Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 15 May
Written by May 15 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 15 May 2024:
What a day we had out at sea today! Welcoming all our guests on Dream Catcher we have seen a huge variety of wildlife. After we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, very active sharks could be seen around the Marine Dynamics Shark cage diving vessel Slashfin. Cape fur seals were not just seen on Geyser Rock and Shark Alley, but also along the way. The endangered African Penguins were sunbathing on Dyer Island or even seen inside the bay swimming. The first trip was quite lucky to have seen some Bottlenose dolphins and a small glimpse of one of the endangered Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins. Several pelagic birds have led us the way and we were thrilled to have encountered Bryde’s and Humpback whales! Without a doubt, both species were quite active today which excited guests and crew alike!
Trip 1
Trip 2
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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.
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.
