dyer island cruises

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• Primary number 082 801 8014 " >Click Here 082 801 8014
• Additional number 076 555 5520 " >Click Here
• Email Click Here
• Website http://www.whalewatc... http://www.whalewatchsa.com/
• Booking URL: https://dyer-island-cruises.ac...
• 08:00 to 22:00 Open
• Address <span>5 Geelbek Street</span><span>Kleinbaai</span><span>7220</span> " >Click Here 5 Geelbek Street Kleinbaai 7220
• Payment Methods Credit card, Debit card, Cash " >Click Here Credit card, Debit card, Cash
• Cards Accepted VISA, Mastercard " >Click Here
• Currencies Accepted ZAR " >Click Here ZAR
• Eco & Marine Big 5 Tours

More than just whale watching... Year-round operator, Dyer Island Cruises whale tours, is Fair Trade in Tourism, BEE Level 1, and the first Blue Flag accredited whale watching company in South Africa. We specialize in 5-star service and guarantee the best value for money.

• We are a Marine Big 5 safari - best chance of seeing great white sharks, Cape fur seals, African penguins, dolphins, and whales all in one trip!
• Guaranteed whale sightings August - November and the best chance for whale viewing year round
• The only whale watching company in South Africa that visits Dyer Island and Geyser Rock through the world famous Shark Alley
• Countless pelagic and local seabird sightings
• Experienced and accredited guides on every trip
• Purpose-built vessel, Dream Catcher, is perfect for photographic opportunites and an exclusive experience
• Videographer on-board every trip

Dyer Island Cruises is committed to local research as a primary sponsor to the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.  Your choice in whale watching operator makes a difference to the conservation of these animals.

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Dyer Island Cruises provides Eco and Marine Big 5 trips from January till May.

What to expect

During the summer months after the Southern right whales have departed from our bay in Gansbaai, Dyer Island Cruises runs 1.5 to 2 hour trips to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. Dyer Island is located 8 km from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including the endangered African penguins. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to 60,000 Cape fur seal colony. These seals are present all year round. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world famous ‘Shark Alley’ or as our crew refer to it, the McDonalds for sharks.

The Eco trips take in the sights at Geyser Rock, Dyer Island, and the White Shark Cage Diving boats. In addition, during this time of year we also spot Bryde’s whales and dolphins. The dolphins we most commonly see are Bottlenose and Humpback.  This is also the beginning of the ‘sardine run’ and our best seabird encounters happen during this time of year.

Rates Adults - R800.00 Children (12 and under) - R600.00 Toddlers - Free

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Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 10 April 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Wednesday, 10 April 2024, at 12:45.

Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 3 April 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Wednesday, 3 April 2024, at 08:15.

Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 29 March 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Friday, 29 March 2024, at 09:15.

Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 28 March 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Thursday, 28 March 2024, at 08:15.

Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 27 March 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Wednesday, 27 March 2024, at 08:00.

Next Dyer Island Marine Big 5 Tour: 26 March 2024

Join us for an incredible whale and Marine Big 5 eco tour on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, at 07:45.

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Dyer Island Cruises

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Marine Big 5 Safari from Cape Town

Marine Big 5 Safari with transport from Hermanus

Marine Big 5 Safari: Self-Drive

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

DYER ISLAND CRUISES (Gansbaai) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

• Dyer Island Cruises
• Experiences Western Cape Wildlife

Hermanus Quad Biking

Spot the Marine Big 5 and witness mating displays, breaching, tail slapping, spy-hopping and more.

Dyer Island Cruises is a licensed boat-based whale watching company, operating around the world famous Dyer Island, Gansbaai, Western Cape, where you will be fortunate enough to spot the Marine Big 5 (whales, dolphins, great white sharks, seals and penguins).

Enjoy an incredible experience viewing our Southern right whales annually from June to December arriving in the bay to mate and calve. Witness mating displays, breaching, tail slapping, spy-hopping and more. From January to May we are fortunate to have the Bryde’s whales in the bay, therefore our trips run throughout the year.

