Monday, 8th September 2025

A Magical Day with 2 Whales in the Fjord

This morning greeted us with a calm fjord, no wind, no rain; perfect conditions to head out in search of whales. And what an incredible encounter it turned out to be! We spotted two humpback whales near the Strytan vent field, swimming peacefully. They weren’t diving for long, surfacing again and again close to the boat, giving us the chance to watch them beautifully.

In the afternoon, a brief shower gave way to sunshine but then the wind picked up and we ended up with a very windy tour. Once again the same two whales appeared. They were easy to tell apart thanks to the different patterns on their tail flukes. One had a striking orange tint, caused by microscopic algae called diatoms that attach to the skin of whales, giving them this unique coloring. As the wind picked up one of them started with tail throwing and tail slapping and made itself the star of the afternoon tour.

The birdlife also added its charm to the tour. We observed groups of guillemots and razorbills already showing their winter plumage, along with northern fulmars, arctic skuas in both light and dark morphs, and even a few lingering arctic terns.

We can only hope the good weather continues for the rest of the week, so we can keep enjoying the company of these gentle giants.

Text & Pictures: Gema, Jacob & Agnes

Departures for the day: Classic - 09:00, 13:00, 14:00; Express: 10:00 & 14:00