Wildlife in Skjálfandi Bay is outstanding and besides whales, dolphins and numerous migratory bird species, occasionally we are treated with the sight of a grey seal. Grey seals tend to show up by Lundey (Puffin Island) and along the mountains, especially nearby the river mouth of "Skjálfandafljót" or by the so-called Fish Rock (Fiskisker), a pinnacle just off the Cheek Mountains on the western side of the bay. That area is full of cod and other fish species which grey seals feed on.

Especially one individual (called Pétur on the radio among the boats) keeps showing up by Fiskisker regularly, mostly to catch some big codfish. Always curious about the visiting boats, it tends to keep a good eye on us whenever we pass the area, watching us from a safe distance. Recently though, Pétur seems to have grown a passion for resting on top of the Fish Rock rather than circling it.

Grey seals can grow up to 2.6m metres in length and weigh up to 300kg. Whilst they spend 80% of their lifetime under or in the water, occasionally one can see them haul up on land to rest, warm up or digest their food.

Belonging to the marine mammals, seals have more muscles than landbased mammals and hence can store more oxygen, allowing the animal to hold its breath for up to 30 minutes and even take naps at the bottom of the sea. Just like in whales though, only one hemisphere of the seals' brain sleeps at a time, the other half stays alert to the ongoings in the surrounding.

- Sarah