Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 10 December
Written by December 10 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 10 December 2024:
We got some higher swell rolling into the bay today but due to little wind coming from the south, we are not getting affected too much. Leaving Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, as usual, we headed towards the coastal area and our natural estuary, nursing ground for saltwater fish and several bird species from the northern hemisphere escaping the cold winter temperatures. We got incredibly lucky to spot not one but eight(!) Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins! Shortly after we made it into the Shallows, which received its name due to its depth of just 7 to 10 meters maximum. Stopping by Marine Dynamics Shark cage diving vessel Slashfin we instantly got some looks at the Bronze whaler sharks, a schooling species well known for the area. A stop at Geyser Rock where thousands of Cape fur seals are gathered is a must for all our tours. Once entering Shark Alley Fur seals can be seen vocalizing, fighting and splashing in the water. On Dyer Island, the endangered African Penguins were seen in between Cape Cormorants and several other species. We did a bit of a detour on our way back to the harbour going into the deeper waters to try and find some life out there. We didn’t do all of that in vain, we came across a stunning Bryde’s whale and got some fantastic sightings!
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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.
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.