Apart from the whales we may also see the elusive Humpback dolphin, Common dolphin, an incredible array of seabirds and we guarantee a sighting of our almost 60 000 strong Cape fur seal colony on Geyser Rock as we cruise down the famous Shark Alley. Our on board marine biologist will be on hand to teach you more about the amazing animals that visit our shores.

We are certified by Fair Trade in Tourism, live by our motto ‘Discover and Protect’ and work together with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust.

We are only 2 hours drive from Cape Town along a scenic route.

The trip includes an educational briefing, a complimentary drink on return with warm soup and bread as well as a free visit to our African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. Professional trip footage is also available for purchase, provided to you after the trip via a downloadable service.

Enjoy your trip with our very experienced crew and always remember that ‘Your Choice Makes a Difference’.

African Safari Specialists

Why us? What makes us different and specialists in our field? Simple. Our safari consultants have lived, worked and still travel extensively throughout Africa, bringing you the best of each safari destination.

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Whether you are a seasoned Africa traveller or thinking about visiting the continent for the first time, we would love to hear from you. Speak to an expert at +44 (0)19 3236 1807 (UK) or +1 (0)844 390 1798 (USA Toll-free) or fill in the contact form below.

Budget-range per person (GBP or USD)

£3,000-£6,000 $4,000-$8,000 £6,000-£10,000 $8,000-$13,000 £10,000+ $13,000+

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Dyer Island Cruises offers Marine Big 5 Whale Watching trips

Choose a whale watching trip with possible sightings of South Africa’s “marine big five”- whales, great white sharks, African penguins, Cape fur seals, and dolphins – on a cruise around Dyer Island, accompanied by an onboard marine biologist. Visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary is FREE.

Cell: 082 801 8014 Email: [email protected] Website: www.whalewatchsa.com

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Dyer Island is located 8 km from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including African penguins. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 strong Cape fur seal colony.

These seals are present all year round. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world famous ‘Shark Alley’.

We will then take you to the whale hot-spots in the bay. With over a decade of experience, not only do we know where to expect the best whale viewings, but the whales have also learned where to expect us!

RATES: Compulsory R50 conservation fee payable by every person

SOUTH AFRICAN RATE Adults: R1 440 per person Children u/12 years: R1040 per person Children u/5 years: Free of charge

INTERNATIONAL RATE Adults: R1 800 per person Children u/12 years: R1 300 per person Children u/5 years: Free of charge

TIMES Time-related itineraries are dependent on tides, weather conditions and the number of tours scheduled for a particular day.

• 07:00-09:00
• 09:00-11:30
• 11:30-14:00

TRIP OVERVIEW

• Once you have arrived at The Great White House, you will receive a brief introductory talk about the route, safety, and what to look out for. Passengers are fitted with comfortable life-jackets and waterproof jackets.
• Marine Big 5 Tour length is between 2 and 2.5 hours, depending on sightings and weather conditions.
• All cruises depart from Kleinbaai harbour near Gansbaai. Dyer Island is located 8 km from shore and is an access controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) for the conservation of its many resident bird species, including the endangered African penguin.
• Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 strong Cape fur seal colony. These seals are present all year round. We will take you into the channel of water between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock known as the world-famous ‘Shark Alley’.
• We will then take you to the whale hot-spots in the bay. With over two decades of experience, we know where to expect the best whale sightings.
• Southern right whale season is between mid-June to end-November. Around this time our focus will be on spending some time with these incredible whales who are visiting our shores to mate and calve.
• We can encounter the more reserved resident Bryde’s whale throughout the year. From mid-December to mid-June we actively search for this species during our tours.
• We may also sight magnificent Humpback whales at the start and end of their migration season.
• We also have three dolphin species that move through the area – common, bottlenose, and endangered humpback – so if we are lucky, we may see one of those.
• We will spend a short time at shark cage diving boat of our sister company to show you a great white shark and possibly also copper sharks
• Remember that this is wildlife we are dealing with, and sightings aren’t guaranteed, however, our team will do our best to show you as many of our Marine Big 5 as possible.
• We pride ourselves on being both fun and educational. Each trip is led by experienced marine biologists and guides who will share their knowledge with you, keeping emphasis on the welfare and conservation of the animal. Responsible tourism is our main objective, so our focus is on research, conservation, education, and the upliftment of our community.
• All clients will receive an online check-in link, which needs to be completed and the indemnity signed to be allowed to board the tour.
• Contact (Person) Tracey, Dyer Island Cruises

