Northern bottlenose whales in Skjálfandi Bay

Every day on Skjálfandi Bay has the potential to surprise us, and today's first tour aboard Moby Dick was no exception.

Our guests were treated to our first Northern bottlenose whale sighting of the season, an exciting encounter with a species that is only occasionally seen in the bay. These deep-diving whales usually inhabit the colder waters of the North Atlantic and are best known for their remarkable diving abilities, spending much of their lives far below the surface in search of squid. Seeing them in Skjálfandi Bay is always a special moment.

On the way, the tour also briefly encountered a minke whale close to Kinnarfjöll, the striking mountain range that forms the eastern backdrop of Skjálfandi Bay. On clear days, these colourful rhyolite mountains create a spectacular setting for whale watching and are a reminder that the scenery above the water can be just as breathtaking as the wildlife below it.

Meanwhile, Vinur headed further west towards Flatey and enjoyed another fantastic morning. Guests encountered a minke whale before finding two humpback whales near Flatey. One of them, Mushroom, gave everyone an unforgettable close encounter, surfacing with its mouth full of water before showing its beautiful fluke as it dived. The morning was completed by a pod of playful white-beaked dolphins, making for another memorable day on the bay.

One thing is certain, Skjálfandi Bay never tells the same story twice. And that's exactly why we keep heading back out every day.