Today offered perfect ocean safari conditions!
The swell was tiny, there was absolutely no wind, and the water was a warm 14°C. Two of our guests joined us for an early morning kayak before boarding the boat for the ocean safari.
We cruised across the bay and found playful Heaviside’s dolphins under Chapman Peak, spotting multiple groups—probably around 15 individuals in total. It was fascinating to see the different dorsal fin markings. I'm slowly gathering fin ID's of all the individuals in this area. There was no playful jumping this morning; the dolphins were calm, slowly moving through the shallow waters beneath the mountain.
We had a fantastic time exploring the granite and dolerite cliffs under Chapman Peak Drive, doing a few cliff jumps while everyone marveled at the breathtaking scenery. Our guests, from Sudan and Saudi Arabia, were thrilled by how fortunate we were to access that part of the coastline. Not many visitors to Cape Town get to experience this kind of ocean adventure—standing on a shoreline that no one else ever walks on. Truly special! Exploring the rock pools and gazing up at the towering cliffs was a life-changing experience for them.
Next, we crossed the bay, spotting a Kelp gull feeding on a rotting seal carcass, later in the year it will be Giant petrels feeding on the pup carcasses washed off the island. But for now the Kelp gull fill this seasonal roll. At Duiker Island the Cape Fur seals were on high alert. The whole colony was nervous, and I quickly saw why—Buffel, the elephant seal, was particularly active, chasing seals around, trying to seize them. It looked like he had pinned down a couple of them and was resting on top, clearly dominating the area.
From there, we headed towards the Bos 400 wreck, spotting Cape cormorants and swift terns feeding as we passed. The calm conditions allowed for an unforgettable ocean safari experience as we snorkeled in and around the wreck. We explored the kelp forest with 10m visibility, encountering large West Coast rock lobsters clinging to the wreck. The structure was awe-inspiring, with shafts of light piercing through the remains. Venturing inside the wreck was a definite highlight, with stunning views all around.
Offshore, we spotted a distant humpback whale, calmly cruising through the water. Afterward, we returned to the island for another snorkel in the kelp forest, spotting sea anemones before gliding back to the harbor under perfect conditions. Seeing such a large number of Heaviside’s dolphins, encountering the humpback whale, and snorkeling around the Bus 400 shipwreck in such calm waters made this ocean adventure unforgettable. We can't wait for the next ocean safari!
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