On 22 June, the Dyer Island Conservation Trust and Marine Dynamics teams were alerted of a stranded Humpback whale along the beach at Die Dam. A resident of Die Dam, Johanna von Molendorff, sighted the whale, with alerts posted to local stranding pages too. Early the next morning, 23 June, our teams started the journey towards the area. The attendees were [...]
Kruger and Shannon du Plessis from the KruShan Foundation are two friends of the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary. They have assisted with numerous previous donations towards the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, including buying two gas fridges to keep the penguin meals frozen during heavy load-shedding in 2023. Now, they have warmed our hearts again! This time, they secured funds [...]
Mayoral Committee Member, Alderman James Vos, and his family visited the team at Marine Dynamics, the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, during the winter school holidays. After a visit at APSS, Adl Vos said: "Had a heartwarming day with my family at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary in Gansbaai! Thanks to the Dyer Island [...]
In the vast expanse of our planet, one element stands out for its sheer majesty and mystery: the ocean. Covering over 70% of Earth's surface, oceans are not just bodies of water; they are the lifeblood of our planet, influencing climate, sustaining biodiversity, and providing resources essential for human survival. Yet, despite their immense significance, oceans often remain out of sight [...]
Children's Day is not just a day of fun and games; it's also an opportunity to educate and inspire the next generation about important issues, such as marine ecology. As we celebrate this special day dedicated to the well-being and happiness of children, let's delve into the fascinating world of marine ecology and discover how we can instill a love for [...]
25 April is “celebrated” as World Penguin Day, a day to raise awareness about penguins. Sadly, for the African penguin if we do not act now, we will in future be commemorating the day. The African penguin population is crashing. On Dyer Island the numbers dropped from 36 000 pairs in 1976 to 903 pairs in 2023. The South African population [...]
The Dyer Island Conservation Trust was very fortunate to receive a call from South African surfer, Natasha van Greunen, to film at our African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, as part of her Shining Light Series. We invited her to also be our speaker at the monthly Marine Evenings at the Great White House Restaurant. Natasha shared her passion for ocean conservation [...]
Marine Dynamics and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust support the findings in the below, recently published, paper. As an ecotourism operator working in the Gansbaai area for more than 20 years, we acknowledge that there is much more to the decline in white shark numbers than previously suggested by marine biologists. The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board’s “lethal shark control program” as well [...]
In celebration of International Women's Day today, we would like to tip our hats to Dr. Sylvia Earle. The Marine Dynamics and Dyer Island Conservation Team were fortunate to be invited to the 'Hope Spot Workshop & Celebration' earlier this month. Sylvia Earle and the Mission Blue expedition team established six Hope Spots along the coast of South Africa in partnership [...]
Sunk deeply in a chair at Amazing Grace Guesthouse in De Kelders, I met the 77-year-old United Nations Environment Program’s Goodwill Ambassador, as well as National Geographic Society’s first Education Fellow, Dr. John Francis. It’s the 23rd of January, a scorching hot and windy day in the Overstrand, and Dr. Francis has just walked 22 kilometers from Stanford Hills to De [...]
