Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 20 October
Written by October 20 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 20 October 2025:
A windy day in Kleinbaai has turned into a day full of sightings. Welcoming our guests aboard and leaving Kleinbaai Harbour, we faced some swell before the first marine life appeared, from whales to dolphins, sharks, seals, and penguins. Both the Southern Right whales and some of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins were spotted in shallow waters enjoying the surf close to shore. Bronze whaler sharks cutting the surface with their copper coloured dorsal fin were seen around the diving boat within the Shallows, a clear hotspot for Shark cage diving. The Cape fur seal colony was thriving on Geyser Rock, soaking in the sun or cooling down in the chilly waters of Shark Alley. Due to some ongoing wind coming from the east for the past two days, we were unable to approach Dyer Island close enough to get some looks at the critically endangered African Penguins. Nonetheless, the crew made sure our guests were not missing out on finding out everything about the island and its population.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
