Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 08 August
Written by August 8 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 08 August 2026:
Heading into deeper waters, we were lucky enough to encounter a spectacular Humpback whale breaching at the surface, creating an unforgettable moment out at sea. In Shark Alley, the Cape fur seals were seen swimming and playing in the water, while African Penguins could be spotted on Dyer Island. We also observed Bronze whaler sharks in the area near our sister vessel, Slashfin. It was another beautiful day on the water, with a variety of incredible marine life making for a memorable trip.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
