Marine Big 5 Daily Blog 16 July
Written by July 16 2026
Whale Watching near Cape Town, South Africa – Welcome to Gansbaai, home of the Marine Big 5.
Trip Summary 16 July 2026:
We had a spectacular day out in the water today, with one of our trips launching from Gansbaai harbour due to low tide in the bay. Spectacular sightings of humpback whales and a southern right whale were seen throughout the day. In between the boulders on Dyer Island, the African penguins were seen basking in the sun while the Cape fur seals greeted us with their Splish and splashing in the water near Geyser Rock. A usual stop was made in the shallows where the bronze whaler sharks showed off their Bronze shimmer.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
