Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 20 December
Written by December 20 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 20 December 2025:
When it comes to taking the time to admire the gloriously marine environment, the crew at Marine Dynamics does it best. We had one trip going out bright and early today, just a few minutes in of cruising in our bay, a few Bryde’s whales were seen swimming along and searching for fish. We got a few good glimpses of the elusive guardian before making our way towards the islands. A few African penguins were busking on the boulders camouflaged among the cormorants. In shark alley, the bustling Cape Fur seals were observed splashing, jumping and echoing their sheepish sounds into the atmosphere. A stop was made near the shark diving vessels with a lucky encounter of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins rounding up the whole Marine big 5.
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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.
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.
