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is out on YouTube and on their social media platform.

Offshore Africa is proud to be associated with Behind the Mask and as a sponsor of 1 of BTM dive experiences as part of their signature trips for 2025.

We have already allocated the dates for the lucky winner of the Sardine run 2025 expedition and look forward to meeting him or her very soon.

https://offshoreportstjohns.com/sardine-run/

Be sure to watch the ALIVE video followed by the video below to stand a chance of winning and joining us next season.

https://behind-the-mask.com/

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Sardine run stories in images

Images really do tell a story of their own.  Enjoy part 3 of our sardine run 2018 stories in images……..

Come and join us and create your own image library of stories during the most incredible months of the year along our coastline.

https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/

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Sardine run 2018 is in full swing with us here in Port St John’s.

Special thanks to John Costello for capturing this magnificent pod of common dolphins charging off to something that only they know, but of course we follow because not only is this massive pod a sight to behold, but they are heading off to intercept food in the form of sardines………..

We are in Day 8 of our season and although certain dates are fully booked, others still have spaces if you would like to join us for an experience of a lifetime.

Get in touch https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact/ if you are interested in spending time with an abundance of marine life, in the same place and at the same time.

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Sardine run featuring our Cape Gannets is the first part in a series about the Sardine Run with information and images that we are sharing with you.

Not only is it knowledge that is being gained, it also assists in understanding how vital the sardine run period is for many of our ocean inhabitants.

Sardine run featuring our Cape Gannets

The Cape Gannet seabird is undeniably another major predator on the annual sardine run https://offshoreportstjohns.com/product/the-sardine-run-6-nights-5-days/ and one of our absolutely favourite in water and underwater encounters.

During the annual sardine run ocean safari, so many people focus on the common dolphins and, at times, the excitement of witnessing the super pods of common dolphins. We are in awe as to the different species of sharks and of course the ever famous silver fish aka sardines, in various species. But not everyone realizes just how incredible the Cape Gannet bird is in the greater scheme of the hunt. Not everyone understands just how hugely skilled and talented these birds really are…….

To explain………..The Cape Gannet (Morus capensis) is a large seabird of the gannet family.

They are easily identified by their large size, black & white plumage and distinctive yellow crown and hind neck.  Never mind their beautiful blue eyes too.  The pale blue bill is pointed with fine serrations near the tip, perhaps because of the depth and speed of the gannets’ dive when fishing.  Gannets hit the water at speeds of between 40kmph & 120kmph.  Its’ beak has no external nostrils into which the water might be forced.  Facial air sacs under their skin cushion the impact with the water.

They are easy to identify.  At closer range, the very distinct golden crown and nape of the neck area, dark bill makes identification easy.  Juveniles and the immature birds are dark brown with a pale bill.

Cape Gannet pairs may remain together over several seasons.  They perform elaborate greeting rituals at the nest, stretching their bills and necks skywards and gently tapping bills together.

Cape Gannets begin breeding in August/September.  Both parents are actively involved in the incubation phase which lasts 42-46 days until hatching.  They use their foot webs to incubate the egg.  The foot webs, which are richly irrigated with blood vessels, are wrapped around the egg.

The hatchling is black, naked & blind, weighing only about 70g.  But within 3 weeks its body mass is one third of that of an adult.  At 8 weeks the chick outweighs the adult and this remains until it becomes a fledgling at between 95-105 days of age.

These birds are not only powerful flyers but incredible plunge divers too.  They are able to plunge dive from a considerable height and are capable of diving to 20m in depth.  In watching these birds, we often find that the higher up they plunge dive from, the deeper the food source is.  The closer to the water surface they plunge dive from, the closer to the surface the food source is.

Their breeding range is restricted to Southern Africa in islands off Namibia and South Africa.  They normally nest in large and dense colonies on flat islands or on flat ledges of the steeply sloping Mercury Island off Namibia.  The largest colony of Cape Gannets, with over 140 000 birds, is found on Malgas Island (Langebaan) South Africa.  We also have a large colony on Bird Island (Lamberts Bay) South Africa.

In all respects, the Cape Gannet is a highly skilled acrobatic hunter and is incredible to witness underwater.  Not only does it sound like a gun fire when it plunges at speed into the water, it is almost comical looking once underwater, having lost its beautiful colourful appearance and the beautiful blue eyes are almost dark in colour when underwater. Flapping its wings to chase after fish, first 1 and then another and capable of ingesting more than 1 sardine on 1 dive before popping back to the surface, makes this bird incredibly unique in many ways.

