Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 18 October
Written by October 18 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 18 October 2026:
Another successful day out at sea. Starting the day early, we were lucky to have encountered a variety of wildlife. We saw critically endangered African Penguins on Dyer Island, home to numerous bird species. Thousands of Cape fur seals were resting on Geyser Rock. Southern Right whales were spotted within our bay or further down towards Pearly Beach. Some guests have even been lucky enough to spot endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins. Bronze whaler sharks were also seen investigating divers and the cage. As an addition, one of our trips also spotted a Humpback whale!
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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.
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.
Southern Right Whale Southern Right Whale
Southern right whales attract thousands of visitors every year to experience these gentle giants off the South African coast.
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.
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.
