3 harbour porpoises on our way! A little while later we spotted a big flock of birds feeding on the fish underneath the surface. We headed right over there and found 3 separate minke whales feeding in that same area! They were so easy to watch as they were very calm and swimming around us! A bit later we decided to go further out to find some other animals, and actually found 2 more minke whales! Those were just as relaxed and awesome as the other ones were, such a great beginning of the day!

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 10:00

Report from Hafsúlan: Such a calm day is always something to appreciate when you are in Iceland and especially when you are working on the ocean. We had such a great visibility that it was almost no effort for us to spot our first minke whale. It was feeding, even turning on it's side to maximize the quantity of fish it can gather in it's mouth. Fish were rather deep in the water so when the minke whale came to the surface, it came for 4 breaths each time. In that same area were another 3 minke whales in the distance and we stayed with them for a while. But as conditions were so great, we decided to move on to find another species to show our guests. Sure enough, we found a pod of 5 white-beaked dolphins, one of them a calf, and also followed them on their traveling for around 20 minutes. As they were with a calf we did not stay too long but moved on to another minke whale we watched feeding before heading back. Great start to the day and we are keen for our afternoon tour.

- Miquel Pons

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 13:00

Report from Eldey: The wind was not present throughout the tour for the first time in ages, so it was the perfect day to be outside the whole tour. The sun was covered by a thick layer of clouds, threatening to rain, but it didn't happen so we could enjoy the whole trip outside without freezing our faces. The clouds covering the sun, together with and amazingly flat sea made the visibility simply great. We were sailing while enjoying the beautiful mountains we had around us and after a long quiet sailing, a black shape appeared in the distance. Once we got to the area, we discovered we were surrounded by minke whales!! At least 7 minke whales were around us, surfacing again and again everywhere really close to the boat. It was amazing! Being surrounded by minke whales was just a pleasure. After leaving these animals, we spotted a few small fins in the distance. When we got to the area we could enjoy a small pod of 4-5 white-beaked dolphins traveling slowly. We could enjoy their company for a few minutes until it was time to go back home with a big smile.    

-Elena Gutiérrez Ruiz

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 14:00

Report from Hafsúlan: Although the sunshine was now hidden behind the clouds and it was starting to feel a bit colder with northerly winds picking up, the sea was still almost mirror flat and the visibility wonderful! The landscape looked so stunning in this light! So as on our previous tour, spotting really was not much of a challenge and we soon encountered the first of a total of 6 minke whales we saw during this tour. Many seemed to be feeding or on the search for food, always surfacing and moving in the same direction. Even a pod of 6 harbour porpoises was with them and was not shy when we approached. But I believe that the stars of this tour was a pod of somewhere from 10-15 white-beaked dolphins. They were all around, some close, some far, jumping and also with calves, so babies. Watching them interact with one another in such a loving way and in these calm waters was so memorable.

- Sabrina Voswinkel

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 17:00

Report from Eldey: The weather was still perfect for searching for whales, the sea as flat as a mirror! So after sailing out for about half an hour we spotted some about 3-4 harbour porpoises and also saw a big flock of birds straight ahead. As we arrived in the area we saw it was very lively, we had about 7-9 minke whales around us near and far!! One even came as close as about 5 meters from our boat! Such a perfect way to end the day!

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | at 20:30

Report from Elding: What a magical evening! This was truly an unforgettable experience. Mother nature gave us all the best she has to offer, glass smooth seas, deep orange sunset, clear visibility, active bird life, and incredible whales and dolphins. The tour started with 5-6 harbour porpoises, we stopped the boat and examined these small cetaceans pass our boat slowly and then turn around and surf the waves our boat had created. Soon after we enjoyed the company off 30 playful white beaked dolphins. So many cheerful calvs with their mothers. A short distance away were 6 minke whales feeding in a flock of birds. We kept the engines turned off most of the tour, we became one with nature. Everyone onboard kept quiet and we listened to the sound of the feeding minke whales, the playful dolphins, the hungry seabirds fighting for fish and the complete silence in between the animals.

-Sigurlaug Sigurðardóttir

Birds species seen on todays tours. common guillemot, black guillemot, Atlantic puffin, arctic skua, eider duck, northern fulmar, artic tern, lesser black-backed gull, great black backed gull, manx sheerwater & kittiwake

We are sailing from the Old Harbour in Reykjavík today. The weather today is beautiful, if you are prone to getting sea sick, we do have sea sickness tablets available free of charge at the office and on board. Make sure to dress warmly and make use of our warm overalls as it is always colder on sea than on land. For more information contact us by email elding@elding.is or by phone +354 519 5000.