082 801 8104

[email protected]

www.whalewatchsa.com

Kleinbaai – 3 km from Gansbaai – 60 km from Hermanus

• Where to find Dyer Island Cruises

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Welcome to Marine Dynamics

Based in Gansbaai, South Africa (the home of The Marine Big 5 and great white shark capital of the world) we are a family of organisations dedicated to the marine environment. We embody our mantra 'Discover & Protect' through ecotourism, research, conservation and outreach projects.

You can learn about all these projects via their dedicated websites:

Marine Dynamics Shark Tours

Visit website

Dyer Island Cruises

Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Marine Dynamics Academy

African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary

International Marine Volunteers

Dyer Island Cruises Discover. Protect. Educate.

Dyer island, south africa.

The island is recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA), which gives Dyer Island the same status as an IBA anywhere else in the world.

Written by edna, August 1 2012

About Dyer Island

Dyer Island is a 20ha Nature Reserve, situated 8.5 Km from Kleinbaai harbour in Gansbaai. It is the easternmost, of the chain of seabird islands of the Western Cape. Dyer Island is managed by CapeNature, primarily for seabirds and shore birds. Some of the birds breeding on the island include the vulnerable African Penguins and endangered Bank Cormorant and Roseate Tern. Other breeding species include the Cape, White-breasted and Crowned Cormorants; Leach’s Storm Petrel; African Black Oystercatchers; Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls.

The island is recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA), which gives Dyer Island the same status as an IBA anywhere else in the world. There are 1228 IBAs in Africa, and 101 in South Africa. Thus, from a national bird conservation perspective, Dyer Island is one of the hundred most important sites in the country.

History of Dyer Island

Dyer Island was named after a Polynesian seaman, Samson Dyer, who was the first to be stationed on the island, in the early eighteenth century. At this time the island was used primarily by Dyer for seal harvesting (from the Cape Fur Seal colony based on adjacent Geyser Rock), and the remnants of a few boiling pots and fireplaces still stand near the living area. Following the guano-boom of the mid-nineteenth century, guano was scraped from Dyer Island regularly until 1983 (H. Fourie, pers. comm.). African penguins had previously used burrows in the guano for nesting. However, with the removal of the guano, they were forced to nest on the open ground, making them vulnerable to predators, most commonly the Kelp gull “Larus dominicanus”.

In the late nineteenth century, penguin eggs became a popular delicacy among the public, and penguin egg collection continued until the 1960’s. In 1902, the number of penguin eggs collected on Dyer Island was given as 26,400 (Cott, H.B. 1953). These activities have affected the composition of seabird populations.

Eastern white pelicans “Pelicanus onocrotalis” are known to have bred on the island. Keepers were reported to have destroyed all pelican nests and eggs due to their fondness for the eggs and young of guano producing birds (Symons, R.E. 1924).

Two ruins of crude stone buildings, possibly used as shelters during the early guano collecting days, stand adjacent to the channel and along the northwestern coast of the island. The thick walled stone buildings near the living area were also used for guano related purposes. The main house on the island was built in 1930, and the slipway was constructed in 1991.

Steel and wooden wreckage seen along the coast bears testimony to marine disasters caused by the notorious reefs encircling the island. In 1989, the fishing trawler South West Seabird from nearby Hermanus was one of the luckier boats to run aground without loss of life (Johnstone E. pers. comm.). A two meter high concrete spire, known only as “Power’s Grave”, stands near the center of the island. Two other large graves are also found near the buildings, one with a headstone, perhaps remains of the 6 people that are said to have been buried on the island, following the sinking of the Hektor in 1913.

