Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 08 July
Written by July 8 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 08 July 2025:
Today was a beautiful, sunny day out at sea. We boarded our whale-watching vessel several times, ready to see what marine life was waiting for us today. At a distance, not so far, we saw a spout. The majestic acrobat of the ocean, a humpback whale, made an appearance. Flipper slapping, and even breaching, it was an amazing, jaw-dropping sight. some trips also got to see the famous southern right whales just off Danger Point. After watching the whales we continued and spotted African penguins in search of food. After such an amazing sight, we headed towards Dyer Island and Geyser Rock to see some Cape fur seals. Throughout our tours, we were stopping by the shark diving vessel to spot some sharks. Our second tour was not only lucky to see the whales but also spotted two bottlenose dolphins. The bay was truly filled with life!
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What species did we see today?
Humpback Whale Humpback Whale
One of the best-known whale species, they are renowned for their acrobatic behaviour and complex melodious song as well as extremely long flippers and are a special favourite of Dyer Island Cruises guests and crew alike.
Bottlenose Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin
At present there are two recognized species of bottlenose dolphin, and in some cases, both species can be found in the same area. The two species are the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus). In addition, there is a great deal of variation in colouration, diet and behaviour. The difference between the common bottlenose and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin are subtle, but the common bottlenose dolphin generally larger and more robust with a slight darker colouration.
Cape fur seal Cape fur seal
With a local population of 60,000, it's no wonder our guests capture so many photographs of these wonderfully playful marine mammals.
Bronze Whaler Shark Bronze Whaler Shark
The Bronze whaler (also known as Copper sharks) here in Kleinbaai are very curious and interactive. These sharks eat mostly fish, with sardines being one of their favourites.
African Penguin African Penguin
As one of only 17 penguin species left in the world (and the only one on the african continent), the african penguin often breed in offshore colonies, such as Dyer Island.
