THE WORLD BENEATH US
Skjálfandi Bay is home to a variety of animals, both above and below the surface. Mostly of course, we become aware of the whales and dolphins, seals and all kinds of birds that we encounter around us on our tours.
Yet the vast world beneath the waves usually remains unseen — despite being so unique and fascinating. Only on rare occasions do we get a glimpse into that hidden realm which, while so close, often feels so far away.
One such rare moment occurred towards the end of a tour the other day, when a basking shark appeared on the western side of the bay. After 14 seasons at sea, heading out nearly daily, this was the very first chance of a shark sighting for me — so of course I had to turn back to try take a look!
Just minutes later we arrived on the spots and within seconds, the shark was peacefully swimming alongside us, diving beneath and gliding past the boat.
With an average length of 8 meters (and reaching up to 12 metres), the basking shark is the second largest shark after the whale shark. They are usually greyish-brown with mottled skin, and the inside of their enormous mouth is strikingly white.
Although these gentle giants remain mysterious, here are some fascinating facts about them:
1. Basking sharks undertake huge migrations, spending a lot of time in the deep sea offshore. They are found worldwide in both tropical and temperature waters.
2. They are one of only three plankton-feeding shark species — and hence completely harmless to us or our boats. As filter feeders, they swim slowly with their huge mouths wide open, filtering up to 1.8 million liters of water per hour. Their mouths can open up to one meter wide! Oftentimes, they feed on the surface, but they might just as well leave for a feeding-dive.
2. Their brains are tiny — about 10 cm long — likely because they don’t need complex hunting strategies. Instead, their sense of smell is far more developed, helping them locate prey.
3. Despite their generally slow movements, basking sharks are capable of leaping fully out of the water.
4. Their gestation period is thought to last 3–4 years, with live-born offspring measuring 1.5–2 metres at birth.
5. Their liver is massive, making up 25–30% of their body weight.
With huge smiles on our faces, we finally left this elusive animal behind, feeling incredibly grateful for the chance to witness such a rare encounter.
Photos: Charlie (guide)
