Marine Dynamics Whale Tours

About

“More than just whale watching… “

Marine Dynamics Whale Tours (formerly known as Dyer Island Cruise) has been proudly Fair Trade certified since 2008.

Accreditations

• Fair Trade in Tourism 
• Blue Flag Certified Vessels 
• BEE Level 1

The Crew

Marine Dynamics Whale Tours has a qualified crew with years of experience.

Crew

• Skipper
• Qualified Guides
• Wildlife Videographer

What to Expect

Marine Dynamics Whale Tours takes you on an eco trip like no other, to experience ocean life near Geyser Rock at Dyer Island, and the activities around the shark cage diving boats.

Whale Season

From June to December, Marine Dynamics Whale Tours offers an unparalleled opportunity to view southern right whales as they migrate through southern waters. During these months you’re almost certain to see these magnificent creatures up close, thanks to their peak activity.

Committed to ensuring that your whale-watching experience is nothing short of extraordinary, expert guides, equipped with extensive knowledge and top-notch equipment, will enhance your adventure, providing insights into whale behaviour and conservation efforts.

Summer & Autumn

From January to May during the summer and autumn months after the southern right whales have departed from the area, Marine Dynamics Whale Tours runs eco cruises and Marine Big 5 trips to Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. This is the time to spot humpback and Bryde’s whales along with other members of the Marine Big 5.

Dyer Island is located 8km from shore and is an access-controlled Important Bird Area (IBA) with many resident bird species, including the endangered African penguins. Adjacent to Dyer Island is Geyser Rock, home to a 60,000 Cape fur seal colony. These seals are present all year round. Your summer trip takes you into the channel between Dyer Island and Geyser Rock. This fertile habitat is world-famous and is known as Shark Alley, or as the crew refers to it, McDonald's for sharks.

In addition, during this time of year, you can also see Bryde’s whales and dolphins. The dolphins most commonly seen are bottlenose and humpback.  

This is also the beginning of the ‘sardine run’ and the best seabird encounters happen during this time of year.

Dyer Island Conservation Trust

Marine Dynamics Whale Tours is committed to local research as a primary sponsor to the Dyer Island Conservation Trust. This means that your choice of whale-watching tour operator makes a difference in the conservation of all the animals you see.

Dyer Island Conservation Trust delivers unique conservation and research programmes in the fragile Dyer Island marine ecosystem. Research programmes include the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, the African Penguin Nest Project, great white shark research, dealing with marine pollution, environmental education and marine8. 

Read more about Dyer Island Conservation Trust here.

African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary

Marine Dynamics Whale Tours is proud to be affiliated with the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary, a Dyer Island Conservation Trust initiative.

African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary is a world-class marine bird rehabilitation centre in Kleinbaai that assists the endangered African penguin, primarily working with the colony of Dyer Island.

Read more about the sanctuary, its opening hours and feeding times here.

Reviews

“We had a wonderful time with Marine Dynamics Whale Tours. The crew was fantastic. They are knowledgeable and caring with a focus on safety and education. We saw sharks, seals, penguins, humpback whales and pelagic birds. Their focus on conservation and passion shines through. Highly recommended.”  Ingrid de Wet

“My husband and I went on the Marine Big 5 Tour with Marine Dynamics Whale Tours and loved it! It was our first time doing an ocean excursion like this one, and our expectations were blown away. The staff was knowledgeable and friendly, and helped us spot all the marine big 5: a few penguins swimming in the water, a couple of seals, one fun dolphin that was jumping around, some sharks and the best part of all, a whale! We loved seeing the animals in their natural habitat and never chased them. The staff respected their space and paid close attention to their behaviour so we wouldn’t frighten them (or make them feel uncomfortable). The tour also felt safe. We had a safety briefing at the start and the staff was always attentive. We recommend this tour. It’s a must if you are visiting Cape Town. It’s perfect for couples like us, solo travellers and families too (we had a mix in our group and everyone had fun.”  Pamela Leon

“I loved my time on this cruise. We spotted all five of the Marine 5, which was quite an achievement as I did not expect to see all the mentioned marine wildlife in one go. For me, this was pure excitement. All staff were friendly, and they were so helpful to my pensioner parents who accompanied me. They ensured that my mom with hip replacements did not fall during the climb on and off the boat. They also ensured that my parents sat behind the cabin for back support. Thank you for this. I was happy to see qualified, and knowledgeable marine biologists on board. The marine biologists ensured we moved away when they saw the whales trying to avoid us.  Overall, it was an exhilarating experience that will never be forgotten. I highly recommend this tour. Very well planned and executed. Thanks to the Marine Dynamics Whale Tours team.”  Dr Hira