Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 17 December
Written by December 17 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 17 December 2025:
We had an outstanding day out at sea today. Our trip started off really well as we cruised along the coastline. Some Indian Ocean humpback dolphins were seen playing around in the water. It was a pleasant sight to see as these animals are usually shy; everyone got some jaw-dropping sights of them, tail slapping, rolling around, and even breaching. Near the shallows, the shimmering bronze whaler shark also put on a show as they swam along the shark diving vessel, revealing their presence. In deeper waters, we found ourselves witnessing a magical sight as there were multiple Cape fur seals, pelagic birds and a few Bryde’s whales that were feeding on the surrounding fish. It was a bit difficult to see the whales, but we managed to get a small glimpse, and a final stop was made near Shark Alley and Dyer island finalizing our magical day out 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.
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.
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.
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.
