Whale Safari

22/07/2024

21st July, 10:00 Tour

"We had a very successful tour this morning. We didn't have to sail far from the marina until we found the first humpback whale! This one was an incredibly active individual, lunge feeding repeatedly, and rolling and showing its tail. The weather was amazing so the whole scene was lovely. A minke whale joined the action and the tour was perfect! After a bit we left these whales alone and we drove on for a while and we soon after found the second humpback of the trip, bringing the count to two humpback whales."

Read more - https://whalesafari.is/blog

Photos taken by Emily & Rodrigo

25/06/2024

It has been a brilliant last days at sea with regular HUMPBACK WHALE sightings! 😍 We have even been seeing lunge feeding close up - a truly awe-inspiring sight to witness. A little windier weather now but tomorrow is looking like excellent conditions and we can't wait to see what we find in the bay!

Photos taken 20th June by Naturalist Anna & Captain Pedro!

19/06/2024

Whales in the Midnight Sun - 18th June 2024 - 20:00 🌅

"After a really great day we set off for tonight's tour, very excited. On the way out it was pretty smooth and we headed to the same area as we had been most of the day. Before we got there we got a nice look at a minke whale that surfaced a few times including one super close to our boat. There was then lots of birds ahead of us so we decided to see what was going on. It was crazy here! There were so many white beaked dolphins, about 20-30. They were jumping lots and swimming all around our boat. But they were also swimming right on top of 2 humpback whales. One of these whales didn´t seem to appreciate the dolphins very much as it was rolling, tail slapping and staying upside down for a bit. The interaction was very cool to watch. During all of this we also saw another 7-8 minkes. In the distance we then saw a humpback breaching! It seemed to be one of the pair from earlier so we headed to it. It was then time to head home. On our way back we had a look at the puffins by Akurey to end an incredible tour."

Book Today: whalesafari.is/midnightsun

Report by Guide Rob
Photos by Captain Pedro

18/06/2024

It was independence day in Iceland yesterday - and what a day it was at sea! We had excellent sightings of all four species regularly sighted in the bay - Humpback Whale, Minke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin & Harbour Porpoise! The Dolphins were particularly energetic as well, bringing excitement to crew and passengers alike on board! A fantastic start to summer, and the 80th anniversary of Icelandic Independence!

Photos taken by Captains Pedro & Miquel, and Guide Kylie!

14/06/2024

One of our guests, Jeff Curen, let us share these amazing photos taken on one of tours in May! Four fantastic shots of white beaked dolphins and a minke whale. 🐬😍

08/06/2024

🌊🐋 Happy World Ocean Day from Whale Safari! 🐋🌊

Today, we celebrate the incredible oceans that cover over 70% of our planet. From the majestic humpbacks to the playful dolphins, the marine life we encounter on our tours is a reminder of the beauty and diversity of our oceans.

Every splash matters—let’s work together to ensure our oceans thrive for generations to come.

🌊💙

29/05/2024

14:00 Tour, 28th May 2024

"Just like in the morning, the sea was completely flat. We headed back to the area where we had good sightings in the morning. On our way we found a pod of 3 white-beaked dolphins. They were playful at first, coming up close to us and surfacing fast next to the boat. After a while, however, they decided to leave and we carried on to the active area from the morning. When we arrived, it was the same as before, full of minkes and dolphins spread out in a big area. Too many to count!"

Photos & Report by Naturalist Emily

Read more: https://whalesafari.is/blog/whale-safari-blog-399

27/05/2024

🌞Summer is HERE!!! 🌞

We had an excellent day of tours yesterday with sunny weather, minke whales close to shore & energetic white-beaked dolphins!! An absolutely brilliant day at sea. 🤩 Calm weather is expected this week and we're hoping to go out every day for whale watching at 10:00, 11:00, 14:00 & 15:00!

Read more here: https://whalesafari.is/blog/whale-safari-blog-397

Photos by Captain Megan & Naturalists Aleks & Emily.

25/05/2024

Thursday 23rd May 10:00 Tour

"After all the stormy days we've been having, the sea conditions this morning were amazing! After a stop at Akurey to see lots of puffins, we headed out to try and spot larger animals. We saw a pod of around 15-20 white-beaked dolphins spread out in a large area. Some of the dolphins weren't interested in us at all but a few of them were very curious and playful! A couple were even jumping right next to the boat! We moved on and started to see minkes in all directions! At least 6 in a large area. We found a well known individual called Humpy the minke and we were able to watch Humpy come to the surface close to the boat before heading back to the Harbour! An AMAZING Start to the day!"

Read more: whalesafari.is/blog

Photos & Report by naturalist Emily!

24/05/2024

Windy weather today and our RIBs stayed in the harbour - so we conducted safety drills with our sister company Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik!

