Whale Diary

10:00 - With a bit of drizzle, we layered up and set sail. We first stopped by Engey island to look at our Atlantic Puffin colony. The puffins were resting on the water as well as loafing outside of their burrows. After seeing our feathered friends we waved them goodbye and set our sights on the bay. As we left the harbor area, we also left the rain behind as well, lucky us! Shortly into our journey we spotted the dorsals of 6 white-beaked dolphins! We had a few close surface sequences before the dolphins continued on their journey and so we continued as well. We spotted a blow in the distance and went to investigate. As we approached we were met with the flukes of not one but two humpback whales! These individuals were very relaxed and provided us with long surface intervals as they traveled together. At one point they decided to check us out and turned towards us. They then approached and swam under the boat! It was amazing to track them by watching their white pectoral fins through the surface of the water as they descended below. With great visibility and calm conditions we could see that there were many humpback in the area as well. After a wonderful viewing with our relaxed pair we decided to go towards some more blows in the distance. We came across another pair of humpback whales and they gave us a quick surface interval before showing off their flukes as well. These humpbacks were more focused on feeding and so we left them to it and checked out even more blows in the distance. When we arrived to the area we realized we had three humpback whales swimming together! They gave us multiple close surface intervals before they also became a bit curious of our boat. These three swam up to our boat and one even spy hopped with their face out of the water! It is always magical when the cetaceans are as curious about us as we are about them. After another incredible encounter it was time to head back. So we waved our whales goodbye and headed back to port. What an excellent morning!

Crew: Captain Pedro & Guide Sam, Captain Gunni & Guide Maria

12:00 - This morning we were in a rainy grey Reykjavik and then headed out into a sunny Faxafloi bay! Very quickly we saw a minke whale and harbour porpoises! Both were quite shy so we headed further on. Then - we saw 3 big blows! We headed towards two that were together and then had 2 humpback whales very close to us! They started very calm and then perked up and started watching us! These two curious individuals were taking a close look at us and swam under our boat repeatedly! We turned out engines off and just enjoyed the moment. There was a third humpback but this one was with another boat already so we stayed with the ones that were enjoying our company! After some time together we headed on and spotted another minke! This one was much friendlier and we were able to see it a few times before it headed on. Then last but not least(!) we encountered a pod of 6 curious white beaked dolphins! A mother and calf came very close and were swimming very close to us. The rest of the pod was a bit more widespread but swimming all around us. Eventually time ran out and we had to head back out of the sun back into the rain!

Crew: Captain Emily & Guide Anna

14:00 - This afternoon we started with a bit of rain as we sailed out but as soon as we got further away to land the rain stopped and we could enjoy the sunny sky. The sailed towards the are we were in the morning as soon enough we found 2 humpback whales one larger and another relatively small that were very relaxed traveling together, while we watched this pair we saw a big splash! Another whale was breaching! we got closer just in time to see one last breach quite close! From a far we could also see a minke whale close by and another blow in the distance! Then as more boats arrived to that area we decided to continue our search and soon enough we spotted 3 whales swimming together as we got closer this whales seemed very curious coming super close to our boat! the passed under us and spy hooped a few times to check us out! amazing!! We then spotted a pod of wabout 7-10 white beaked dolphins jumping and very friendly that came very close to our bow! eventually our time was running out but we still had time to one last look at our 3 whales that once again came very close and showed their pectoral fin just in time to say goodbye! On our way back we stopped for few minutes to check out some puffins in Akurey before heading to the harbour! 

Crew: Captain Gunni & Guide Maria

16:00 - This afternoon we once again were in rainy Reykjavik. We got dressed in the overalls and got ready to leave! We stopped at Engey to have a close look at the puffins but shortly set sail to get further out into the bay. Only a shirt sail in we spotted a minke whale! This minke came up a few times but as we saw huge splashes on the horizon we were keen to see what was going on. We were very happy we did because twas a breaching humpback whale! And it did not stop! When it finally came to rest it continued with pec-slapping, taking turns between its different pecs! Eventually it did become a bit more tired and headed further on so we did the same. We saw 2 more minkes and just when we decided to head back home we saw a pod of 8-12 white beaked dolphins! They were jumping and swimming very close to us and all around us. There was even a little calf! We did eventually have to set sail and return to harbour! 

Crew: Captain Emily & Guide Anna

20:00 - What a beautiful evening in Faxaflói, to end this amazing summer day! We first started going to Engey to check out some puffins on the island! Then, we headed straight into the middle of the bay, where we spotted 2 minke whales not far from us! Close by, we spotted a flock of birds flying with a few splashes under them, and we knew what that meant. We encountered a pod of about 10 white-beaked dolphins feeding actively! They came close to us, and some of them were even jumping. On the corner of our eyes, we spotted a fluke going down not far from us. We went to investigate and we got to an area with about 3 humpback whales, including Davy Jones, our beloved male humpback that comes back every summer. They were feeding as well, and Davy came very close on the side of our boat. We also spotted another 5 humpbacks to the opposite side, including Mr. Bubbles! These whales started to perform very incredible aerial behaviours. It first started with a peduncle throw and a wave with a pectoral slap on the surface. Until 3-4 of them started breaching repeatedly, right after the other!!! OH. MY. GOD. That was one of the most amazing sightings of my life. We just stood there, watching the most active whales in different directions breaching, pec slapping, tail slapping, rolling.... Oh my! One of them even came closer to breach closer to us and then we saw another closer one wave its long pectoral fins in the air for a long time. We then needed to leave these whales since we were running our of time, but our smiles kept on going for the longest time. On the way back, we still saw another humpback whale going down for a dive. Uff! What a night!

Crew: Captain Gulli & Guide Milla