Dyer Island Conservation Trust

31/10/2026

Some news leaves you lost for words. This is one of those moments.

Our beloved friend, colleague, skipper and member of the Marine Dynamics family, Francois Swart, tragically passed away yesterday in a fatal motorbike accident.

It feels a little like a massive wave is breaking over us, and we are still trying to find our feet and work out how to ride it.

Francois, your love for the ocean, for Gansbaai, your friendship, your infectious spirit and your unmistakable go-get-them attitude will be sorely missed.

Your seat around the Great White House breakfast table, where so many mornings started with coffee, conversation and a bit of banter, will forever feel empty.

We are at a loss for words. You were one great guy, Francois. A true friend, a valued colleague and one of those people who leave a mark on everyone fortunate enough to have known them.

Our hearts are with your family, friends and everyone who loved you during this incredibly difficult time.

Fair winds and following seas, Francois. The ocean will always hold a little piece of you.

We miss you.

29/10/2026

We were delighted to welcome the Grade 3 learners from Curro Hermanus to the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary (APSS)!

During their visit, the learners had the opportunity to learn more about the work we do at the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, including the rescue, rehabilitation and care of African penguins and other seabirds. They also explored the fascinating world of the Marine Big 5, discovering more about whales, dolphins, sharks, seals and African penguins, and the important role these animals play in our marine ecosystem.

Visits like these give young learners a chance to connect with marine life, discover the importance of conservation and understand why protecting our ocean matters.

Thank you to Curro Hermanus for visiting us and spending the day learning about our incredible marine environment!

28/10/2026

26/10/2026

Exploring Klipgat Cave and Caring for Our Coastline!

The DEEP Blue Ambassadors visited Klipgat Cave and conducted a beach clean-up at Die Plaat in collaboration with the CapeNature Walker Bay team.

The outing gave our young ambassadors the opportunity to explore the fascinating Klipgat Cave and learn more about the natural heritage of the Walker Bay area. They also put their learning into action by collecting litter along Die Plaat, removing a total of 20kg of litter from the coastline.

From discovering the stories held within our coastline to seeing first-hand the litter that ends up on our beaches, the experience reminded our learners that our coastal spaces are valuable places that deserve our care and respect.

A heartfelt thank you to the CapeNature Walker Bay team for collaborating with us and making this educational experience possible. We are also grateful to the Western Cape Government and the Overberg Municipality for sponsoring promotional items and catering for our learners.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day a meaningful experience for our DEEP Blue Ambassadors!

DiePlaat CoastalConservation YouthInConservation

23/10/2026

A big congratulations to Prof Els Vermeulen on this exciting new appointment! Your contribution to whale research is valued and it is wonderful to see your work recognised at an international level. All of us at the Dyer Island Conservation Trust are delighted to celebrate this achievement with you and wish you every success in your new role.

Congratulations to Prof Els Vermeulen on her appointment to the leadership of the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Committee!

Through the University of Pretoria’s Mammal Research Institute Whale Unit, long-term research and public participation are deepening our understanding of whales and informing conservation efforts. Prof Vermeulen’s appointment provides an opportunity to strengthen Africa’s voice in global marine conservation.

Read more: https://ow.ly/2eCb50ZZkjK

16/10/2026

Celebrating Our Ocean Through Creativity

October is Marine Month, a time to celebrate South Africa’s incredible marine and coastal environments and to remind ourselves of the important role the ocean plays in our lives.

For the Dyer Island Conservation Trust, Marine Month is also a time to celebrate the creativity and voices of young people through our annual Marine Month Competition.

The competition was first established in 2016 by the Dyer Island Conservation Trust for local Overstrand schools. It was created to help young learners better understand our ocean, appreciate the incredible marine life on our doorstep and inspire them to become young ambassadors for marine conservation.

Over the years, the competition has grown into a special platform where education, creativity and conservation come together. Learners have been encouraged to explore marine conservation through artwork, colouring, poetry, essays, recycled sculptures and ocean-themed projects.

In 2025, the competition continued to inspire young ocean voices, with learners exploring themes including the African penguin, their connection to the ocean and practical ways to reduce plastic pollution and protect marine life.

And now, our 2026 Marine Month Art Competition is underway!

