Monday, 29 July 2024

Today we will be operating our Classic Whale Watching on our lovely vessel Eldey at 9:00, 13:00, 17:00 and 20:30 and our just as lovely Elding 1 at 11:00 and 15:00. Our Premium Whale Watching tour will operate on Þruma I-V at  14:00, 16:00 and 20:00.

Unfortunately we have had to cancel our Premium whale watching today at 10:00 and 12:00.

• CLASSIC WHALE TOUR | 9:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:00, 17:00, 20:30
• PREMIUM WHALE TOUR | 10:00; 12:00
• PREMIUM WHALE TOUR | 14:00, 16:00, 20:00

Report from Eldey: In the early morning light, we set sail toward Faxaflói Bay. The air was crisp, and the water sparkled as the day started with cloudy skies. Just over an hour into our journey, we spotted a few blows in the distance. As we finally got closer and discovered a magnificent humpback whale! The whale seemed to be resting, moving calmly between the swell and staying at the surface for extended periods. It graced us with some beautiful fluke dives, showcasing its immense tail before disappearing into the depths for a moment, only to resurface gently. We watched this behavior for a long time, utterly captivated by the whale's presence. In the distance, we saw another blow from a second humpback whale. Unfortunately, time was not on our side, and we couldn't venture further to see it. We returned, with happy smiles after another fantastic tour on the waters of Faxaflói Bay.

- Maria Ernesto

Report from Elding: We set off today heading to the same area as cetaceans had been seen on the previous tour. On our way out it felt like we saw hundreds of Arctic terns feeding across the bay. We were also lucky enough to spot many Atlantic puffins also coming out for food too. Then after just over an hour of sailing we spotted a few blows go off. For the next 10 minutes it felt like we were just chasing blows. But then eventually we got a bit closer and saw we had found a humpback whale! It was maybe resting now after travelling when we first spotted it. It was now moving very calmly and staying at the surface for extended periods. It would also go for some really beautiful fluke dives. We watched it behave like this for a long time. We also saw another blow a bit further away from another humpback but unfortunately we didn´t have time to go there as well. Either way, we headed back with the sun breaking through a bit very happy after another great tour.

- Rob Hyman

Report from Eldey: After a very cloudy (and slightly rainy) morning, we started our afternoon tour with the sun providing us a well-appreciated warmth. Less than an hour after leaving the harbor, we came across our 1st sighting. 2 humpback whales were feeding together in an area full of multiple species of marine birds. We stayed in the area for a while, and eventually notice that there were multiple whales feeding all around us. Every now and then, we would change position and move to another area where other humpback whales would be surfacing . Later, another whale surfaced near our ship, but rapidly we notice that this one was different. Smaller, faster and with a more pointy dorsal fin than the previous ones, this whale turned out to be a minke whale, our 2nd species of the tour. By the time we were about to finish the tour, one of our passengers noticed a humpback whale breaching multiple times about a kilometer away from us, allowing us to observe this beautiful spectacle before finishing our tour.

-Ricardo Mendes

Report from Hafsulá : Such an incredible tour ! Conditions in the bay were much better than this morning, the sea was flat, the wind had almost disappeared and the sun was out for most of the trip. After traveling for about forty five minutes, we arrived to one of our preferred areas and noticed massive splashes in the distance. When we approached, we found five humpback whales ! They were all within a mile radius, surfacing regularly to take a few breath before diving deep and staying underwater several minutes each time. One of them surprised us with two gorgeous jumps out of the water ! We spent most of the tour in that area just watching all the whales surfacing and diving, and we finally headed back to the harbor under the summer sun, both passengers and crew equally stoked. 

- Olivia Garcia 

Report from Eldey - We sailed out in calm seas and sunny weather, which kept us warm and comfortable on deck. Not long into our journey, we spotted the unmistakable blow of a humpback whale. Steering closer, we were treated to a fantastic view of an actively feeding whale. In the same area, another blow caught our attention, and we navigated towards it, soon observing another majestic humpback. In the distance, a spectacular breach followed by several more blows indicated at least six humpbacks in the vicinity, but we managed to get a good look at two individuals. The day was a resounding success, filled with incredible sightings and the thrill of witnessing these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

-Aleksandra Lechwar

Report from Elding: Incredible tour! We headed to the same area as earlier in the day on very flat seas with with almost no wind. After about 50 minutes of travelling out we started to spot blows ahead of us. They all belonged to hungry feeding humpback whales. In total there were probably 7-10 individuals all feeding within a couple miles of each other. We spent the first part of this sighting with one very active individual. It was constantly blowing bubbles and vertically lunge feeding. It almost looked like solo bubble-net feeding. It would often blow a circle of bubbles then come straight up out the water with it's huge mouth wide open. Then after the Arctic terns would also come down to get any fish still at the surface. It was amazing, we watched this happen countless times. There was another humpback with this one to start with but it left towards all the others so we saw that surface many times too along with the others we had now travelled to. Here they were all surfacing a bit more regularly but still very likely feeding. There were so many birds feeding around and the whales would always pop up in random place. One also started to lunge feed a few times too. After this incredible evening the sky started to go orange with the sunset and it was then time to head home.

- Rob Hyman

Atlantic puffin, Northern gannet, Arctic tern, eider duck, common guillemot, black guillemot, razorbill, black headed gull, great black backed gull, lesser black backed gull, herring gull, Great cormorant, black legged kittiwake, Northern fulmar, Arctic skua