“Don’t see the point of removing them if they fall naturally/dissolve” is one of the most recent comments in the video of me removing hooks from sharks. Here are a few thoughts we should consider before expressing our complete lack of expertise and showing an equal lack of empathy: 1.Hooks don’t rust as easily as people make us believe. Videos of people putting hooks in salt water and then taking them out of the water to show the rusting effect fail to explain the oxidation process caused by the oxygen in the air. And even if some hooks eventually rust, they will take a long time. We had a tiger shark who had a hook in her mouth for eight years before it started to deteriorate. 2. Many hooks are made of stainless steel; they do not rust. Period 3. I have seen sharks with hooks slamming into the sand, trying to dislodge them over and over again (see video). I watched them taking off as fast as they could, twitching their fins, and becoming infected in the areas where the hooks were lodged and where the trail lines were rubbing. I see the discomfort left behind by hooks daily. 4. Sharks feel pain. It might not be a pain as we define it, but they feel the disturbance of these hooks, lines, and infections. 5. Empathy and action can make a significant difference. If we can help another being feel better, why not? There’s nothing negative about trying to help a different species affected by our actions. Empathy is a fundamental part of being human. I have the tools (chainsuit), the knowledge, and the capability to help sharks. It may not help all the sharks in the world, but the 360 hooks removed to date are a testament to this. 6. These sharks and the hooks I removed are ambassadors for many other sharks. By sharing their stories, we can inspire others to change their ways and mitigate their impact on the ocean. Each one of us has the power to advocate for change. Video by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro
What is cold? Is it a specific temperature, or a personal feeling that changes due to situations, life (younger or older), being used to a particular climate, diving frequently or not, being a woman, or a man? The PADI manual recommends planning a dive 10ft deeper when the water is cold. I always ask my students: When should we consider planning 10ft deeper? The answer is personal. Cold is personal, it is affected by many variables that it will never even be the same for us under the same circumstances. When I dive, I want to be focused on the dive; I like to be alert and comfortable to take care of my divers, and students. Being cold is a deterrent factor, it can be debilitating and distracting, and if not taken care of, it can lead to dangerous situations fueled by poor and slow decision-making. This year, I have upgraded to a semi-dry wetsuit for all my shark adventures. Its first test run on our last ten-day liveaboard trip was outstanding. We completed dives up to two and a half hours, and I never once felt a hint of being cold, no goosebumps, and no shivering. The heated vests we had previously used with our thinner suits stayed stashed in the cabin the entire time. I cringe when people post a 😂 or try to make it a competition on “how cold” it is where they are compared to me. I find it demeaning and disrespectful. It is a trend I notice in some of my posts. I don’t care; I wear what I need to feel comfortable and ready, however, that attitude and mindset can lead newer and less secure divers to make the incorrect thermal choice, fearing being ridiculed for their need to feel warm and comfortable. It is time we understand that each person is different and that instead of telling someone which suit they need for “warm” water, we tell them what the water temperature is and ask them what they used before and what was the water temperature there and how they felt during the dives, and even after the dives so we can assist in making an educated estimate of the best suit for their needs. 📸@kewinlorenzen @waterproofinternational
You should! How many times and in how many different forms have we heard this? How often are we told how we should run them? We should fill in the blanks of what others would like our lives to evolve into as if doing something different is not the correct way. It even applies to my social media, on what I should and should not post, discuss, or write about. There is tremendous pressure from society to stick to some timelines and roles throughout our lives, which goes for both men and women. I do not talk often about some of my profound choices, for example, being childless, but I believe it’s essential we do not feel stuck or defined by only a specific role. We are more than a title, an accomplishment, or a role. We can be whatever we want to be. So, yes, we should be free to make our choices, decide what is best for us now, change our minds without repercussions, and live the lives we feel happy with, not the lives others think we should pursue. Wearing @neptunic_com performance long sleeve
Life is made of small, special shared moments, of laughter with friends and family, of experiences that make us happy and feel alive, of the present time, the steps we have taken in the right direction to make us feel alive, happy and fulfilled. Let’s not worry too much about having the perfect hair, the wrinkles-less face and the eternal youth as with time and experience come wisdom and a special gift called memories. Every day I make a point to pause, watch what I had just been watching with a different intent and focus on realizing how special the moment is. Some may might think it’s easy doing this when living this life but I have done the same exercise while in a taxi heading to Los Angeles airport at 3 am, I paused the thought, here is a moment that goes into a memory. I took in the empty and quiet streets, the darkness and the strange feeling for an island girl to be right there in that moment. Selfie taken at sunrise on our liveaboard trip around The Bahamas to encounter and learn more about sharks.
