Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 24 March
Written by March 24 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 24 March 2026:
We experienced a bit of a calm day out at sea today. Within a few minutes of entering the bay, we were rewarded with a special sight of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. In the shallows, the exquisite Bronze whaler sharks made an appearance around our shark diving vessel. It was quite a jaw-dropping sight that left everyone excited. It was rather quiet today in deeper waters, with only a small number of pelagic birds flying around in search of fish. Down by the seal colony, we were greeted by the unique smell from the island, followed by the funny noises which echoed into the atmosphere. Little Cape fur seal pups swam near the vessel to investigate, while others remained on land busking in the warm sun. A usual stop was made near Dyer Island, although it was a bit difficult to spot the African penguins we managed to get a glimpse of one waddling on the boulders
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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.
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.
