Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 30 September 2025
Written by September 30 2025
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 30 September 2025:
Great weather for a great day at sea! Not long after leaving the harbour, we successfully spotted our first whales. A few Southern right whale pairs were nearby, taking advantage of our calm waters. Our trips were lucky enough to spot some of the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphins in proximity to the boat. On top of that, some of our trips were surprised by a big pod of Bottlenose dolphins later in the day! Unfortunately, it has been a bit quiet near the shark diving vessels, making it hard to spot any sharks throughout the day. A stop by the island system is, as always, mandatory, which led us past Dyer Island and its colony of the critically endangered African Penguins. Entering Shark Alley, the Cape fur seal colony was already waiting for us, greeting us with their loud vocals while others cooled down in the cold waters of the alley. Once again, thanks to everyone for joining our Marine Big 5 trips, and we will be back after the upcoming heavy winds!
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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.
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.
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.
Bottlenose Dolphin Bottlenose Dolphin
At present there are two recognized species of bottlenose dolphin, and in some cases, both species can be found in the same area. The two species are the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus). In addition, there is a great deal of variation in colouration, diet and behaviour. The difference between the common bottlenose and Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin are subtle, but the common bottlenose dolphin generally larger and more robust with a slight darker colouration.