Guano scrapers and Seal harvesters used the island in previous times, a detailed account of which is given in Dagbreek oor Dyer eiland (Fourie 1999).

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Marine Big 5 Safari: Self-Drive

• Bottled water
• Coffee/tea and muffins on arrival
• Warm soup and bread/ lasagne after the trip
• Inflatable life-jackets and wet weather gear
• Professional guide
• Free visit to our African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS)
• Entry/Admission - Kleinbaai
• Entry/Admission - African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary
• Trip footage available for purchase after the trip
• Transportation to/from attractions
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Great White House Restaurant - Gansbaai, 5 Geelbek St, Van Dyks Bay, 7220, South Africa Travellers to meet us at the Great White House, Gansbaai, Geelbek Street, Van Dyks Bay, South Afica
• Wheelchair accessible
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• Wheelchair accessible, we can accommodate 2 wheelchairs per trip. Please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required.
• Excellent crew - one crew member to look after 6-7 guests.
• Please note that the Conservation Fee is compulsory.
• This tour is 2 to 2.5 hours, excluding your travel and briefing time.
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 45 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Similar experiences

• You'll start at Great White House Restaurant - Gansbaai 5 Geelbek St, Van Dyks Bay, 7220, South Africa Travellers to meet us at the Great White House, Gansbaai, Geelbek Street, Van Dyks Bay, South Afica See address & details
• 1 Dyer Island Cruises Stop: 2 hours See details
• 2 Great White House Restaurant - Gansbaai Stop: 90 minutes - Admission included See details
• 3 African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary Stop: 15 minutes - Admission included See details
• You'll return to the starting point

