Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 07 December
Written by December 7 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 07 December 2024:
We are finally putting our vessel Dream Catcher back on the water after a few days of heavy winds, rain and swell. Welcoming all our guests aboard we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, as usual. With some colder wind coming from the south we were most certainly happy about the sun shining on us throughout the day. As we are looking out for the Marine Big 5 we made sure to cover several destinations and favourite hangout spots within our bay. We headed along coastal areas where a small pod of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin was seen. The Shallows, a hotspot for shark activity not far off from our dolphin sightings was on our list too. Stopping by local Shark cage diving vessels including Marine Dynamics vessel Slashfin we got our first glimpses right by arrival. The incredible Bronze whaler sharks, with their beautiful copper colouration, were already busy investigating the divers in the cage. Around the island system, we targeted Geyser Rock with its population of 60.000 Cape fur seals. A highlight of the trip that cannot be missed! Cooling down in Shark Alley our guests got a close-up look not just of the seals on the island that can only be seen by boat but also of curious ones approaching our vessel. Passing by Dyer Island which lies next to the seal colony we were able to get some nice views of our beloved endangered African Penguins that decided instead of looking for some food out at sea, to soak in the sun on the island instead. Our trips also led us into deeper waters hoping for some sightings of marine mammals.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin
Humpback dolphins are an endangered species, with small populations living very close to shore, typically in water less than 25m deep and an average home range of 120km. Their proximity to land makes these animals particularly vulnerable to human influence.
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.
Cape Gannet Cape Gannet
Well documented for their aireal displays, experiences with with the famous Cape Gannet are always breath taking, and hold a special place in every photographers portfolio.
