Thursday, 14 August 2025
A Wonderful Return to EyjafjörðurThe morning started overcast with light showers, but as the day went on, the skies began to clear. The sun broke through the clouds, and for a magical moment, a rainbow stretched across the mountains that sheltered us from the wind, leaving the sea completely calm.
As we left the harbour, right by our famous hot water waterfall, we were guided by a Northern fulmar. Not long after, we had our first sighting: a group of Harbour porpoises, who, as usual, disappeared just as quickly as they arrived.
We continued our tour northward, and near Hjalteyri, we encountered our first Humpback whale of the day, leaping out of the water and creating massive splashes. It was a breathtaking display and only the beginning of a truly memorable tour.
Today, the whales were noticeably more active near the surface. We spotted plenty of jellyfish and schooling fish like herring feeding just below the waves. Recent rainfall has slightly altered the water’s surface salinity and density, encouraging herring to move closer to the top, so where the fish go, the whales follow.
We had the incredible opportunity to witness lunge feeding, where humpback whales surge upwards with mouths wide open, revealing their modified jaws and baleen plates in a dramatic display of feeding behaviour. A bit farther northeast, we encountered three more Humpbacks, all feeding and moving gracefully through the fjord.
And just when we thought the morning couldn’t get any better, as we approached Akureyri, we had one final, unforgettable encounter: a group of two Northern bottlenose whales (Mother and a calf), a perfect ending to an incredible morning on the water.
The afternoon opened with bright sunshine, a welcome surprise after the forecast had promised rain. Soon after leaving the harbour and heading north, we encountered the same Northern bottlenose whales we had spotted at the end of the morning tour a fantastic way to begin.
As we continued north, the rain eventually arrived as expected, but with no wind, the conditions remained calm and pleasant. Near the green buoy to the east, we came across a Humpback whale, and soon after, another near Hjalteyri. Both were busy feeding yet surfaced often enough for us to enjoy excellent views. Further north, we discovered even more Humpbacks. One, feeding close to the surface, offered us a truly special encounter before we turned back toward home, everyone smiling after an unforgettable day at sea.
Big show at the end of the day - Bob has been on a rampage - tail-throwing, breaching and tail-slapping like there’s no tomorrow.
Text and Images: Sergio, Víctor & David
Tours of the day: Classic 0900, 1000, 1300, 1400, 1700 O’clock. Express 1000 & 1400 O’clock.