Wednesday, 22 January 2025

We set sail this morning under perfect conditions – clear skies, a beautiful sunrise, and the surrounding mountain peaks glowing in vibrant colors. Icebergs floated peacefully in the fjord as we made our way out, hoping to find our whale friend, Piccolo. It seemed like Piccolo was playing a game of hide and seek with us today, making it a bit tricky to spot him.

But our patience paid off as we sailed further out and discovered two humpback whales south of Hrísey. We could see the blow from far away, followed by the beautiful flukes rising from the water before they dived deep. When we reached the spot, we knew we’d need to wait for their next breath. As the sun rose, the orange glow on the blows looked like an artist’s brushstroke, making the moment even more special.

What amazed us today was the behavior we witnessed. One of the whales would dive and then return to the surface, only to pick up the second whale, and together they would almost synchronously dive again. It was a fascinating display of teamwork that we had never seen before.

As we began to head back, I said my goodbyes to the whales, but it felt like they were hearing me. Just as we were leaving, the whales surfaced right next to the boat, almost as if they were saying goodbye too. It was the perfect ending to an incredible day with our humpback friends in Akureyri.

Pictures & Text: Lenka
Departure of the day: 11:00 o’clock Classic Tour.