Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 25 July
Written by July 25 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 25 July 2024:
Another busy day with lots of exciting sightings! As spring tide continued we again had to launch from both Kleinbaai and Gansbaai Harbour. All trips led us into more shallow and deeper waters. As more whales are arriving in the area and some are still on their way through we had a close lookout for some whale spouts. Throughout the day we came across Southern Right whales, Bryde’s whales and quite active Humpback whales! A stop at the island system is a must as the Cape fur seal colony is a highlight! Thousands of seals were filling Geyser Rock watching our boat cruising up and down Shark Alley. On Dyer Island, some of the endangered African Penguins could be seen close to the water soaking up some sun. On some trips, we were even lucky to have encountered a raft of Penguins in the open. On the first trip of the day we even got to so a small pod of the endangered Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins! Once again, thanks everyone for joining us today!
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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.
Humpback Whale Humpback Whale
One of the best-known whale species, they are renowned for their acrobatic behaviour and complex melodious song as well as extremely long flippers and are a special favourite of Dyer Island Cruises guests and crew alike.
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.
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.
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.