Aside from all these acrobatic and hunting techniques, they are not scared to be part of the madness on a bait ball or fast moving action, where sharks, dolphins and sardines chase at high speed to grab their meal.  They are in on the action and play their vital role amidst all of the chaos.

So take a closer look at these birds with a renewed bit of knowledge about them and their fascinating capabilities.  They are comical to watch and yet highly skilled hunters in their own right and certainly not afraid to be part of all the chaos that takes place in the water.

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Sardine Run 2018 @ 2017 rates

Sardine Run 2018 @ 2017 rates are live and out there!!!!!!!

We have held our 2017 rates for 2018!!!!!

We have just completed 43 days of an insane, adrenaline and action packed sardine run 2017 and it has been a breath taking season to say the very least.

We will start posting all our images and videos to you and we welcome all our clients to share their memories with us this year on our Facebook page Offshore Africa Port St John’s.

From Orca’s, to Mola Mola, Bryde’s whale, Southern Right whales to Bull sharks on the bait balls to Yellow Fin tuna on the bait ball action, it has been a spectacular year and it is not over for us as we will now start to capitalize on our own footage and outings as action continues in this area.

We wish to thank each and every one of our clients and crew for this epic season.  We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with you all.

These are just a few images to start with as a memory ……………….

If you would like to see our flexible accommodation & time frame package options, click here https://offshoreportstjohns.com/?product=the-sardine-run-6-nights-5-days#packages

If you would like to join us and experience this incredible time of the year along our coastline, get in touch with us https://offshoreportstjohns.com/contact-offshore-port-st-johns/

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There are so many incredible images that come out of the sardine run ocean safari time of the year.

Let us share just a VERY FEW of these with you.

We always say that time spent on the ocean each day is NOT just about chasing after the little silver fish with a massive reputation known as sardines, in all their versions.

It is, indeed, about absolutely everything that CAN be seen during these months, all coming together at the same time, same area, all creating excitement for photographers and Nature lovers alike.

For ocean lovers, in particular, to spend time with the humpback whales during their annual migration gives one a feeling of deep, soulful joy. To witness their tail slapping, lob tailing, spy hopping or, at times, general disinterest in us, brings a massive smile to the lips of everyone on board our boats. What a total privilege it always is to see these incredible, musical, whales.  Whether travelling on their own or in a group, many photographers have taken literally thousands of images of their antics and communicative displays.

And then there is the ever watchful Cape Gannet, the most crafty and talented plunge diver you can ever wish to meet, totally equipped to lunge itself head first into the ocean, wings tucked in, eyes appearing rather large and out of place when encountered under water. Merrily swimming along, wings flapping, looking for that meal, possibly grabbing not 1 but 2 sardines before plopping back on the surface, only to take off and try it all over again.  When seen out of the water, they have the most beautiful yellow head (adults) and blue eyes.

And ocean bird sightings are not limited to the Cape Gannets either.  We have the ever present Skua, yellow nose Albatros, a few from the Petrel family………….the list goes on.

And then there are the different species of dolphins, the most watched species being the common dolphin, which at times can be super pod in size with an estimate of 18 000 plus.

Let us not forget about the MANY species of sharks that we can expect to encounter, whether with action or not.  The most common sightings being Bronze Whaler aka Copper sharks & Dusky sharks, just to mention a very few!

Isn’t sardine run ocean safari time just too incredible!!!!!!!!!!!

Another plus is that we can expect to see pretty much anything on any given day.  We never know when it/they will appear, at what time of the day, or in what weather conditions.  Which is why we try to stay out at sea for as long as we can each day, but safety always comes first and weather conditions play a big part here. And of course our most favourite  of sayings being………………you will not see it by being on land or by sitting on the boat.  You need to get in and out of the boat each day for as many times as you have the energy to do it!!!!!

The potential sightings list goes on and on but sadly we only have one page to document all of this.

Even the beautiful scenery matches a photographers dream, linked to everything else that is going on………………………

Sardine run ocean safari time is almost upon us.

Come and join us at Offshore Africa, the only locally based operator, for THE experience of a lifetime, in Port St John’s, the home of the sardine run.

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