• Quayline 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Shark Cage Dive - a great experience! We had a really great day with Dyer Island doing their Shark Cage dive. It was well organised and we were fully briefed on the conservation work by a qualified and interesting Marine Biologist. We each spent about 30 minutes in the cage with several large Copper Sharks to provide continuous ‘entertainment’. After that we watched from the top deck for about an hour. Perfect photo opportunities. Very warm wetsuits and plenty of skilled crew to help. Delicious snacks too. A very worthy cause to support and what fun we had. We are pretty comfortable in the water but maybe worth saying we are well into our 70s so don’t think you can’t do this. It felt very safe. It felt 100% safe Delicious homemade soup and bread in their fabulous restaurant afterwards. Thank you. We think you are doing a fantastic job. Read more Written March 31, 2024
• Mirzelf 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Marine safari Hermanus It was a beautiful day, nice weather. The waves weren't that shaky ;-) Dolphins came past the boat, penguins were swimming nicely. The seals were enjoying themselves on their rocks. Although the whale season was already over, we were still very very lucky to spot some whales. Last but not least we saw how the sharks were fed, which are very impressive animals. Read more Written March 14, 2024
• Darek_Tar_IE 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Good trip to see Sea Lions and some penguins and few coper sharks Experience was average. Well organised, but no dolphins or whales. It should be advertise more precisely. Like ... maybe you will be extremely lucky and you'll have a chance see a whale(s) or dolphins, but highly unlikely. Great white shark - no chance - twice every 10 year if you are working as staff. Read more Written January 7, 2024
• Meander50848783474 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Spectacular views The crew did great in teaching us about the marine big 5 and the views were magnificent. Didn’t get to see the whale but will have to some back when they are in season Read more Written December 17, 2023
• madjimbayen 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome experience Awesome trip and saw so much wildlife. The trip from Capetown was seamless and the driver was friendly. Excellent experience and a MUST do for anyone wanting to see marine life around Cape Town! Read more Written November 27, 2023
• 609martinaw 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing trip Really professional company, we felt safe all the way in very very choppy sea. Every effort was made to ensure everyone got to see the wildlife. The whales were amazing. The daily blog for each trip with pictures is great as it's very difficult to get clear photos when the boat is bouncing around so much. The work they do in supporting penguins is inspiring. Be warned take sea sickness tablets even if you don't generally feel ill at sea! Read more Written November 17, 2023
• deepbluesky1 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A trip one should not miss The group tour was very well organised. I was picked up early in the morning and brought back to my accommodation. Before we're boarded the boat, we received enough information about what to expect as well as the conservation work that the Dyer Island Conservation is doing. Throughout the boat trip, a biologist enlightened us about the whales, sharks, penguins and seals. Due to bad weather, we couldn't stay long enough in the sea to see dolphins. But that's understandable. They provided a small breakfast, muffins and tea, and after the windy boat trip we got a much appreciated hot soup and tea. All in all I could recommend this tour. They really paid attention to details to our satisfaction. Read more Written November 9, 2023
• Sarah A 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth doing This was an amazing experience. Though we had a really early start the day did not disappoint. We saw whales, bronze sharks, seals & penguins. We also had a trip to the penguin sanctuary which was informative. I would recommend this trip but just note not all animal sightings are guaranteed. The dolphins were not around this time of year but the other sightings made up for it. Read more Written November 4, 2023
• michellewT9060QX 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience. This was an amazing tip and we had several large whales come right up to the ship and stay there for over 10 minutes! Definitely the tour to choose. The boat is smaller so it only holds around 25 people. This was great because it wasn't so crowded and you got an amazing view right at the rails of the boat. The captain was very respectful of the whales so it didn't seem as though they were bothered or harmed in any way. It was their choice to approach the boat. What a wonderful experience. Book this tour! Read more Written October 30, 2023
• G5020UNmartina 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome time at sea Only discrepancies was TripAdvisor has start time at 9am. Pick up time from hotel in capetown was 6am. Start of activity/arrival was about 9am. Was thrown off w such an early start enticipating 9am pickup. But communication was good and was made aware of time day before. Pickup n drop off was smooth n easy. Arival you get coffee/tea n muffins, return from boat you get soup n homemade rolls(yummy). All staff were professional and knowledgeable. All staff on board the boat were engaging in conversation w visitors and answered any questions anyone had. Advice is get something that secures your phone /camera around your neck, boat can get rocky and was holding phone tight as to not have slip out of hands. This was an awesome trip and very enjoyable. Check out there reasonablely priced gift in shop. Read more Written October 29, 2023
• ivanfU1924JW 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Successful sea safari Smooth pickup and trip to the boat in a comfortable mini-bus. I saw everything advertised (whales, sharks, seals, and penguins) with the crew taking care to point everything out and how to position ourselves on the boat to see things best. Read more Written October 29, 2023
• Trail22193237440 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Great Sightings, we saw southrend right whales breaching left and right side of the boat. The marine biologists and shark conservationists from Marine Dynamics really care about these majestic creatures and make sure all goes safe and well. Amazing experience. Read more Written October 28, 2023
• Brad B 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An excellent way to spend a morning It’s an early start to the day but worth it for a really enjoyable experience on the water. It’s about a 90 min drive from Cape Town (they pick you up and drop you off of course). The crew on board is fantastic. Kelly, our marine biologist, was amazing - kind, patient, and knowledgeable, answering all of our questions. The rest of the crew works hard to spot animals and keep you as dry and comfortable as possible. Towels are handed out freely to protect you and your camera. We saw about 5 pairs of moms and their calves, one common shark, and tons of seals. Penguins were visible from a distance and up close from the rehabilitation center that is included as part of the tour. Coffee and muffins provided for breakfast, soup and bread for lunch after. You spend about two hours on the water. Read more Written October 21, 2023
• 459tyrones 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles One of the highlights of our trip to SA The one thing I would say that could be improved and the reason for giving a 4 instead of 5, is this itinerary has some gaps in it that could really make this quite unenjoyable if you’re not prepared for it. While I appreciated that I was able to be picked up and dropped off at my hotel in Camps Bay, I couldn’t help but feel like I didn’t fully realize what I had signed up for. They scheduled our pickup for 5am (the first of 5 pickup stops). While this was quite early, what made it more unbearable was that at the end of the day we were also the last drop off, near 3pm. What they failed to tell you was that there is no break for meals scheduled in this. The only opportunities to eat are the underwhelming pastries offered at the property where the tours begins 8:30am-9am, and some soup and bread which is offered after you return from the marine tour. If you don’t want anything they have to offer, you’re basically out of luck and hopefully you brought your own snacks. Pushing nearly 12hrs without a legitimate meal is hard for even the lightest of eaters, so be aware that you will need to fend for yourself most of the day. Other than that, the tour itself was quite lovely and the staff and volunteers were really such a pleasure and incredibly knowledgeable. We saw 3 of the big 5, and only 2 people got sea sick (children). Would recommend if you’re up for a long day and have snacks on deck. Read more Written October 16, 2023
• Footprints595143 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles excellent we were lucky,a sunny day in August and a calm ocean,no wurries about sea sickness. After a warm welcome at the hotel,information about the trip,the wildlife and safy instructins,we got clicked in a lifevest and a rain jacket to keep us safe and dry. We got on the boat at the harbour and as soon as we drove out at the ocean there was a couple of whales in front of us! We stayed long enough to enjoy the view and take pictures. We visited the little islands with the seals and the penguins,saw the boat with the shark spotters.We felt very welcome and safe with the personel on board who informed us about the animals we saw and anwered all our questions. They kept a close eye on us for our safety on board and asked if we were ok and not feeling sick. When we got back to the hotel they were waiting for us with soup and little buns. Thank you Dyer for a very nice morning sea life spotting. Read more Written October 1, 2023

