Dyer Island Cruises operates around the world-famous Dyer Island where you might be fortunate enough to see the Marine Big 5: Southern Right/ Humpback/ Bryde’s Whales, sharks around the renowned Shark Alley, Cape Fur Seals, the endangered African Penguin and various dolphin species. The area is also home to a variety of seabirds.
The Southern Right Season is normally from June - December, but for the rest of the year you can occasionally see Humpback and Bryde’s whales in the area. On-board there will be a marine biologist and experienced crew who promise a life-changing experience.
The trip includes an educational briefing with refreshments and muffins; safety jackets and wet weather gear; warm soup and bread on return; and a free visit to the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary where guests can learn more about their conservation efforts in the area.
Marine Big 5 Safari with Dyer Island Cruises
When you book a trip with us, the evening before your tour we will contact you or your accommodation to confirm the time of your tour. Trip times vary with weather and tide conditions. 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. Safety is of the outmost importance. We have extensive public liability insurance.
Trip lengths are between 2 and 2.5 hours, depending on sightings and weather conditions. All cruises depart from Kleinbaai harbour near Gansbaai. Found only in 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 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! We boast South Africa’s largest boat-based whale identity catalog and we see re-sightings of the same individual whales year after year.
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 we focus on conservation, education, community upliftment and safety.
In the summer months after the Southern right whales depart, Dyer Island Cruises runs 1.5 to 2 hour trips to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. These trips take in the sights described above 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.
