Curious minke whale

Happy National Day 🇮🇸 The 17th June is the National Day in Iceland and is widely celebrated. The whales in Skjálfandi Bay are also in a festive mood as captain Halli reported from RIB Amma Jóhanna this morning: “I counted at least 10 humpbacks in the bay in beautiful weather conditions”. What a day! Humpbacks are indeed the most common species that are spotted on the tours along with minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, harbour porpoises and occasionally blue whales. The humpbacks are known for their graceful raising of their tail when going deep diving as well as frequent acrobatic behaviours. The minke whales are sometimes a bit forgotten as the humpbacks steal the show. They are also though amazing animals to witness. The other day passengers and crew on board one of our RIB speedboats had an incredible encounter of a curious and playful minke whale. It spy-hopped next to the boat watching the whale watchers and swam underneath and around in very calm surroundings. Below are shots taken from the tour by guide Koen and from the laughter of one of the passengers, one can sense the atmosphere and happiness of this wild natural experience. After some days of cold temperatures and even snow, the weather forecast ahead is finally promising with warmer temperatures and calm winds. The season is now in full swing with several daily departures throughout the day from Húsavík. Check our website for more info and bookings. Welcome aboard! -Daniel

Posted by Gentle Giants Whale Watching on Thursday, June 17, 2021