Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 25 January
Written by January 25 2025

Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 25 January 2025:
We faced a slight southeasterly wind on today’s beautiful day at sea. With very little to no swell we were ready for our Marine Big 5 adventure. Leading our guests down the road to Kleinbaai Harbour we welcomed the group on board Dreamcatcher. The beautiful scenery was waiting for us while we headed down the Danger Point peninsula. Once arrived in deeper waters we spotted a Bryde’s whale. To our delight, another individual joined! The whales popped up several times around the boat seemingly enjoying the fish underneath the surface. Geyser Rock, opposite Dyer Island, was next on our itinerary. Thousands of Cape fur seals greeted our guests while entering Shark Alley. A moment that left our guests in awe! Looking forward to today’s catch several bird species were leaving Dyer Island. While approaching the island we already had our eyes on some of the critically endangered African Penguins. Passing through the reef system we made it to our next destination, the Shallows. A stop by Marine Dynamics Shark cage diving vessel Slashfin could not be missed. Bronze whaler sharks were already active once we arrived. Bronze and copper-coloured dorsal fins were cutting the surface while the excited divers were waiting to face the sharks. One very active individual even breached fully out of the water leaving our guests and crew thrilled! Last but not least we ended our trip with two of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins putting on a show!
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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.
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.
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.