With the competition closing this month, we are looking forward to seeing the creativity, ideas and passion of this year's young participants. Every drawing, painting, poem or creative piece is more than just an entry. It is an opportunity for a young person to learn about the ocean and share their message of why it deserves our protection.

At DICT, we believe that conservation begins with education. Through our DEEP Blue Ambassadors, school outreach, marine education initiatives and the Marine Month Competition, we are creating opportunities for young people to connect with the ocean and understand their role in protecting it.

Because when young people understand the ocean, they are more likely to care for it.

And when they care, they can become the ocean's next generation of guardians.

10/10/2026

African Penguin Awareness Day |

We stood together for a species that needs us now more than ever.

At the African Penguin & Seabird Sanctuary, every day is an opportunity to raise awareness, educate our visitors, and make a difference in the lives of the Critically Endangered African penguins in our care. Our work is not limited to one awareness day. Every penguin we rehabilitate, every visitor we educate, and every conservation story we share is part of our ongoing commitment to protecting this incredible species.

This African Penguin Awareness Day, we marked the occasion with a special feeding talk led by our Senior Bird Rehabilitator, who shared the history of African penguin populations, how far we have come, and the challenges these remarkable seabirds continue to face.

The kids also enjoyed theme-inspired cookies as we came together to celebrate African penguins and reflect on the importance of protecting their future. In line with the Dyer Island Conservation Trust’s belief that conservation starts with educating children, we aim to inspire the next generation to care for and protect our wildlife and oceans, helping shape future conservationists who will continue to make a difference.

The theme is a call to action. We cannot stand by while African penguin populations continue to decline. Protecting their future requires all of us to stand together and take action.

Our work to protect African penguins does not start or end with one awareness day. It is a commitment we carry forward every single day.

Will you stand with us, today and every day?

If you would like to support our ongoing work and help us continue caring for and rehabilitating African penguins, you can make a contribution here:

🔗 https://dict.org.za/donate/

Every contribution makes a difference in giving these Critically Endangered seabirds a fighting chance.

Their future is in our hands. Not on our watch.

24/09/2026

Heritage Day is about more than celebrating our culture and history. It is also an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the natural heritage that surrounds us.

This Heritage Day, our 2nd and 3rd Year DEEP Blue Ambassadors had the opportunity to explore the Geo Trail at the African Penguin and Seabird Sanctuary, learning about the geological history of the area and the natural features that have shaped the landscape we call home.

The lesson was led by Mr Mike Dormer from the Overberg Geoscientists Group, who shared his knowledge and helped the learners understand the rocks, formations and geological stories found right here in Gansbaai.

For our DEEP Blue Ambassadors, this experience was a valuable reminder that conservation is not only about protecting wildlife and the ocean. It is also about understanding and caring for the land, rocks and natural history that form part of our heritage.

By connecting young people with the story beneath their feet, we are helping them develop a deeper appreciation for their local environment and the importance of protecting it for future generations.

This Heritage Day, we celebrate our heritage by learning from it, connecting with it and becoming its future custodians.

A special thank you to Mr Mike Dormer and the Overberg Geoscientists Group for sharing this knowledge with our young ocean champions.

22/09/2026

22/09/2026

From the Classroom to Cape Agulhas!

Our DEEP Kids Seniors recently took their learning beyond the classroom with an exciting educational trip to Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.

This visit was especially meaningful because it followed a lesson on oceans and ocean currents. After learning about how our oceans move and influence one another, the learners had the opportunity to stand at the meeting point of these two great oceans and connect what they had learned in the classroom with the real world.

For many of our learners, experiences like this bring conservation education to life. It is one thing to learn about ocean currents from a lesson, but quite another to stand at the Southern Tip of Africa and see the vast ocean stretching out before you.

The visit also included a look at the visible shipwreck of the Meisho Maru No. 38, a Japanese fishing vessel that ran aground on the rocky shore of Cape Agulhas in November 1982. Today, the wreck remains a striking part of the coastline and a reminder of the power and unpredictability of the ocean.

We are proud of our DEEP Kids Seniors for their curiosity, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Every experience helps them build a deeper connection with our oceans and strengthens their role as young ocean champions.