Safety is our number one priority at Whale Safari, and we regularly carry out these drills ensuring the crew is well-trained and prepared for all emergency scenarios. Today we practiced with the rescue winch, used in man-overboard situations in order to bring the rescuer + man-overboard back to the safety of the boat. We also practiced loading people onto the stretcher, which is used in a variety of situations - such as medical emergencies onboard.

A big thanks to all of our crew for participating in today's drills!

Photos & Video taken by naturalist Milla.

23/05/2024

Some windy weather recently but excellent sightings when we have been able to go out! Minke whales galore in the past week, with Puffins & other brilliant bird species spotted daily as well. Whales, Puffins & Reykjavík Tours operating every day in May - weather permitting - at 10.00, 11.00, 14.00 & 15.00!

Photos taken by guides Emily, Trausti & Aleks!

16/05/2024

We are delighted to have been awarded the Blue Flag again for 2024, alongside our sister company Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik. The Blue Flag is one of the most-recognized global awards for commitment to sustainability and to the environment.

At Whale Safari, we have a strong commitment to responsible tourism and we take an active part in international partnerships and discussion, by participating in programs such as Blue Flag. To advance our knowledge we also participate and aid marine biologists research on wildlife in Faxaflói Bay as well.

Pictured is our Sustainability Committee, in co-operation with Elding, with Björg, Milan, Katrín & Max, displaying our blue flags.

14/05/2024

Faxaflói Bay is alive! We have had excellent sightings over the weekend - Humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and hundreds of gannets & puffins spotted on almost every tour. The weather for the week ahead is looking FANTASTIC - join us this week! 😎🤩

Photos taken by our brilliant naturalists Anna & Emily.

10/05/2024

WOW! What a start to May so far! We continue to have excellent sightings of Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, White-beaked Dolphins & Harbour Porpoises almost every day we have been out. We can't wait to see what the rest of May has in store for us.

Photos taken by our excellent crew Anna, Emily, Maria, Rob, Miquel & Trausti!

25/04/2024

We had brilliant sightings on yesterday's tours - 24th April - at 09:00 & 12:00. Orcas spotted on both of these tours, with white-beaked dolphins, minke whales and humpback whales also seen! Faxaflói Bay is ALIVE! 🤩

📸: Naturalist Pedro

Tours every day in April at 09:00, 12:00 & 15:00. Join us Today!

22/04/2024

🌍🐋 Happy Earth Day! 🐋🌍 Today, we celebrate the magnificent beauty of our planet and the incredible creatures that call it home. At Whale Safari, every day is Earth Day as we're committed to celebrating and protecting Icelandic Waters and the amazing marine life within them.

Join us in honoring Earth Day by appreciating the breathtaking wonders of Iceland's waters. 🇮🇸 Take this opportunity to sign the petition against Whaling in Icelandic Waters - https://www.change.org/p/ban-whaling-in-iceland

Together, let's work towards a future where our oceans thrive and marine life flourishes. Happy Earth Day from all of us at Whale Safari! 🌊💙

19/04/2024

🎉 News Alert! 🐧 Our Premium Puffin Tour is kicking off EARLY - starting this Sunday, April 21st! 🚤 Due to the early return of our feathered friends, we're launching ahead of schedule with daily departures at 10:00 throughout April! You can't get closer to the Islands then on our RIBs, just 5 minutes from the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík.

16/04/2024

Whales, Puffins & Reykjavík! After a couple days of windy weather, we were buzzing to get back out to sea again today. Humpback whales, minke whales & harbour porpoises spotted, as well as puffins galore!

📸: Researcher Rebecca

13/04/2024

Let's give them the spotlight - Harbour Porpoises! 🐬They are often overlooked gems of the seas, but they deserve our attention too! 💙

On our tours, it's easy to focus on the larger marine mammals, but amidst the waves, we often find shy Harbour Porpoises quietly going about their business! On Thursday, we found a pod of around 15 individuals close to shore that were a bit more confident than usual - even swimming towards our RIB with curiosity! 🤩 We managed to get some photos of these charming porpoises, not an easy task as they are quick!

Photos taken by naturalist Miquel

10/04/2024

WOW! Two fantastic days at sea today and yesterday! We just cannot get enough! All of our regular species sighted - Humpback Whale, Minke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin & Harbour Porpoise. Highlights include a Humpback whale breaching, lunge feeding, and some energetic dolphins!

Read the latest diary here: whalesafari.is/blog

Photos by guides Pedro, Aleksandra & Maria.

