Snorkeling with Seals Trip
*Due to the recent contamination of Rabies in the seal colony we have stopped out snorkeling with seals but offer some incredible alternatives!*
Cape Peninsular Ocean Safari
When visiting Cape Town you cannot miss the adventure of swimming, snorkelling in the kelp forests around the cape coast. This must do adventure should definitely be on your list of adventures. Venture into hidden coves, historic shipwrecks, and vibrant Cape fur seal colonies. cruise along the towering cliffs and rugged granite islands, spotting humpback whales and the endemic Heaviside’s dolphins. For the adventurous, you can snorkel through magical kelp forests teeming with life—shy sharks, starfish, anemones, and shimmering seabream.
Discover the wonders of Cape Town’s marine world on an Ocean Safari with expert guides who share a deep passion for exploration and wildlife. The Cape Peninsula plunges into the Atlantic at the edge of Africa, where the majestic Great African Sea forest thrives. This is best experienced beneath the waves and a MUST DO when visiting Cape Town.
With small, intimate groups and expert guides, we take you where few ever go. Immerse yourself in this extraordinary world and uncover the secrets of Cape Town’s wild ocean. Only then can you truly say you’ve ‘DONE Cape Town.’
Snorkeling with Seals Trip
*Due to the recent contamination of Rabies in the seal colony we have stopped out snorkeling with seals but offer some incredible alternatives!*
When visiting Cape Town you cannot miss the adventure of swimming, snorkelling in the kelp forests around the cape coast. This must do adventure should definitely be on your list of adventures. Venture into hidden coves, historic shipwrecks, and vibrant Cape fur seal colonies. cruise along the towering cliffs and rugged granite islands, spotting humpback whales and the endemic Heaviside’s dolphins. For the adventurous, you can snorkel through magical kelp forests teeming with life—shy sharks, starfish, anemones, and shimmering seabream.
Discover the wonders of Cape Town’s marine world on an Ocean Safari with expert guides who share a deep passion for exploration and wildlife. The Cape Peninsula plunges into the Atlantic at the edge of Africa, where the majestic Great African Sea forest thrives. This is best experienced beneath the waves and a MUST DO when visiting Cape Town.
With small, intimate groups and expert guides, we take you where few ever go. Immerse yourself in this extraordinary world and uncover the secrets of Cape Town’s wild ocean. Only then can you truly say you’ve ‘DONE Cape Town.’
Location: Duiker Island Seal Colony and the Cape Peninsular coast
Season: All Year
The Dive: Snorkeling in the Kelp
Minimum experience required: No experience necessary
Dive Depth: Surface on snorkel
Water temperature: 12 – 18º C
Water visibility: 3 – 20 meters
Dive time: Approximately 2-3 hours
What can I expect on this Ocean Safari?
On this 4 hour Ocean Safari, you’ll start with a boat tour along the coastline, where you’ll have the chance to spot wildlife like seals, dolphins, African penguins and Sunfish. Afterward, we’ll head to snorkeling in the kelp forests, where you’ll spend 10 to 40 minutes in the water, depending on the conditions. Our experienced team will guide you through the experience to ensure you feel safe and comfortable.
To join, you need to be at least 10 years old, weigh less than 120kg, and be able to swim. Please note that the trip may be adjusted based on weather, swell, and animal behavior to ensure your safety and enjoyment. No prior snorkeling experience is required.
Can I snorkel in the Kelp Forest on the safari?
Yes! For confident swimmers there is the option to snorkel in the Kelp forest. Equipment included upon request. Sizes need to be provided. You will be snorkel between 10-40 mins conditions depending, topside viewing for the rest of the trip
Do Fur Seals bite?
A normal Cape Fur seal is not aggressive and is completely safe to snorkel with however some individuals can become ill due to rabies and show abnormal aggression. We do not snorkel at the seal colony for this reason.
Are there sharks?
Yes, it is possible to see four species of small endemic sharks in the kelp forest: the Pyjama shyshark, Dark catshark, Leopard shyshark, and Puffadder shyshark.
We are often asked about Great White sharks, but they have never been seen on our snorkeling trips. The cold Atlantic waters around Cape Town are not their preferred habitat. Duiker Island, in particular, is shallow, surrounded by kelp, and has few young seals—offering little incentive for a Great White shark to visit.
Common sightings >90%
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Cape Fur Seal
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Heavisides Dolphin
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Cape cormorant
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White Breasted cormorant
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Bank cormorant
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Hautlaubs Gull
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Kelp Gull
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West Coast rock lobster
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Red rock crab
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Cape urchin
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Spiney starfish
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Cape Bream
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Swift tern
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Common tern
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Sandwich tern
Fairly often < 50%
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Southern Elephant seal
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Pyjama catshark
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Leopard catshark
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Dark shyshark
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Hagfish
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Sunfish
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Giant petrel
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Sabines gull
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African penguin
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Humpback Whale
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Dusky dolphin
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Common dolphin
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Common Octopus
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Pied Crow
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Red-winged starling
Rare sightings <10%
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Orca
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Blue Shark
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Leatherback turtle
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One-finned Electric ray
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Southern Right whale
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Brydes whale
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Rock Hyrax
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Giant rocksucker fish
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Yellowtail Kingfish
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Atlantic bonito
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Black Eagle
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Booted Eagle
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Devil Ray
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Slender sunfish
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Snoek
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Kingklip
09:00
Meet at Hout Bay crew house
09:30
Launch the boat for the following tour:
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Kelp Forest Snorkel – 10 – 40 mins
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Close-up viewing of Cape Fur seals in Hout bay harbor
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Chapmans Peak Drive Ocean Cliffs
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Duiker Island Seal colony – 5000 Fur seals
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Maori bay and the Bos 400 shipwreck
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Twelve Apostles Mountain range
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Strawberry Rocks Fur seal haul out rocks – 100 fur seals
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Wildlife spotting
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Learning from passionate ocean guides
13:00
Return to Hout Bay Harbour.
Included
- Dive guide
- Coffee and snacks
- Hot water to warm you up
- Drinking water
- Wetsuit and snorkeling gear (For snorkeling / swimming)
Excluded
- Towels
- Transfers to Hout Bay
Facilities
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Hot Showers
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Ocean Shop
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Changerooms
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Toilets
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Free WiFi
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Chill Area
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Coffee shop next door
Kelp and Coastal Exploration
ZAR 2500 Per Person
Bookings are essential as space is limited. Please WhatsApp us should you need to check real-time availability closer to the date you want to book. Average fitness required for an enjoyable experience snorkeling in the Kelp Forests.
Jack L – Feb 2025 • Solo
The ocean safari was incredible. In addition to a beautiful view of the bay from water, we got to see many seals and their frolicking pups, and even got to see a few whales passing by late in their migration.
We also got to snorkel the shipwreck at the bay, which coupled with the kelp forests, schools of fish and rock lobsters resting in the wreck was an unbelievable experience. We were given ample time to snorkel, always felt safe, and were never rushed (the guides even offered spare weight belts for free-diving), and the wet suits provided great protection in the cool water.
Our guides were lovely and accommodating, full of information about the history of the bay and interesting facts about the habits of its wildlife.
And just to cap a perfect day, as we were returning there was a pod of over a hundred dolphins leaving the bay, which swam beside the boat for about half an hour.
Overall it was an incredible and unique experience in the water. I’d recommend anyone even mildly interested in the marine life of South Africa to do this tour 👍. Thanks again for a great experience!
Laura L – Nov 2024 • Friends
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