Welcome to one of the most memorable and unique experiences you could wish for. A boat cruise on a dynamic vessel that will take you out onto the ocean and hopefully, up close and personal to some of the most incredible marine life you could hope to see.
What I loved about this experience is that it really is so unique! It is truly not every day that you get the chance to go out into the big blue ocean and then on top of that, get close to some wild marine life. We experienced some fantastic animal encounters on our whale watching tour and it was remarkable.
I must commend the team for the well orchestrated experience from beginning to end. This is a high functioning team who know what they are doing and how to do it. It is important to note that there is a marine biologist onboard each tour offering expert knowledge.
Arriving For Our Tour
On arrival, the team welcomes you and checkin commences. There are some lovely refreshments while this takes place which I think is really thoughtful as we were going on a literal voyage. 🙂 Once all the paperwork and safety briefing was completed, we headed outside to equip ourselves with the necessary safety gear. (You are advised to dress warmly for this occasion, extra jackets are provided and there are blankets onboard). We then took a short walk down to the harbour where we boarded the vessel, Dreamcatcher.
There is an upstairs area and then the main deck and you are able to move around on the boat when sightings are in progress.
Being At Sea and Whale Encounter
We headed out into the big blue sea and soon came to a stop near a shark cage diving boat where we were hoping to see some sharks coming closer to the surface. Sadly, we caught them at the end of their dive but nevertheless, we enjoyed seeing what the cage experience looked like and what it entailed. We noted some bird species and facts about the shark-life nearby.
We then started our propellers again and began the search for the whales we were all so eager to see. It took some time but the team did not relent and wanted to give us the best experience possible. Our marine dynamics team were expert spotters and really impressed us all with their ability to see the footprints of the whales, as they are called – something completely unbeknownst to an onlooker or untrained eye. We were really at it for a while and then finally, we saw an absolutely incredible whale with her calf.
Wow. It was worth the wait and time at sea. A beautiful, gentle and supple whale. Moving with grace and kindness it was a beautiful thing to witness. This whale played with us in the waves moving across the ocean and gracing us with some whale sprays every 8 minutes or so. It was so exciting but equally a tranquil experience. One can’t imagine this creature, so large yet so tender and forgiving-like. It was humbling.
What I also valued about the experience with Marine Dynamics is that I did not feel like we were hunting the animals; rather, we were looking for an encounter to silently share space with them. During the entire cruise we were simply occupying space with the animal but they were the ones who were respected. The team and journey was one that felt like the animals were given the chance to show their curiosity rather than us trying to encroach on them which I think is fundamentally important and something I valued.
Geyser Rock and The Penguins
On the trip back towards the harbour, we stopped off at geyser rock which felt quite comical and light-hearted. Geyser Rock is home to a massive population of Cape Fur Seals of 60 000 seals so it is quite large. When I looked at this, I could not help but think these seals were so chatty I felt like I was looking at a house in parliament! Nearby the boat, some seals swam and we spotted some pups as well which was quite cute.
Close to Geyser Rock is a little island where we were able to see some penguins. Sadly the penguin population is decreasing rapidly. The African penguin and Seabird Sanctuary is also a must to stop at after your tour where they help rehabilitate penguins.
*Dyer Island is home to breeding pairs of critically endangered African penguins and other seabirds? This is an IBA (Important Birding Area) and off limits to the public, the only way to see it is to view it from a boat.
Heading Back To Land
After all this excitement, we were ready to head back to land. Being at sea feels like a workout! Upon reaching the harbour we were pulled out the water with a tractor as we were the last cruise that day – this was also quite a unique experience and something a little extra to add to the trip.
We made our way back to the reception area (which is also a restaurant) and decompressed, removed our gear and made our way back to the meeting room. There, some warm soup and bread was waiting for us while we gathered ourselves and took in the experience.
*Video footage provided by the Marine Dynamics production team.
Extra information about Marine Dynamics we found useful
- The team captures photography on every trip that you can download for free on their blog page.
- There is a video of your specific trip which you can purchase.
- As part of the conservation efforts towards the penguins, you can purchase a penguin home for R500 – about $36 which will house a penguin. When purchasing, you will receive a deed of property and a key which is very special. We purchased one for our son.
- Marine Dynamics boat-based adventures support critical conservation and research projects via the Dyer Island Conservation Trust – and continue with the R500 for a penguin home.
- Marine Dynamics has their own shuttle service so you can arrange this with the team directly.
- There is a fantastic souvenir shop nearby where you can pick up some special gifts to take home.
- Marine Dynamics is a high functioning team offering shark cage diving and whale tours which include the marine big 5.
- The youngest person to do shark cage diving with Marine Dynamics was 18 months old at the time and the oldest person to do shark cage diving with Marine Dynamics was 100 years old at the time. All ages are welcome on both tours.
