Whale watching in Husavik, Whale watching in North Iceland.

North Sailing Whale-watching is an award-winning company enjoying huge popularity amongst visitors to Iceland. Dreams have become reality on sailing trips aboard our beautiful oak boats. Many remember for example, the young British cancer patient Curtis, who, faced with terminal illness, clung to a final wish – to see a whale. On Knörrinn, one glorious June evening, as the sun’s rays were reflected in the northern seas of Skjálfandaflóa, a boy’s dream was realised. Curtis died on the plane returning to England.

The Husavik Whale Watching Center - The Whale watching capital of the world

This widely acclaimed and award-winning museum has recently moved to new, 1200sq metre, premises in Húsavík’s old slaughterhouse! Inside are skeletons of 5 different species of whales, alongside informative and exciting exhibits relating to whales, whale-watching and last but not least, whaling.

Whales of Skjálfandi Bay

Since North Sailing begun whale-watching in 1995, 12 species of whales have been sighted on our trips. It comes as no surprise then to learn that conditions in the bay are exceptionally good for whales and whale-watching. On the western side of the bay the sea is up to 230 metres deep even fairly close to land, where the mountains of Kinn, around 1000 metres high, fall almost vertically into the sea!

Two large rivers and many smaller ones flow into the bay, helping to create ideal conditions as these waters merge with the anti-clockwise ocean currents of the North-Irminger Stream. Flowing into the bay from the west is the glacial river Skjálfandafljót, having completed its journey from its source in Vatnajokull Glacier.

From the east flows the River Laxá, a clear, fast running, salmon river, whose source is the magical Lake Myvatn. With little variation in tides and the natural shelter that the surrounding mountains provide, the bay is about as close to paradise as you can expect to find – for whales, whale-watchers and nature-watchers alike!

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