Express Whale Watching in Dalvík | RIB Boat Tour with Puffins

A fast RIB boat whale watching tour from the small harbour town of Dalvík in North Iceland. You cover more of Eyjafjörður than a slow cruise boat would, with a good chance of whales and dolphins and, in season, puffins.

• Fast RIB boat covers a wider search area than a regular cruise
• Small groups on a high-speed boat with suspension seats
• Warm flotation suits and life vests provided
• Puffins to see between mid-April and mid-August
• Views of the mountains around Eyjafjörður on the way out

Your day, stop by stop

2Safety briefingA short briefing before you head out onto the fjord.

Before you head out, your guide explains the boat, the safety gear and what to expect on the water, and you are fitted with a flotation suit and life vest. The briefing takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The RIB is an open, fast boat and runs cold even in summer, so wear warm layers underneath.

Time here · about 10–15 minutesIncluded · flotation suit and life vest

3Out on EyjafjörðurThe RIB boat searches the fjord for whales and dolphins.

The RIB moves quickly between areas where whales have recently been active, so in the roughly hour you spend on the water you cover far more of the fjord than a slower cruise boat would. Minke and humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and seals are the usual sightings, and from mid-April to mid-August you may also see puffins. The mountains around Eyjafjörður frame the views on the way out.

Time here · roughly an hour on the waterLook for · minke and humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, sealsPuffins · mid-April to mid-August only

About the whale watching in Dalvík

Dalvík is a small fishing town on Eyjafjörður, one of the best fjords in Iceland for whale watching because of how much marine life feeds in its sheltered, nutrient-rich water. This tour uses a RIB (rigid inflatable boat) rather than a slow cruise boat, so your guides can move quickly to wherever whales have recently been seen and cover more ground in a shorter time.

You get a full flotation suit over your own clothes, so warm layers underneath and good shoes are enough. The suspension seats take some of the bump out of the ride at speed, but it is still an open boat on the sea, so expect wind and spray. Sightings are common in the fjord (minke and humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins and seals are the regulars), but nothing in nature is guaranteed, and the operator's usual practice is to offer another trip if you see nothing.

Between mid-April and mid-August you also have a good chance of puffins near the coast. Outside that window it is whales, dolphins and seals only. Dress warmly whatever the season, since the fjord is noticeably colder than being on land, even on a sunny day.

Questions people ask