09/04/2024

April has continued to have brilliant sightings when we have been out - with regular sightings of humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins & harbour porpoises! We've also had some glimpses of the first PUFFINS of the year 🤯🐧

Read the latest diary here: whalesafari.is/blog

Photos by guide Miquel

05/04/2024

What an AMAZING first day in 2024 at sea on the 3rd April. We had excellent sightings on all of tours, particularly in the afternoon with 30-50 Humpbacks, 8-10 Fin Whales & White-beaked dolphins in a feeding frenzy! We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season - and we can't wait to see what nature has in store for us next 🤩

Read the full diary here: https://whalesafari.is/blog/whale-safari-blog-344

📸: Naturalists Anna & Miquel

01/04/2024

🐋🌊🦄 BREAKING NEWS: A pod of NARWHALS has been spotted frolicking in the waters just outside Reykjavík Harbour! 🦄🌊🐋

Yes, you read that right! These unicorns of the sea have apparently decided to grace us with their presence, and we are as surprised as you are. We know narwhals typically prefer the colder waters of the Arctic, but it seems they couldn't resist a little vacation to Iceland's charming coasts.

16/03/2024

A new eruption has begun on the Reykjanes Peninsula 🌋

🇬🇧EN: Eruption has started north of Grindavík in the Reykjanes Peninsula.

⛔️The eruption site and the roads in the area have been CLOSED while the authorities assess the situation. Please respect the closures and stay away from the area.
Please don’t drive Reykjanesbrautin (road 41: the road to and from the airport) unless it is necessary.

❗️Grindavík and the surroundings are beeing evacutated due to the eruption.❗️

🇮🇸IS: Eldgos er hafið norður af Grindavík.

⛔️Gossvæðið og vegunum að því hefur verið LOKAÐ á meðan yfirvöld meta svæðið. Vinsamlegast virðið lokanirnar og haldið ykkur frá svæðinu.
Vinsamlegast akið ekki Reykjanesbrautina að óþörfu.

❗️Verið er að rýma Grindavík og nærumhverfi vegna eldgosins.❗️

📷photo/mynd: www.ruv.is

26/02/2024

**ENGLISH BELOW**

Við erum að RÁÐA - vertu partur af Whale Safari teyminu í Reykjavík! Við erum að leita eftir áhugasömum RIB skipstjórum til að gangast til liðs við okkur í sumar.

Sjá viðhengi fyrir nánari upplýsingar um starfið og hæfniskröfur - umsóknir sendist til [email protected] 😎

//

We are HIRING - join our pod at Whale Safari in Reykjavík! We're on the lookout for enthusiastic RIB captains to dive into our fun team for the upcoming 2024 season.

Details on the role & job requirements attached - apply to [email protected] 😎

19/12/2023

**ERUPTION UNDERWAY**

Last night, a volcanic eruption began after many weeks of seismic uncertainty. There is currently a 4km long fissure on the peninsula with the situation changing hour-by-hour.

⚫️A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula on December 18th at 10:17 PM.

⚫️The area had previously been evacuated and the eruption does not pose immediate threat to people.

⚫️Air traffic to and from Iceland is operating normally.

⚫️Our Winter Tours (Classic Whale Watching & Northern Lights Cruise) are running as scheduled.

Feel free to contact us if there are any concerns or queries regarding the ongoing eruption.

For up-to-date information:

Iceland Ministry for Foreign Affairs - FAQ regarding flights and other information:
https://www.government.is/topics/public-safety-and-security/seismic-activity-in-reykjanes/

The Icelandic Met Office -
https://en.vedur.is/

14/11/2023

🐋✨Experience the Whales of Iceland Year-Round with Whale Safari! 🚢🇮🇸

Hey Adventure Seekers! 🌟 Did you know that our oceanic wonders don't hibernate in the winter? 🐳❄️

In the winter, our whale watching adventures on larger boats continue, offering you a chance to encounter majestic marine giants all year round. 🌊🐬

Operating daily at 09:00 & 13:00 in November, February & March & at 13:00 in December & January. The tour takes approximately 3 hours and is 12.990 ISK pp (6.495 ISK for 7-15yo, under 6 is free).

Book Today - whalesafari.is/classic

14/11/2023

🐋✨ Exciting News! 🌌❄️ Our Winter Schedule is LIVE! 🚢🇮🇸

Get ready for a DOUBLE dose of Icelandic magic! 🐳❄️

Embark on an unforgettable journey with us on our Northern Lights Cruises in the heart of winter! 🌌❤️ Join us aboard our cozy vessels and witness the ethereal dance of the Aurora Borealis while sailing beneath the starlit Arctic sky. It's a spectacle you won't want to miss! 🚢✨

Operating daily at 21:00 from 1st. November to 31st. March. The tour takes approximately 2 hours and is 12.990 ISK pp (6.495 ISK for 7-15yo, under 6 is free).

Book today: whalesafari.is/nlc

13/11/2023

What a year! 🤯

We had some fantastic sighting success for the 2023 season, with 99.5% of tours spotting whales/dolphins, and 95% tours with good or excellent sightings!

Sighting by species varies throughout the year as prey availability fluctuates in Faxaflói Bay, with humpback whale sightings skewed towards the first half of the season and minke whale sightings skewed towards the second half.

Thanks to Eline & the Elding Research team for crunching the numbers and creating these excellent graphs.