Moving with the weather, we used the winds to sail to Bimini and are planning to sit here and dive with Great Hammerheads and on other sites for the remaining days at sea. Once again, these sharks share the same environment and swim around divers and fish, aware of their and our presence. Many are surprised sharks won’t go after the fish swimming around us; they don’t because the fish are healthy, and there is no need to remove them from the ocean’s food web. As humans, we can learn a lot from sharks; one of the lessons is that they take what and when they need it; they do not overkill, overstore, or overconsume. They share their space with their possible prey in a balanced manner. This behavior is the reality of sharks. As much as we hear about it, seeing it in the first person leaves an impression that makes us change how we view the world and the relationship we need to establish with nature, not against it. We had a fantastic first day with four hammers, including Gaia and Queen, and a carpet of nurse sharks. With @kewinlorenzen on board @shark_explorers @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive
We have completed the first of the 2024 liveaboard trips and we have already the dates for 2026, as 2024 and 2025 are sold out!!! Join @kewinlorenzen and I for a 10night/9 day of sailing on a catamaran, diving to meet and understand the Caribbean Reef sharks of Grand Bahama and the special relationship I have established with them, immerse between Tiger, Lemon and Bull sharks at Tiger Beach, sail to Bimini to come close to Great Hammerhead, Nurse and enjoy the shallows with baby Lemons, adorable Atlantic Sharpnose sharks and a hoard of Southern stingrays. All completed with a series of educational presentations during our cruise, Kewin Lorenzen photography and videography above and below the water of the trip, and the outstanding teamwork of the @shark_explorers Dates are: 10th-20th January 2026 14th-24th November 2026 Places are limited to six passengers per cruise. Price is $6160 per person. For more information email me [email protected] @isotta_underwater_housings
In the eye of the beholder Shark vision is another one of those misunderstood topics. While I can’t address the vision of all species of sharks in one post let’s review a few facts: 1. Shark’s eyes function like human eyes and can expand and contract due to lack or presence of light 2. They have night vision thanks to a coating at the back of the eye called Tapetum Lucidum (shining carpet) 3. Having good vision doesn’t help in bad visibility, so yes, dusk, dawn, murky water and other factors affecting visibility also affect the sharks swimming in those area 4. Some sharks can see a few shades of colors; depending on where they live some species have cone cells in their eyes 5. Depending on the position of the eyes on the head, some deal with a bigger or smaller blind spot in front of their head Ultimately, one size does not fit all and we need to learn and appreciate each one for their special characteristics. Image by @kewinlorenzen of Queen’s eye, a great Hammerhead we encounter between Grand Bahama Island and Bimini island during our liveaboard trip. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive
Three signs of mental fatigue for diving professionals I am sure many of us have heard of: “Find a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” The fact is, instead, we work harder and longer when we don’t feel like it, when we are sick, and even when we are demoralized. Here are three signs that, as professionals, we should pay serious attention to. These signs can indicate mental fatigue, which if not addressed, can lead to burnout. We can apply this to any profession: 1. Difficulty concentrating. We might find it challenging to focus on the schedule, the layout, or the performance requirements; we might find it hard to feel comfortable in the gear, fluid in the preparation, and present in the moment. 2. Lack of motivation and enthusiasm: We love diving, we love it very much, but we find it difficult to summon the energy to teach another class, guide another dive, or even take another picture despite feeling full of energy. 3. Increased irritability or emotional sensitivity: This might be the most important one to pay attention to. Our small mistakes, or even the ones of our students and divers, make us overly sensitive and frustrated. We become incredibly annoyed with our performance and any possible feedback. This is a clear sign that our minds need more recovery time than our bodies do. Finding a job we love requires finding a way to balance our well-being so we can keep doing it. As someone who has spent thirty years of my life on what I call the front line of scuba diving, always diving, teaching, dealing with people, never moving in more ‘dry’ positions like working for manufacturers or training agencies, I pay extreme attention to the signs I described above. I have learned to balance my time with my work time to avoid burnout after so many years. As I love diving, a particular part is always dedicated to my diving, exploration, adventures, and passions. Some strategies I use to maintain my well-being include setting boundaries, and it goes to the extent of deciding when to say no to some requests, although the extra income would be very appreciated. Remember, “if it costs our peace of mind, it’s too expensive.”
