Thursday, 17 June 2021

✔ CLASSIC TOUR ON SCHEDULE |  13:00

Report from Elding: We went directly to the same area as this morning, hoping to find the cetaceans still around there. It was a bit cloudy and rainy but the weather was still acceptable for icelandic standards. The sea was calmer so it was easier to spot than this morning and we found a humpback whale quite fast this time. The whale was not easy to approach at all but we could see the blow many times getting closer and closer until we finally saw the whale. Like this morning we were looking for the whale when a group of 4-6 white beaked dolphins surfaced near the boat, porpoising and playing a bit with the boat before they disappeared. We decided to go further to see if we could find something else. After 10 minutes we saw a second humpback whale. We saw it surfacing a few times but it was diving a lot and moving fast. We went back to the harbour, crossing the path of a minke whale that only one passenger who stayed outside during the three hours, and myself, could see.  

- Miquel Pons

✔ PREMIUM TOUR ON SCHEDULE |  10:00

The weather had finally subsided enough to venture out on the rib this morning for a whale and puffin adventure. It was like a mirror in the harbour but quite choppy offshore with a NW swell and NE wind, it was a little challenging sea conditions but still generally Ok. We heard from a whale watching vessel that they saw a blow from a large whale, most likely a humpback. We arrived and waited and waited but it didn´t surface again, at least in this area. We saw a few flocks of birds and went to check them out but we were unlucky here too. We heard of a few sightings the other boats were seeing and we went there in the hope of seeing them too but in the end the luck just really was not on our side. We had to head home and we offered our passengers complimentary tickets to come again on the classic tour anytime in the next 2 years.

- Megan Whittaker

✔ CLASSIC TOUR ON SCHEDULE |  09:00

Report from Elding: The tour was under a constant wind, with a nice light and the sea a bit choppy but not enough to make the tour uncomfortable. We sailed toward Akranes going to an area where many birds and some whales were seen recently. We explored for a while until we saw the blow of a humpback whale further out in the bay. We went there when we found out there was also a minke whale in the same area. We saw the blow again so we decided to go for the humpback. After a few minutes of patience we could finally see the animal surfacing a few times not far from us. This humpback was challenging to follow. We could also observe a pod of 4-6 white beaked dolphins. They did not stay for long but it was a lovely surprise. We headed back to Reykjavik, happy to be able to see three different species in the bay this morning.

- Miquel Pons

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.