Tuesday, 2 September 2025

• CLASSIC WHALE TOUR | 09:00, 13:00, 17:00
• PREMIUM WHALE TOUR | 10:00, 12:00, 14:00

Report from Eldey: With sunny skies we applied our sunblock and headed out into the bay. It didn't take us long before we spotted our first little pod of 2-3 harbour porpoises! These little cetaceans were on a mission so we could just watch them speed past the side of boat. We then continued on and soon found a minke whale. This individual, however, was not in the whale watching mood and never reappeared. We then spotted a blow in the distance and as we got closer, we could confirm that we had found a humpback whale! Luckily for us, this individual was taking short dives while it fed so we were treated to multiple fluke dives. As we waited for the humpback, we also spotted 2 more minke whales. After a while, more boats started to join us so we moved on. In a new area, we found another minke as well as a second humpback whale! This whale also had some friends as there was a pod of six white-beaked dolphins swimming alongside it! The dolphins had a mother and calf that followed the humpback closely. Either they were playing with the larger whale or stealing some of its fish! On our way back we had at least three more pods of three harbour porpoises. Unfortunately, after watching this interaction for a little while, we had to start heading back into the harbour after seeing the Faxafloi Bay BINGO!

- Samantha Smith

Report from Eldey: With sunny skies, we set out to see who was still out and about this afternoon. We had a bit of a brisk breeze this afternoon so we were all feeling the wind in our hair as we headed out of the harbour. It was not too far until we spotted the blow of one humpback whale. This humpback was a focused feeder and as we pulled up, they showed us their beautiful fluke! It was amazing to see their individual pattern under that fluke. It was also amazing to see their white pectoral fins through the surface of the water. This individual came up very close to us a few times too! After a surface interval we got another amazing fluke dive. On that note we waved this humpback goodbye and continued on to see who else was out in our bay. Further into the bay we suddenly spotted a fin of one minke whale. This individual gave us a nice surface sequence again before it was off. We then spotted the blow of another humpback whale. As we approached the whale, it breached! It is always wonderful to see the entire body not only through the surface of the water, but also above the water! This individual was very curious and surfaced right next to the boat and swam under and around us multiple times! In the distance, we also had a pod of 5 white beaked dolphins jumping. After such an amazing sighting we waved this individual goodbye and headed back to port.

- Emily Erskine

Report from Eldey: As the clouds started to settle over the sky, we bundled up and set sail out into the bay. As we sailed out, we spotted two harbor porpoises! After a surface sequence, our small cetaceans were off and so we continued onward. It was not too long until we spotted the blow of one humpback whale. As we approached, this individual showed us their fabulous fluke, which was a great start to our viewing. This individual then popped up right in front of us! It was amazing to see them so close and view those white pectoral fins through the water. This individual then went for another fluke dive giving us another excellent view of that whale tail. We waved this humpback goodbye and went further into the bay. We then spotted the blow of 2 more humpback whales feeding together! When this pair resurfaced they were very curious and came very close to us! It was amazing to see not one but two individuals so close through the water. There were also a ton of Northern gannets plunge diving around us and one minke whale surfacing periodically. We clearly had found the buffet. Just when we thought we had it all, we spotted another pair of humpbacks! They were also very curious and came very close. One of these individuals also did a big pedunckle throw and then rolled onto their back. After multiple close surface sequences, this pair gave us a double fluke dive as a beautiful goodbye for the end of our tour.

- Emily Erskine

Northern fulmar, Northern gannet, common guillemot, black guillemot, lesser and greater black-backed gull, herring gull, black-legged kittiwake, eider duck