Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 22 January
Written by January 22 2023

Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 22 January 2023:
A wildlife-filled day out in the bay with an abundance of seabirds, fish, and marine mammals seen throughout our trip. We started our tour along the coastal waters of the bay and encountered a Sunfish in the northern corner as we moved along, we also had views of large groups of Cape Cormorants on the sea as well as two Cape fur seals feeding on a small Pyjama shark, a fantastic start to the trip but there was much more in store for us. We encountered three Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins on the Southern end of the bay and whilst shy and very much hidden amongst the kelp we tried our best to give all our guests views of these elusive species. On to the Shallows where the shark cage diving boats were enjoying a successful day, we met up with our sister company, Marine Dynamics, and shared views of the Bronze whaler sharks that were visiting their boat. We covered the Island system with a few penguins seen on Dyer Island along with a raft of five adult penguins in the water and many Cape fur seals on Geyser Rock and in the alley and out to sea. The deeper waters surrounding the bay help multiple treats for us with two separate sightings of Bryde’s whales as well as a large pod of active, fast-moving Common dolphins. Overall, a stellar day out and about in the bay for the Dyer Island Cruises team and guests alike.
Trip 1
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What species did we see today?
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 Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.
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.
Common Dolphin Common Dolphin
With an 'hourgalss' patch on either side and aerial activity the common dolphin is an agile and majestic species, that may easily reach a speed of 40km/h.
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.