Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 09 December
Written by December 9 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 09 December 2024:
The weather is steady, the sun is out and it finally feels like we have reached summer! Warmer temperatures came in nicely in our favour as we had to face some light chilly southerly wind. After a quick boarding process onto Dream Catcher, we left our local harbour behind us, wasting no time and starting our lookout for some marine wildlife. Certain spots we target straight away include an area called the Shallows, where the local Shark cage diving companies operate, Geyser Rock, the Cape fur seal colony as well as Dyer Island, home to our endangered African Penguins and numerous other seabird species. Stopping by the Marine Dynamis Shark cage diving boat we were able to get some nice close-up looks at the incredible Bronze whaler sharks. Amazing visibility allowed us even to watch them investigate our boat. Our Cape fur seal colony is nothing but breathtaking, to say the least! Fur seals enjoying the cool waters of Shark Alley and the number of their colony is leaving a long-lasting impression on our guests. The endangered African Penguins could be seen close to the water relaxing on top of their favourite hangout spot and our visitors did not come short of finding out everything about their story and conservation efforts towards the species. Our lookout for marine mammals was extremely successful as we spotted two different species of dolphins, a handful of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins and numerous Bottlenose dolphins! In deeper waters, we encountered a very friendly Bryde’s whale with which we could spend some time before we headed back to Kleinbaai Harbour.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
Brydes Whale Brydes Whale
The mysterious Bryde's whales visit the Dyer Island area throughout the year, with most sightings occurring during summer into winter.
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.
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.
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.
