Friday 16 July 2021

Friday, 16 July 2021

✔ CLASSIC WHALE TOUR ON SCHEDULE | 09:00 

Report from Elding: The weather was similar to the last few days -- it was windy and a little bit of rain. The spotting circumstances were therefore quite difficult but we managed to fins one minke whale in the distance, but lost it before we could approach it. In the middle of the tour we found a couple of white-beaked dolphins, which later doubled and became at least 4, maybe five. They played a lot around the boat, riding its waves and jumping up from the ocean. We left them behind to try to find something bigger, but unfortunately our efforts were not rewarded.

- Fróði Guðmundur Jónsson

✘ PREMIUM WHALE TOUR CANCELLED | 10:00

✔ CLASSIC WHALE TOUR ON SCHEDULE| 13:00 

Report from Eldey: A strange weather this afternoon with a bit of rain, a bit of sun and a lot of clouds. The sea was choppy but a bit more calm than the previous days. We went to the same area where a humpback was seen in the previous day but we could not find it. We did find a minke whale that we saw surfacing a few times. The animal was elusive and challenging to spot so we decided to continue our tour. We saw many northern gannets, some plunge-diving. We came back to Reykjavik under the sun and the tour was pleasant, but because many of our passenger could not see the whale, we offered them a complimentary ticket allowing them to come back for a new tour.

- Miquel Pons

✘ PREMIUM WHALE TOUR CANCELLED | 14:00
✔ CLASSIC MIDNIGHT WHALE TOUR ON SCHEDULE | 20:30

Report from Elding: Weather and sea conditions were not very welcoming at first but as soon as we started finding the animals it actually cleared up quite a bit. That being said, the trip did not lack any challenge and it took us quite some time to find our first cetaceans in the bay. Another vessel in the bay told us about a minke whale within their range so we went towards them. That´s were we saw out first minke whale of the tour. At first we saw it well but it took some well spent time to see it again. Its diving patterns were a bit longer than we thought. Nonetheless the enthusiasm from our passengers made the wait easier. After that we went a bit further into the bay where we found 2 more minke whales. We could look at them very well this time.

- Jorge Pascual

✔ PREMIUM MIDNIGHT WHALE TOUR ON SCHEDULE  | 20:00 

Report from Þruma: What a tour! Conditions were a little miserable as the sky was filled with grey clouds and drizzle descended in phases. The sea state had calmed as the day grew longer, allowing for us to venture into the bay for our first tour of the day from the RIB. Just beyond Grotta lighthouse were many groups of birds feeding at the surface which made us feel optimistic but we couldn't have predicted what was to unfold. As we slowly traveled through the birds, a dark shape caught our attention on our 6 o'clock and after waiting for close to 10 minutes we were treated to a special encounter with a young minke whale. The whale, smaller than 5 metres in length approached with a purpose and repeatedly circled our boat, showing extreme curiosity. The whale must have been within touching distance on numerous occasions, as it came in for a close inspection. It rolled onto its side, displaying its belly, lifted its head and even spyhopped twice! The whale remained with us for 10-15 minutes before deciding on its own to continue with its original plans.

- Mike Smith

Bird Species ID´d today: Northern Gannet, Atlantic Puffin, Common Guillemot, Arctic tern, Arctic skua, Northern Fulmar, Kittiwake, Eider Duck, great-black backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull.

Today we will be operating on Þruma RIB for our 10:00 Premium tour and our lovely vessel Elding for the 09:00 and 13:00 Classic tour. Make sure to dress appropriately for the tours as it is always colder on sea than on land. Join us by booking online or contact us directly for more information (elding@elding.is / +354 519 5000).

COVID-19: Keep in mind that passengers and crew are asked to ensure their own hygiene and safety at all times. Washing hands thoroughly with soap and using a hand sanitiser is advised. Masks are not mandatory but are recommended in areas where keeping distance from others is not possible.