Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 13 March
Written by March 13 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 13 March 2024:
We had two tours today and launched early in the morning into a calm bay. Along the coast, just past our estuary, we spotted an endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin close to shore. Next, we spotted some endangered African Penguins and had a great sighting of a sunfish. After a stop to see the sharks we continued to Dyer Island and visited Shark Alley to see the Cape fur seals before heading into the deeper waters of the bay. Unfortunately, the deeper waters were quiet and we cruised to Gansbaai harbour where we launched for the second tour due to spring low tide.
On our second tour, we first covered some deeper waters of the bay as we were heading around Danger Point and were lucky super lucky to spot a humpback whale. After the deeper waters we stopped at Dyer Island and Geyser Rock for the penguins and Cape fur seals. We continued the tour by heading back to the coast and stopping at the shark cage diving boat to see the Bronze Whaler shark before heading back home to Kleinaai harbour.
Trip 1
Trip 2
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What species did we see today?
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.
Sunfish 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.
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.