Energy. We know that our world is made of different kinds of energy; while scuba diving, our energy affects us and automatically affects those around us, from our buddies to the people we share a space with, be it the shore of a land-based dive or the boat deck. This video is a more direct example of how our energy affects those around us, as sharks are way more in tune with it than humans. Crook is resting in my lap, but as soon as my happy and excited student kneels and reaches to pet her, she becomes unsettled and decides to leave. Our energy has a profound impact on our pets. But how often do we pause to consider its effects on the world around us, from the people we meet to the wild animals we encounter? This awareness can inspire us to be more conscious of our actions and their environmental impact. Our energy affects our comfort and well-being. When scuba diving, we must complete a personal scan of our emotions, presence, and breath and pause to review them, especially when entering new environments, training, or situations. Self-awareness is part of our global awareness and starts the moment we wake up, with a pause and a breath rather than a sprint out of bed. Video by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater
This is my one piece of advice for someone starting diving or trying to build a career in it. Learn horizontally, not only vertically. It is one of the most significant recommendations I can give when people ask me how to grow, and it can be applied to diving as well to life. The horizontal concept is to learn things we are interested in, even if they might not seem directly related to the level at which we want to be. They create a platform that expands with time and allows us to not only reach higher but also stand firmer on the new ground we are venturing through. A perfect example is when, in 2015, I received an invite to participate in a special Nat Geo expedition. The expedition required advanced cave diving skills, survey and mapping experience, and reasonably good knowledge of the systems we were working in. Over the previous decade, I had spent much time learning and growing said skills and travelling back and forth to these specific caves. This “cost” me a lot of time and even more money, but allowed me to grow laterally, making me the perfect candidate for this fascinating expedition. When I received the position many called me lucky but the idea is that we build our luck by taking chances, following opportunities even when they might not feel the most convenient or providing the immediate highest return on investment. In the end we should learn what makes us happy, what interests us and eventually it will loop back into a more complete diver and a person able to approach different situations and scenarios. Image @kewinlorenzen @kissrebreathers @waterproofinternational
A small sample of the sharks we meet when diving in Bimini during our liveaboard trip. We have opened 2026 dates as 2024 and 2025 are completely sold out: January 10-20 and November 14-24. Spots are limited to six passengers per trip to keep the experience and interaction very personal. We sail on board a catamaran and cruise between Grand Bahama where we dive with our special shiver of Caribbean Reef, head to Tiger Beach to dive with Tigers, Lemons, Bulls and Nurse and Bimini for the special Great Hammerhead, the unique Atlantic Sharpnose, baby Lemons, and Southern stingrays. We mix diving with presentations and learning moments while Kewin captures images and videos of all of us above and below the water to bring back home with you included in the trip. We are a crew of five total for six passengers. Price is $6160 per person, Must be a certified diver. For more information email [email protected] and join us for a unique educational experience. With @kewinlorenzen in @shark_explorers Filmed with @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive
Beyond the image Have you ever wondered what it truly means to be a tiger shark? Or any other predatory shark, for that matter? These magnificent creatures, from great whites to tigers, bulls, oceanic white tips, and makos, are often depicted in a one-dimensional light. They’re described in ways that carry negative or intimidating undertones, perpetuating a skewed image of their true nature. But when I look at them swimming by, I always try to imagine the story behind the image: how long have these sharks been around? What did it take for this individual to survive birth, fending off for themselves in a world without parental care (no species of sharks tend to their offspring), trying to avoid predators when smaller? Furthermore, how did they survive the attacks from humans, fishing, accidental catching, and intentional hunting when they crossed territories that were not protected? How did they fare through mating and possible injuries, some of which leave some permanent marks like on this girl at Tiger Beach? I try to imagine them fighting for their survival, including trying to procure a meal. It is not easy, it is not readily available, and it can be dangerous even for predators. I imagine the failed attempts, the feeling of hunger, perhaps a sense of desperate need, perhaps not. Ultimately, what kind of strength, resilience, and fight did it take for this creature to swim in front of me? Can we start looking at sharks and see not only the predators but also the story of survival, struggles, and hard work in a world that is harsh by nature but made even harsher by our judgment? Image of Tiger Shark by me at Tiger Beach during our liveaboard trips to discover up to 8 different species of sharks. 🇧🇸 With @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive @scubapro @peopleofthewater
