Marine conservation photographer Jean Tresfon uses the power of imagery to inspire others to conserve and protect South Africa’s unique underwater world.

On his first flight of the year, spanning from Infanta to Stilbaai and back, Tresfon captured multiple great white sharks, bottlenose dolphins, shoals of baitfish, and other captivating underwater and geographical sights.


Also read: Look! Feeding groups of humpback whales near Dassen Island


Being a skilled aerial photographer, Tresfon has once again blessed us with a perspective otherwise not attainable: from above.

With a strong south-easterly wind providing an extra lift and Charles Andrew Own in the back seat, Tresfon opened the throttle and lifted off the ground at the Breede River mouth with the plan to head east along the coast to Stilbaai.

Driegaatjies on the left, St Sebastian Point in the foreground, Infanta and Infanta Park, then the Breede River mouth, and Witsand on the other side:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“The flight to the west along the De Hoop coast is usually much busier in terms of marine wildlife sightings, but the flight eastward is also very special. A few hardy fishermen were out on the river, including one chap collecting live bait with a throw net.”

Throw-netting for live bait. Note the marks from all the prawn pumps where bait has been collected at low tide: 

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“Flying over the river mouth we turned left, passing over Witsand with plenty of holidaymakers on the beach, and routed along the cliff tops. Not far along, I spotted the amazing-looking Remote Locations camp perched right on the edge and made a mental note to book a stay for the family.”

The incredible cliff-top location for the aptly named Remote Locations camp near Witsand:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“Up ahead, the Duiwenhoks River was spewing millions of litres of fresh brown water into the sea in a massive plume extending a long way out following the recent rains. Close to shore and along the edge of the plume, Charles’ eagle eyes spotted something, and there was a great white shark on the surface. And another. And another. And one more for a total of four white sharks cruising around near the river mouth.”

Great white number one cruising on the surface near the Duiwenhoks River mouth:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Great white number two cruising on the surface near the Duiwenhoks River mouth:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Great white number three cruising on the surface near the Duiwenhoks River mouth:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Great white number four cruising on the surface near the Duiwenhoks River mouth:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“Flying a little way out to sea, we had a wave from the crew of a fishing boat and then climbed up a little bit for some photos of the Kapstyl huisies at Puntje.”

The tiny settlement of Puntje with its curious Kapstyl houses at the mouth of the Duiwenhoks River:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“Further east saw us passing the Koensrust Beach Shack, nestled below the cliffs and right on the shoreline. At Blombos, we spotted another big shark in the shallows, this time not a white shark but probably a big bronzie or a dusky.”

Koensrust Beach Shack has the most incredible location, nestled right on the seashore and at the base of the cliffs:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

A big shark in the shallows at Blombos. Not a great white, but possibly a copper or dusky one:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“Rounding Odendalspunt, we flew past the famous Blombos Cave before arriving at Jongesfontein and finding some massive fish shoals just offshore with not a single predator in evidence.”

The entrance to the famous Blombos Cave, home to the world’s earliest known human artworks:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

One of a few large shoals of fish just offshore from Jongensfontein:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“A little way along, we spotted a splash, and quite a few bottlenose dolphins were chasing fish on the surface, which was very exciting to watch from above.”

A bottlenose dolphin was chasing a fish, which was overtaken and eaten in a heartbeat:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Three mother-and-calf pairs of bottlenose dolphins near Jongensfontein: 

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“At Bosbokduin, we circled for some photos of the thatched houses and the stone fish traps, or visvywers, and also spotted a pod of humpback dolphins in the bay. Just around the corner, we rounded Stilbaai Point and flew over the very busy-looking beach and Goukou River mouth.”

The Goukou River mouth empties into the sea at Stilbaai:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Smooth hammerhead shark near Stilbaai:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

“This marked the turning point before heading home again, and, now with the wind behind us, we flew at a higher altitude and with a much-increased ground speed. All too soon we were back at the Breede River mouth and made a quick detour to the Infanta lighthouse on Uiterstepunt before heading upriver to land back at the bush strip. This was easily the busiest flight in terms of marine wildlife sightings that I’ve had along this piece of the coast! Not a bad way to start the year’s flying…”

Seen at Jongensfontein:

Picture: Jean Tresfon

Also read: 

Look! Cape Town photographer captures the “biggest great white shark I have ever seen”

Pictures/information: Jean Tresfon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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