Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 14 December
Written by December 14 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 14 December 2024:
Stronger winds and higher swells are holding us back a little, but we have an open window to head out to sea before we spend another day on land tomorrow. With a few trips ahead of us today, we did not waste time, greeted our guests aboard, and left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us. Certain attractions are a must, such as a visit by Marine Dynamics Shark cage diving vessel in the Shallows, where Bronze whaler sharks were actively investigating divers and the cage. The island system with its colonies of Cape fur seals and African Penguins was another destination to tick off. On Geyser Rock the Cape fur seals were thrilled to see our boat entering Shark Alley again. Curiously following the boat up and down the channel while others watched us from the island. The critically endangered African Penguins were as expected sunbathing on top of Dyer Island, relaxing after their hunt for some breakfast out at sea. Our lookout for some marine mammals within our bay and in deeper waters resulted in a pod of bottlenose dolphins, humpback dolphins and a Bryde’s whale. What a great day at sea for guests and crew to enjoy!
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