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Marine Big 5 Tour

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Please note that the Conservation Fee is compulsory. Please check the Add-on and specify the number of adults and children during the booking process. The booking will not be successful if this add-on is not selected and accounted for to all members in the group.

Kindly specify the number of children included in your booking, where a child is aged 11 years or younger. Children under 5 years of age are exempt from charges. Please select the add-on option to include the Discounted Infant Seat (0-4 years) to apply for the Infant seat that is free of charge. Please keep in mind that the compulsory Conservation Fee applies to all guests, adults, children and infants.

Our tours are dependent on weather and tidal conditions, and consequently, launch times may deviate from the initial schedules. The exact pick-up/meeting time for your tour will be confirmed a day before.

Our fleet includes two custom-designed vessels, meticulously crafted to prioritize your safety and comfort, ensuring an optimal experience for observing marine wildlife. The Dream Catcher, a 14m catamaran, can accommodate up to 50 passengers and 6 crew members. Complementing this, the Whale Whisperer, a 4m semi-rigid inflatable, accommodates 24 passengers and 4 crew members. Our vessels offer ample space, furnished with dedicated platforms for photographers, onboard toilette facilities and a PA system. While we retain the prerogative to deploy any of our vessels based on passenger count, rest assured that your comfort and safety remain our priority. Our vessels undergo annual inspections by the South African Maritime Safety Authority, adhering to stringent specifications. Safety provisions include an onboard first aid kit, life-raft, radio, and cellular communications, and we have standard operational procedures assisting with any medical emergencies.

Upon your arrival at The Great White House, you will view an introductory briefing concerning the itinerary, safety protocols, and notable highlights while enjoying some muffins and coffee. We do provide audio visual safety briefings in Italian, French, Russian, Spanish, German and Portuguese, please do inform us if you would like the briefing in a different language. Guests will then be dressed in essential life-jackets and waterproof jackets for their safety and convenience.

