Whales, Dolphins and more! Marine Big 5 Daily Blog
Written by June 2 2021
Once again, we were heading in the direction of the open sea and Danger Point and were not disappointed to find a humpback whale playing with some kelp before taking some longer dives. Close to Dyer Island we received a call about some dolphins in the shallower water close tot the coast and were delighted as we came closer tot find a pod of bottlenose dolphins feeding on some mullets. Back at Dyer Island we spotted the African penguin and thousands of Cape Fur seals on Geyser Rock. While out at sea we also saw a couple of pelagic seabirds gliding past us.
What species did we see today?
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.
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.
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.
