Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 29 October
Written by October 29 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 29 October 2025:
A busy day on the water with wildlife sightings that left us all in awe! Departing from Kleinbaai Harbour with favourable conditions, Indian Ocean humpback dolphins were sighted by some trips today, moving in between breaking waves. The whale sightings included Southern Right whales, displaying behaviours such as breaching, fin slapping, lobtailing and even baleen plate exposure. Additionally, some trips were even lucky enough to witness the acrobatic Humpback whales, breaching multiple times. At Dyer Island, the critically endangered African penguins were scattered amongst the island’s rock formations. The neighbouring Cape fur seal colony at Geyser Rock offered entertaining interactions as they playfully navigated through the water column. The final species of the day was the majestic Bronze whaler sharks, with multiple individuals witnessed at the shark cage diving vessels in the bay’s shallows.
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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.
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.
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.
