Breathtaking helicopter flight AND Shark Cage Diving experience. You might even spot the Great Whites and Whales from the air as you fly over the Cape Peninsula into Kleinbaai. Helicopter flight from Cape Town to Kleinbaai 30 minutes trip PLUS Shark Cage Diving, all in one, for R4950.00 per person. Helipad at V&A Waterfront. BOOK YOUR TRIP of a lifetime now! Contact us for more details.. 

In 2005 Marine Dynamics joined forces with Dyer Island Cruises, the boat-based whale watching operator in Kleinbaai. Dyer Island Cruises has for many years been actively involved in coastal conservation, especially on Dyer Island. The team assists with the transport and care of oiled and injured seabirds, the artificial penguin nest project on the island, assisting researchers in field work and collecting data about marine life for scientists 

the Great White shark

 

 

1. ‘Faces of Need – Sharks’

 

This program aims to expose and compile data and knowledge on the other sharks in the Cape-less fortunate than the GWS in their conservation and status.

100,00,00 sharks a year are killed. 

 

Great White Sharks are famous in films but that does not mean that they are the only species worth protecting.  In Walker Bay there are many local species of sharks that are not protected and are heavily exploited by fishermen. There are no catch quota limits on these individuals.  Faces of Need is a five year research scheme initiated by the South African Shark Conservancy (SASC)and the Dyer Island Conservation Trust (DICT). This project provides support for monitoring programmes set on three key local shark species.  Soupfin sharks Galeorhinus galeus, Gully Sharks ‘Triakis megaloptera’, and Cow sharks ‘Notorynchus cepedianus’.

 

 

'Sharks of the Cape' 

Sharks of the Cape book: The DICT and Alison Towner are in the very early stages of researching the other Cape  Sharks ecology, habits and scientific work associated with these sharks. Through interviewing researchers themselves, and photography they hope to produce a nice comprehensive guide on the Seven gill sharks, smooth hounds, Bronze whalers, Soupfin sharks etc, and answer the questions of What do we know? What can be done for them and very importantly (of course) where can we find them and dive?!

 

Biggest Zambezi shark ever recorded

 

Marine Dynamics divers helped make this possible by their donations to our Faces of Need sharks project!

 

Nyami Nyami:

A research team gathered together and went to investigate potential bull shark sightings in the Breede river (Witsands, Cape West) from the 19th-25^th of January 2009. The team consisted of professional anglers from Big Fish Safari, a team from Marine Coastal Management , a team from the Lower Breede Conservancy and scientist Meagan MCcord from the South African Shark Conservancy (who initiated the project),along with Alison Towner our marine biologist from Marine Dynamics. read more of this project...

 

 

Wilfred Chivell initiated this project where we provide the African Penguins on Dyer Island with artificial nests.  You may ask why?  Years ago people removed all the guano (bird manure) from the island in which the penguins used to nest. This left the island very rocky which makes it impossible for them to make little burrows to nest in.  This means that they sit on exposed nests.  Exposed to the sun and kelp gulls.  Due to this, the number of penguins on the island deteriorated over the last couple of years.  How  can you help?  You can sponsor a penguin home for only R400.00!  Our aim is to put 3000 nests on the island over the next 2 to 3 years.  We have sold about 2600 nests up to date and have placed about 800 on the island. The placements of these nests is a very sensitive thing, as this is done when there is not a bird breeding on the island.  For more info you can visit our website:  www.dict.org.za

The increase in shipping and coastal usage has resulted in a huge increase of marine litter and the associated threats to marine animals.  Clean Marine was established to counter this tragedy.  The Overstrand coastline is being used as the pilot project to be implemented along the entire South African coastline.  What are we doing?  Developing educational material for school children, fishermen,ski-boat clubs etc.  Collecting litter at sea from fishing vessels by the provision of specially designed bins.  Regular coastal clean-up campaigns.  Who is involved?  Dyer Island Cruises, Marine Dynamics, Overstrand Municipality, Birdlife Overberg, Birdlife South Africa and Cape Nature. 

