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After more than 15 years of joining Animal Ocean on the Wild Coast, Jean Tresfon knows the Sardine Run better than most. From enormous sardine shoals and hundreds of sharks to dolphins, whales and rare rays, Jean shares his experience of the remarkable and very different Sardine Run of 2026.

After 18 years of leading Sardine Run expeditions, I’m often asked whether scuba diving or snorkeling is better. Both have their place, but when speed, safety, teamwork and keeping up with fast-moving action matter, there is a clear winner.

The 2026 Sardine Run was a season of extraordinary sardine abundance, warm Agulhas water and incredible visibility. From June into August, huge sardine shoals persisted along the Wild Coast, while sharks, tuna, dolphins and manta rays made this one of the most unusual seasons we’ve experienced.