Ocean Adventures, 08 October 2019
Written by October 8 2019
This morning we set out in excitement, ready for some ocean adventures in the Dyer Island ecosystem. The sightings were plentiful today, with Southern right whales, Bronze whaler sharks, Cape fur seals and African penguins seen on all trips. The water was clear and we had some rolling swell out there, which allowed us to see the animals very well through the water. These are also nice conditions for seeing the Southern right whales that like to roll around in these kind of swells. At times we could see their tails both through and above the water. The Cape fur seals swimming in shark alley were also enjoying the ocean playground, with several individuals leaping alongside our boat. Although we didn’t spot any penguins in the water today, we did see some on Dyer Island as we paid a visit to Sponge Bay. Finally, the Bronze whaler sharks gave us some really great views today, and at one point we counted at least 5 individuals together with our sister company’s boat Slashfin.
Photos from today
Southern right whale
Adult and juvenile Southern right whales
An encounter with a Southern right whale
Southern right whale at the surface
Southern right whale head covered in callosities
Watching a Southern right whale at the surface
Cape fur seals on Geyser rock
There are many huge males currently in the colony
An African penguin on Dyer Island
Kelp gull
A Bronze whaler shark with Slashfin
What species did we see today?
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.
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.
