Summer has arrived and with it warmer weather and increased sea temperatures which attract more people to the beaches for a swim. When swimming and walking on the beach, look out for bluebottles or Portuguese man-o’-war (Physalia utriculus,). These strange organisms float in open waters of most oceans and are cast ashore after strong onshore READ MORE
Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) can grow up to 15m in length and weigh between 30-40 tonnes making it the 5th largest whale. They are normally found migrating single or in small groups aggregating in their feeding and breeding grounds. Humpback whales can live to 60 years or older. They are grey/black on their dorsal and READ MORE
Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) are found in tropical waters all over the world. Loggerhead Turtles are a part of the marine reptile family (Cheloniidae) and got their name from their exceptionally large head with a heavy, strong jaw. Loggerhead Turtles carapace (back) is reddish-brown in color and heart-shaped with large non-overlapping scales. They have short, READ MORE
In South Africa there is one penguin specie that lives and breed along the shore line called the African Penguin (Spheiscus demersus). The King Penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus), Southern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome), Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes c. moseleyi) and Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) can also be seen in South African waters on rare occasions. African READ MORE
A few weeks ago we had a white Southern Right Whale calf passing through our bay with its mother. What does it mean to be a “white” whale? “Is this a problem for the calf?” Being white or an albino (latin word albus meaning white) happens when the skin is lacking pigment due to absence READ MORE
When walking on the beaches around the world, shells from mussels and snails can be found. Along the South African coastline egg casings from sharks and rays as well as sea urchins and cuttlefish bones are found on a regular basis. Most areas also have a specific type of shell that is only found there READ MORE