The first month of the whale watching season 2007 has gone by and one can certainly say that the month of May was a good start of the season – despite some days of rough weather conditions. In May five species of whales were spotted in the bay – from the smallest harbour porpoises to the mighty blue whales! From June 1st several departures will be added to our whale watching schedule.
Today was a lovely sunny day in Husavik and we surely made the most of it! Along with our scheduled whale watching, where humpbacks and harbour porpoises were spotted, some of our GG team used the good weather to “refresh” our ticket centre - painting, putting up signs and flags, setting up various things ……… Conveniently located in the centre of Husavik – 2 minutes walk from the church – our ticket centre is located on a little terrace, along with KOFINN gourmet hut, overlooking Skjalfandi Bay! We also offer high speed internet connection (HOT SPOT) for those travelling with their own computer, free of charge for our customers.
Since our whale watching season started on April 26th, five species of whales have been spotted in the bay. Harbour porpoises, white-beaked dolphins, minke whales, humpback whales and even the mighty blue whales! The blue whales were spotted at the beginning of the season and until now humpbacks have been the main stars on our tours.
With whale watching soon approaching its peak for the season in Husavik, Gentle Giants crew has taken every opportunity to soak up every tidbit of up-to-date whale trivia! Those lucky enough to come along on a Gentle Giants’ trip will go away with a sense of fulfillment, not only from the scenic views of the bay but also from what they have learned! Coming from all parts of the globe, our international crew add a unique flavour on everything trip because they not only share their expertise of the local region but also a more global understanding of nature.
First trip of the season Gentle Giants – Athena: Capt. SG + pax of 5 from USA and Italy. Left Husavik harbour on April 26th at 10:15. Saw Big Blue after 10 minutes, just 1.5 nautical miles from the harbour .
Summer is getting closer and only 18 days until we depart for our first whale watching tour this season! Throughout May we will offer two departures daily at 9:45 and 13:15. During the high season (July & August) we have added several new departures and tours will depart up to 7 times daily from Husavik harbour.
For summer season 2007 we have added several new departures - for your convenience: Whale watching season: May 1st. - October 20th.
By operating according to the Blue Flag’s Environmental Code of Conduct, Gentle Giants’ boats will be sailing under the Blue Flag pennant. The Blue Flag is an internationally recognised eco-label certificate, with the aim of improving the environmental quality of beaches and marinas and the management of coastal areas.
After Christmas María, one of our guides, had the opportunity to join a Marine Research Project in south Madagascar for 7 weeks and there she went. Madagascar is the world’s fourth-largest island in the world and due to its isolation in the Indian Ocean, about 70% of the estimated 250.000 species found there exist nowhere else on the globe.
At the start of this new year, it is interesting to look back at past events that took place last year in 2006 with Gentle Giants’ operations. Summer of 2006 was one of the best whale watching seasons ever for Húsavík … and when we at Gentle Giants come to think of it – probably the very best one yet – possibly one that will be hard to beat for some time!!! But, then again, we never know what to expect from our friendly friends in the Skjalfandi bay – so we anxiously await 2007. From the beginning of the season until late September, Skjálfandi bay was alive with whales – with many different species spotted in the bay during the season - the most diverse amount since the beginning of whale watching in Húsavík! A few lucky Gentle Giants crew members actually had the privilege on the 30th of April of greeting the first 4 humpbacks that arrived into the bay for the season to start, only 500 metres from the harbour of Húsavík.
