Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 16 April
Written by April 16 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 16 April 2026:
What a day we had here at Marine Dynamics. By the end of the day, we also successfully spotted all the Big 5! Some of our trips were lucky to have spotted a pod of Bottlenose dolphins, while another got to see some of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins. On each trip, we also encountered some Bryde’s whales. Of course, all trips also had the chance to stop by our Shark cage diving vessel, Slashfin, where Bronze whaler sharks were already investigating the divers and the cage. The critically endangered African Penguins were either seen on Dyer Island or out in the open looking for some fish. The Cape fur seals were super busy in Shark Alley, cooling themselves down or just relaxing on Geyser Rock, soaking in some sun. Once again, thanks to everyone for joining our Marine Big 5 adventures!
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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.
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.
Sunfish