Southern Right Whales are not known to feed in South African waters, yet DIC have collected faeces from these whales in the Greater Dyer Island area, and observed skim-feeding behaviour. Not even the scientists were aware of this phenomenon.  These samples are currently analysed for their contents.

• DIC sponsors the transport of scientists to and from Dyer Island.
• We complete detailed log sheets of each whale and dolphin sighting, supplying information to the scientists.
• Photograph and catalogue each whale sighted for individual recognition.
• Record, photograph and investigate marine mammal and sea bird injuries and deaths.
• Collect whale faeces for analysis.
  

Whenever an animal in need – whether bird of mammal – is found in the greater Dyer Island area at sea of on land, Wilfred Chivell of Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics is called in.  Since 1998, DIC has been involved in the care of over 90 % of all animals in need from De Kelders to Die Damme.  Animals are collected, cared for, and expert help sought if needed.  Over time, we have established ourselves as the Call Centre for all animals in need.  In this way we know what happens to the animals in our area, and can investigate the causes of animal injuries to minimise then in the future.  Oiled, sick and injured African Penguins are collected from Dyer Island and transported to SANCCOB, a sea bird rehabilitation facility in Cape Town, where the birds are cared for before being released in the wild again.

Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics initiated the Nolwandle Project as part of our ongoing commitment to responsible tourism, giving consideration to the social, economic and environmental impact of the operation, therefore spreading the benefits that tourism can bring.  24 Ladies from the local community are being trained in the making of various crafts that will be on sale to the thousands of tourists that come to Gansbaai for whale and shark watching.  The project was established in March 2006 by Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics with initial funding provided by the British High Commission.  The Overstrand Municipality granted use of an area around the taxi rank in Mashakane township and donated an unused warehouse building to house the project.  DIC, MD and Grootbos Private Nature Reserve contributed additional funds, for the initial manufacture of elementary crafts.  The BHC funding was utilised to provide ongoing formal instruction.

Dyer Island Cruise and Marine Dynamics provide logistical support, boat trips and research information for the following students:

Azwianewi Makhado

Newi joined the Avian Demography Unit at the University of Cape Town on a joint project with Marine and Coastal Management for a PhD study on the investigation of the impact of fur seals on the conservation status of seabirds at the Prince Edward Islands and off western South Africa. The study aims to address the extent of predation on seabirds by an ever-increasing population of seals in the southern Indian Ocean.

Lauren Waller

Lauren registered as a part-time PhD student at the Avian Demography Unit, looking at the impacts of disturbance on the breeding birds of Dyer Island,and mitigation measures to reduce these impacts.  She is involved in the FACES OF NEED project, as well as monitoring and managing Avian Cholera outbreaks amongst the cormorants on the island.  She is employed by Cape Nature.

Isabelle Dupre

• Birdlife Overberg (Honorary Membership for Clean Marine Project)
• Birdlife South Africa(Blue Crane Award for Faces of Need Project)
• Overstrand Conservation Foundation (Certificate of Appreciation)
• Business Partners (Regional winner of Entrepreneur of the year 2005)
• Mayor’s floating trophy for Environmental Conservation (2004/6 Finalist, 2007 runner-up)

• First Choice Responsible Tourism Award 2006 (Dyer Island Cruises Highly Commended best in a Marine Environment)

Dyer Island Cruises and Marine Dynamics are assisting WWF with their Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative to inform people about making better choices for the environment when buying seafood or dining out.

Dyer Island Conservation Trust initiated the Drum it Up programme on Earth Day 2008 to promote the importance of recycling and waste management in the local community.  Recycled oil drums were painted in bright colours and labelled into five recycle categories (metal, glass, plastic, paper and organic).  Each drum/category portrays one of our marine big 5 (whale, seal, shark, penguin & dolphin)  These drums have been set up at pre-determined locations, and we hope to expand their range in time.