Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 28 July
Written by July 28 2022
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 28 July 2022:
A day packed with marine activity out in our Dyer Island ecosystem! With the Marine Big 5 spotted on trip 1, we were able to get some sightings of a Humpback Whale in the deeper waters and a special look at a pair of Indian Ocean humpback dolphins along the coastline. On trip 2 we had a marvellous sighting of a pair of Bryde’s Whales, a pair of Southern Right Whales and even a Mola Mola (Sunfish) basking on the water’s surface. To round off the day, our last trip enjoyed a beautifully calm pair of Southern Right whales!
On both trips today, Geyser rock was packed with activity from our Cape Fur Seal colony and we were able to witness some acrobatics in the waters of Shark Alley. On Dyer Island, we were able to see some African Penguins hopping out of the water after a morning out at sea while the Bronze whaler sharks gave us splendid views in front of the shark cage diving vessels.
Trip 1:
Trip 2.
Trip 3.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
