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Whales, sharks, seals and dolphins in Mossel Bay
Dolphins pass the bay most days. Whales arrive in winter. Seal Island has thousands of Cape fur seals, and the great white sharks that hunt them made Mossel Bay one of the world's original shark cage diving destinations. Andrea has worked alongside the marine research community here for years, and knows which operators to trust.
Whale watching
Southern right whales come into the bay from about June to November to calve; humpbacks pass through on migration. Boat-based whale watching runs from the harbour, and on calm days you can see them from the St Blaize Trail without leaving land.
Shark cage diving
Mossel Bay operators run half-day trips to Seal Island year-round. No diving qualification is needed. Winter tends to be best for sightings. Ask us about the research-led operators.
Seal Island and Cape fur seals
A short boat trip from the harbour circles Seal Island, home to a colony of several thousand seals and a great deal of noise and smell. Good for families, and often with dolphins on the way.
Diving and snorkelling
Scuba and snorkelling trips explore the reefs off the Point and the wreck sites in the bay. The Shark Lab aquarium in town lets you see small shark species up close.
Oceans Research and iOcean
Mossel Bay is home to the Oceans Research Institute and to iOcean Trust. Guests interested in conservation can ask about beach clean-ups, citizen science with the iNaturalist app and youth programmes that your stay helps to fund.
Good to know
When is whale season in Mossel Bay?
Roughly June to November, with peak sightings from August to October.
Do I need to be a diver to do shark cage diving?
No. The cage floats at the surface and you hold your breath to duck under. Operators supply wetsuits and masks.
More in Discover Mossel Bay
Cape St Blaize
Lighthouse, cave, cliff trail and the Point tidal pool, five minutes away.
Beaches & ocean
Santos, Diaz, De Bakke and the Point: which beach for what.
Pinnacle Point
Caves with 164,000-year-old evidence of the first modern humans.
Heritage & culture
Dias, the Post Office Tree, stone villas and the town beyond the beach.
Things to do
Twenty-five things worth doing, all within ten minutes.
Garden Route
Twenty minutes from George Airport and a day trip from everything.
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Live availability and instant confirmation through our secure NightsBridge page. No booking-site commission, so more of your stay goes to Villa Palmera and to iOcean Trust.
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