This past week, the University of Iceland´s marine mammals course held its annual student presentations. For the week prior, the students joined Gentle Giants on several whale watching trips while learning about four research methods used to study whales: photo-identification, boat based tracking, behaviour, and acoustics.
The cruise ship "Ocean Diamond" from Iceland Pro Cruises visited us in Húsavík once again.As previously, all three RIB speed boats as well as the oak boat "Faldur" departed to take the cruise ship's passengers and crew out on a whale watching adventure in Skjálfandi Bay.
BLUE WHALES CONTINUE TO SHOW UP ON RIB SPEED BOAT TOURS. We left Husavik's harbour with a total absence of cloud and fog. Once we got to Lundey and reached the puffin colony, we were able to see thousands of them diving and flying all around the island.
Besides the blue-fin whale hybrid and “Orion”, the humpback whale, which visit our bay since several years, another well-known individual has arrived in Skjálfandi Bay. As the feeding-feast near the mountains continues, more and more humpback whales seem to join the celebration.
For days now, numerous whales are celebrating an nearly unreal feeding party. Humpbacks, minkes and porpoises can be watched on just the same spot feeding side by side - performing a great show for our passengers.
After yesterday’s blue whale (which turned out to be the same individual as the one that visited us already in April), more blue whales are arriving in Skjálfandi Bay. Still swimming far out in the north, only our RIB speed boats were able to reach them in the morning.
On the 9:30 GG2 Big Whale Safari & Puffins tour this morning we were lucky enough to spot the summer’s first blue whale! It surfaced soon after we left Puffin Island, first showing us it’s impressive 10-metre blow.
Our whale watching tours have been exceptional throughout the past week! More and more whales seem to turn up in a popular feeding area along the Cheek Mountains (Kinnarfjöll) on the other side of the bay.
On Monday evening, IceWhale held their first seminar of the year in Húsavík on the Code of Conduct for responsible whale watching. As Gentle Giants is one of the founding members of IceWhale, everyone from the CEO, managers, captains, guides, and ticket centre staff attended this important meeting.
Yesterday, for the second time this season the cruise ship “Ocean Diamond” from Iceland Pro Cruises entered the harbour of Húsavík. More than 60 whale-enthusiasts boarded our whale watching boats excited about the wildlife in Skjálfandi Bay.
