HVALKYRIE
DO WE LOVE ALL WHALES, OR DO WE HAVE FAVOURITES?
Obviously, yes and yes!
Each humpback whale has a unique pattern on its fluke, which allows us to recognize them individually. As we see whales come and go around the bay throughout the season, it’s impossible for guides not to have a favourite — a whale with a beautiful pattern, a special behaviour, or a crazy encounter that stays with us.
So, I would like to introduce you to my personal favourite, who was back in the bay the other day:
For me, every whale is beautiful in its own way, but none quite like this beauty.
The right corner of its fluke bends downward, covered in marks, scars, and notches. Even its dorsal fin is twisted — a little hook full of imperfections. But this whale is a beautiful reminder of resilience and quiet strength.
This individual is one of the relatively “old” matches we have. It has been spotted around Iceland since 2011 through happywhale.com.
We don’t know its gender, nor where it spends the winter, leaving us with this incredible mystery of its whereabouts.
On Happywhale, this individual is named “Nibble.” But here at Gentle Giants, we like to call it Hvalkyrie — a mix between hval, “whale” in Icelandic, and Valkyrie, the female figures of Norse mythology.
With all its scars, its size, and its elegance, it seemed like the perfect name.
The first time I encountered this whale was during my first season, back in 2022. As we were sailing through the bay with all our RIBs, Hvalkyrie started tail-slapping and throwing its tail in the distance, spending nearly an hour demonstrating its sheer power.
It was during this encounter that one of our former guides, Rui, captured this incredible shot of the whale.
No symmetry.
No perfection.
And yet, a perfect balance.
This is Skjálfandi Bay and its beauty in a nutshell.
And if I get to grow old, I hope I will keep looking at this photograph, remembering this incredible place — Skjálfandi Bay — and the beauty of the whales that call it home.
Thank you, Rui, for capturing this moment perfectly.
Thank you, Hvalkyrie.
- Joséphine (captain/head guide)