The duration of the Marine Big 5 Tour spans between 2 to 2.5 hours, depending upon wildlife sightings and prevailing weather conditions. All tours launch from Kleinbaai Harbour in close proximity to Gansbaai. Dyer Island, located 8 km offshore, stands as an access-controlled Important Bird Area ( IBA ), safeguarding numerous resident avian species, including the endangered African penguin. Situated adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, which is home to a robust colony of 60,000 Cape fur seals, present year-round. Our journey will take us through the world-famous channel known as ‘Shark Alley’, nestled between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock, Gansbaai include various species of seabirds such as albatrosses, petrels, shearwaters, gannets and terns, these birds are adapted to life at sea and can be seen gliding over the waves, diving for fish, or resting on the water’s surface. Next, we will navigate to prime whale viewing areas within the bay. With a wealth of over two decades of experience, we possess an innate awareness of optimal whale sighting locations. The Southern right whale season extends from June to November, during which our focus shifts to observing these magnificent creatures as they visit our coastal waters for mating and calving purposes. Throughout the year, we may also encounter the more reserved resident Bryde’s whale. The period spanning December to June offers opportunities to actively search for this species during our tours. Additionally, we may encounter the majestic Humpback whales during the initiation and conclusion of their migration cycle. Our region also boasts three distinct dolphin species—common, bottlenose, and the endangered humpback variety. As luck would have it, we may have the privilege of encountering one of these species. This marine adventure includes a visit to the shark cage diving vessels in the area to offer a sighting of a bronze whaler shark or the awe-inspiring great white shark.

It’s important to acknowledge that this is wildlife we work with and we cannot guarantee sightings; however, our dedicated team strives to provide opportunities to witness as many members of the Marine Big 5 as possible.

A hallmark of our tours lies in their fusion of enjoyment and education. Each excursion is led by seasoned marine biologists and guides, who eagerly share their wealth of knowledge with you, all while upholding a strong commitment to animal welfare and conservation. At the core of our ethos is responsible tourism, epitomized by our dedication to research, conservation initiatives, education, and the betterment of our local community.

To facilitate a seamless experience, all clients will receive an online check-in link. Completion of this process, including the signing of the indemnity form, is mandatory for tour participation.

Thank you for paying the conservation fee, your money goes directly towards the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, enabling us to do research, monitoring, attend to marine animal strandings, rehabilitation- and marine conservation work. This would not be possible without your conservation fee. This fee ensures that the whales, sharks, dolphins, seals and African penguins of the Dyer Island Eco System, will be here, not only upon your return, but your children’s and grandchildren’s return.

Arrangements

Requirements, inclusions and exclusions.

Boat Trip Tea and coffee with muffins on arrival Water on board Towels and blankets on board Safety and weather jacket Soup and bread after the trip from June to December Lasagne and salad after the trip from January to May

All trips are weather and tide-dependent and launch times may vary accordingly from those stated. Your launch time will be confirmed the day before. Please allow enough time for transport from Cape Town (3 hours) and Hermanus (1 hour) when traveling to Gansbaai. Please be aware that there are road works en route and waiting times are included in the above traveling times.

Whale Watching · Dyer Island Cruises

Customer Reviews

This experience was awesome thank you. The kids and I had a great time, we learned a lot about the animals of the ocean. Thank you once again for this. - Natascha

It was just the most amazing experience one could hope for! We were welcomed and offered a drink and muffins and had a lovely meal after the tour. A very informative talk followed after introductions. The boat excursion was just superb.. loads of interesting information and Dyer Island and Shark Alley are unforgettable.. Please keep your up work to protect the precious marine reserve, of behalf of all of us and future generations. - Erika

The tour was excellent. Good information video and pre tour talk. Quick organisation of jackets. Lots to see and information given during the tour on the water. Staff helpful on the boat moving around and available to answer questions. It was good to have a message the day before to inform meeting time - unfortunately we had a to wait a bit which I assume was for others to arrive as we didn't get an update and had been there for a quite a while before receiving the information briefing. Fortunately there was tea/coffee and muffins available. As well as soup and a roll on arrival back. - Erin

Nice. We had nice views on the whale and we stopped on the seal island as well. We saw 2 out of the 5 unfortunately. We missed the pinguines ( not clear why we did not stop at the island), we missed the sharks ( seems they were no sharks in the alley) and we missed the dophins. Kids were happy and the crew in the boat and at land were very gentile. - Juliana

This adventure is amazing! The staff is excellent and take good care of you every step of the way. I had a problem with my reservation, and Tracey reached out to me to solve the problem. It's refreshing to get such good service. This is the second time my family has gone on this tour, and we are looking forward to doing it again in the future. - Martin

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