Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 24 December
Written by December 24 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 24 December 2025:
Our last day before Christmas! We welcomed our guests aboard our whale-watching vessel before leaving Kleinbaai Harbour behind us. With eyes wide open, we headed along the coastal waters and towards the Shark cage diving boats. Around the local shark cage diving operators, we got some nice looks at our beloved Bronze whaler sharks, cutting through the surface with their copper colored dorsal fin. Today, we were even able to release a few of the critically endangered African Penguins back to their colony on Dyer Island! The Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock was as busy as always and greeted us loudly once entering Shark Alley. Either close to the colony or in deeper waters, we were accompanied by several different species of birds, such as Giant Petrels!
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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.
Giant Petrel Giant Petrel
Around the Greater Dyer Island area we encounter both species of Giant Petrel, the Southern Giant Petrel and Northern Giant Petrel.
