Tuesday, 5 August 2025
Another Day of Adventure in Our Stunning Fjord
We're all set for another exciting day out in our beautiful fjord; the morning is already showing great promise. A shy sun peeks through the clouds, slowly gaining confidence as the day progresses. A gentle southern breeze is blowing, but the sea remains calm, perfect conditions for a smooth and enjoyable navigation.
With the moon in its waxing phase and nearing the full moon, its gravitational pull is working its magic. It's drawing water up from the deep, bringing with it rich nutrients that fuel life in the fjord. This creates the perfect conditions for marine activity and it didn’t take long for nature to put on a show.
Not far from Akureyri, we began to spot whale blows in the distance. As we approached, the sightings multiplied, more and more spouts breaking the surface! South of Hjalteyri, we were thrilled to encounter a group of six or seven humpback whales in the area, a truly breathtaking sight!
Some of them were actively feeding, treating us to dramatic displays of surface activity. We even observed groups of two or three whales swimming together, which is quite rare for these usually solitary animals. At one point, we spotted two whales resting. It's always fascinating to explain to our guests how whales can sleep with one half of their brain at a time keeping the other half alert enough to continue breathing and stay aware of their surroundings.
Toward the end of the tour, we witnessed an unforgettable moment: two humpback whales simultaneously slapping the surface with their powerful tails while lying in a ventral (belly-up) position; a spectacular behavior that left everyone speechless!
We can’t wait to see what the afternoon tours will bring. If the morning is any indication, we’re in for another magical day on the water!
If we thought the morning tours were incredible, the afternoon ones were just as unforgettable, if not more so! The weather only got better as the day went on, with clear skies, warm sunshine, and water so calm it looked like a giant mirror stretching out in every direction.
We encountered at least seven humpback whales again in the same area, just off the coast of Hjalteyri. These gentle giants gave us quite the show, and we had the privilege of observing their fascinating behavior up close once more.
From powerful tail slaps to graceful dives, every moment with them felt like a gift. There's truly nothing like spending time with these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat; it’s something that leaves you speechless every single time.
Evening’s tour was truly unforgettable! We spotted six or seven humpback whales right off the bat, treating us to their usual majestic presence. But things got even more interesting when a pod of white-beaked dolphins showed up, zipping around playfully and a bit too close to the whales for their liking.
Apparently not in the mood for guests, the humpbacks responded with some dramatic tail slaps and trumpeting, clearly telling the dolphins to back off. The dolphins quickly got the message and swam off probably slightly embarrassed! On our way back, we were gifted with a peaceful sighting of a minke whale gliding calmly northward, like the perfect cooldown after the marine commotion.
A huge thanks to Mother Nature once again for reminding us why we do what we do, and for filling our lives (and our boat!) with purpose, joy, and the occasional splash.
Text and Pictures: Sergio & David
Departures of the day: Classic: 0900, 1000, 1300, 1400 & 1700 Express: 1000 & 1400