Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 31 October
Written by October 31 2024
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 31 October 2024:
The last day of the month before we had into November. It is getting warmer each day and we are excited to get closer to summer. We had lovely temperatures throughout the day with some wind out at sea to cool us down and a little swell. Both crew and guests were excited to see what we might encounter. We headed further into the bay once we left Kleinbaai Harbour behind us, and surely we haven’t had to wait long. Sharks, whales, cape fur seals, endangered African Penguins one of the endangered Indian Ocean Humpback dolphins and even Bottlenose dolphins, weren’t too far apart. Bronze whaler sharks were seen around Marine Dynamics Shark cage diving vessel Slashfin, the Southern Right whales were active around the reef system and Pearly Beach, and vocal Cape fur seals could be heard once entering Shark Alley and shortly after thousands were seen on Geyser Rock. Last but not least, our beloved African Penguins were sunbathing on top of Dyer Island or taking a stroll along its beaches.
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What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
Cape Cormorant Cape Cormorant
One of the most famous species of Cormorant in the Western Cape, the Cape Cormorant is well known for it's beautiful turquoise eye and impressive size.