--- title: Basking Shark Spotted Near Árskógssandur – A Unique Moment on Our Tour description: A rare basking shark was spotted near Árskógssandur on a whale watching tour from Dalvík. Watch the video about this unique sighting in Eyjafjörður. image: https://arcticseatours.is/hubfs/IMG_4798.jpg --- [whale watching](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/whale-watching) [Adventure tours North Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/adventure-tours-north-iceland) [#Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/iceland) [#icelandnature](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/icelandnature) [#baskinshark](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/baskinshark) # Basking Shark Spotted Near Árskógssandur – A Unique Moment on Our Tour ![Picture of Freyr Antonsson](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/b56da094fd94202fb3d6365b5e9998c4) [ Freyr Antonsson ](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/author/freyr-antonsson) Jul 11, 2025 8:01:09 PM On a sunny day in Eyjafjörður, guests aboard our express whale watching boat *Rökkur* were in for a rare treat. A **basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)** was spotted calmly swimming near Árskógssandur – a truly unique event in North Iceland. The basking shark is the second-largest fish in the world and known for its peaceful behavior, feeding only on plankton. While they are occasionally spotted in Icelandic waters, it’s extremely rare to see one this close to the coast. Captain **Lárus Anton** managed to capture this magical moment on video, showcasing the remarkable biodiversity of our fjord. This event reminds us why we do what we do – sharing Iceland's rich marine life with visitors from around the world. 🎥   The basking shark is the second-largest fish species in the world, surpassed only by the whale shark. It can grow up to 12 meters in length and weigh several tonnes. Despite its enormous size and gaping mouth, the basking shark is completely harmless to humans. It is a filter feeder that survives on plankton, swimming slowly near the surface with its mouth wide open to filter thousands of liters of seawater. These gentle giants are typically solitary but can sometimes be seen in small groups. Basking sharks are found in temperate oceans around the world, including Icelandic waters during the summer months. They prefer rich feeding grounds and are usually seen close to the surface in calm weather. Their lifespan is estimated to be over 50 years, but much about their life cycle remains a mystery. Sightings in Iceland are rare, making any encounter especially exciting and memorable. 📅 Book your own tour **Key facts:** - Location: Árskógssandur, Eyjafjörður - Boat: *Rökkur* (express tour) - Species: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) - Guide: Lárus Anton #BaskingShark #WhaleWatchingIceland #EyjafjordurWildlife #SustainableTourism #NorthIceland #ArcticSeaTours #DalvikAdventures #IcelandNature ## Related articles [![Freyr Antonsson and Silja Pálsdóttir owners of Arctic Sea Tours](https://arcticseatours.is/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_2598-2.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=IMG_2598-2.jpeg)](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/celebrating-16-years-of-whale-watching-adventures-in-eyjafjörður) [whale watching](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/whale-watching) [Puffins and whales Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/puffins-and-whales-iceland) [expert guides](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/expert-guides) [Arctic Sea Tours](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/arctic-sea-tours) [#Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/iceland) [#icelandnature](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/icelandnature) Jul 21, 2025 11:01:31 AM ### [Celebrating 16 Years of Whale Watching Adventures in Eyjafjörður](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/celebrating-16-years-of-whale-watching-adventures-in-eyjafjörður) **A Journey That Started with a Dream – and a Oak Boat Named Viktor** [Read more](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/celebrating-16-years-of-whale-watching-adventures-in-eyjafjörður) [![Breaching humpback whale in Dalvík Eyjafjörður north Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/hs-fs/hubfs/9B0F6DE4-5C34-4AE9-99A8-AAF4549DDD74.jpeg?width=1024&height=1024&name=9B0F6DE4-5C34-4AE9-99A8-AAF4549DDD74.jpeg)](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/why-dalvík-is-one-of-the-best-whale-watching-locations-in-the-world) [humpback whale](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/humpback-whale) [whale watching](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/whale-watching) [Boat](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/boat) [Sperm Whale](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/sperm-whale) [Orca](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/orca) [seals](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/seals) [Adventure tours North Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/adventure-tours-north-iceland) [Puffins and whales Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/puffins-and-whales-iceland) [Best place to see whales in Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/best-place-to-see-whales-in-iceland) Jun 14, 2025 10:27:50 PM ### [Why Dalvík is One of the Best Whale Watching Locations in the World](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/why-dalvík-is-one-of-the-best-whale-watching-locations-in-the-world) [Read more](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/why-dalvík-is-one-of-the-best-whale-watching-locations-in-the-world) [![Express whale watching boat and humpback whale fluke](https://arcticseatours.is/hs-fs/hubfs/0M5A8589.jpg?width=1024&height=1024&name=0M5A8589.jpg)](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/100-whale-sightings-in-july-with-arctic-sea-tours) [#Iceland](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/iceland) [#icelandnature](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/icelandnature) [#whalewatching](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/tag/whalewatching) Aug 3, 2025 10:45:22 AM ### [100% Whale Sightings in July with Arctic Sea Tours](https://arcticseatours.is/blog/100-whale-sightings-in-july-with-arctic-sea-tours) ## A Month of Marine Magic in Dalvík, Iceland **Whale watching in Iceland** has always been a top... 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