Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 15 June
Written by June 15 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 15 June 2026:
We had a fantastic trip and were able to find all of the Marine Big 5! After we launched from Kleinbaai, we were heading towards Danger Point, where we first saw a big raft of penguins and shortly after spotted some whales. We stayed with the two humpback whales for some closer looks before making our way to Dyer Island. On the way there, we saw more spouts but weren’t able to get a better view. Shak Alley was full of life with so many Cape fur seals having a swim. At Dyer Island, we saw a few more of the African Penguin and then moved on to the shallows. At the shark cage diving boats, we were once again lucky and saw the Bronze whaler sharks and a stingray. Before we reached the harbour, we encountered a humpback dolphin close to shore. Wow, we couldn’t ask for a better afternoon at sea.
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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.
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.
Cape Gannet Cape Gannet
Well documented for their aireal displays, experiences with with the famous Cape Gannet are always breath taking, and hold a special place in every photographers portfolio.