Shark Teeth (or sometimes the lack of them) There is a common misconception about shark teeth, often leading to a series of myths and false information. One such myth is that all shark teeth and their roles are the same. In reality, the diversity of shark teeth is a fascinating aspect of their biology that is often overlooked. There are over 520 species of sharks, and their diets vary from filtering plankton to eating seals and turtles. Teeth vary in each species based on several factors, including diet, gender, age, and changes throughout their lifetime. Let’s review a few facts: 1. Shark’s skin is covered in dermal denticles, a material similar to the one covering our and their teeth. That skin rotates into teeth throughout their lifetime 2. They continuously regenerate their teeth, ensuring they have an endless supply throughout their lives. This natural phenomenon is truly amazing and a testament to the adaptability of these creatures. 3. Not all teeth are designed to sever; some are designed to trap the prey and swallow it whole, others are designed to crush and grind, and some are designed to cut into smaller pieces Many species of sharks possess retractable jaws, making them “toothless” when swimming in a relaxed state (see an image of this Caribbean Reef shark.) Only when needed will the entire jaw, both upper and lower, drop down and thrust forward, giving the shark the unfortunately continuously used look by certain TV programs, making it appear more menacing than natural. When we speak about sharks, we need to consider each species unique and not lump them into one size to fit all kinds of information. Image by @kewinlorenzen of one of our resident Caribbean Reef sharks, Grand Bahama Island. @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive
Buccal Pumping Contrary to popular belief, not all sharks have to swim to breathe (ventilate is the correct word). All species of sharks (520 ) have a system called Ram Ventilation. They let water flow through their gills with their mouths slightly open as they swim and extract oxygen from the water. While Great Whites, Great Hammerheads, Blues, Mako, Whale Sharks, and a few other species only have Ram, most other species also possess a second ventilation system called Buccal pumping. The shark opens and closes the mouth while in a resting position, siphoning water and squeezing it through the gills to extract the needed oxygen. Most people are familiar with nurse sharks resting on the ocean floor, but other species, such as Lemon, Tiger, Caribbean Reef, and Bull sharks, can also pump and rest on the ocean floor. Image of nurse sharks by me during our liveaboard trip around the Northern Bahamas to encounter and learn more about eight different species of sharks. 2026 dates are now open. @isotta_underwater_housings @neptunic_com @fourthelementdive @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @peopleofthewater
Of the most known species of sharks, nurse might be the one with the most sightings and interactions with divers, swimmers and snorkelers. Rated as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, they are at times underrated as a shark sighting and even more dangerously labeled with anthropomorphic interpretation of their nature as “docile.” While nurse sharks scavenge, eat small crustaceans, fish and mollusks, and they pose little direct threat to humans, they are still wild animals who deserve our attention and precaution when in the water with them. Their mouths are designed to inhale with incredible force their food and to grind it and crash it. They spend a great quantity of time on the ocean floor, resting under coral heads and in the shallows; they tend to move when approached too fast and with intent, but they demonstrate an incredible ability of associative thoughts. As someone interested in shark behavior, they fascinate me with their capability of making connections beyond their sensory system and being able to recognize shapes and forms. Image taken during our liveaboard trip around the Bahamas to learn more about sharks and their behavior. With @kewinlorenzen on board @shark_explorers @isotta_underwater_housing @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive @peopleofthewater
These are some of the questions and answers from the Inspiring Women Blog Series I thought it would be good to share individually. “Do you think women are different divers than men and why?” Yes and no. Of course, physiologically women and men are different divers, it comes from our bodies and natural features. At the same time, saying that all women or all men dive in a certain way would be a generalization that doesn’t give justice to anyone. What I found different through my years of teaching, is unfortunately something that comes from projections and not necessarily reality. Traditionally, more women than men come into diving with the impression that they are not good enough and might need a lot of work, while men feel they can do it easier. While a woman is completing an excellent course with me, she might still be doubting her performance and results. While a man is completing the same and sometimes not with the same level of proficiency, he instead thinks he is doing better. It is not a right or wrong, it is something I have noticed through the different levels of teaching and the hundreds of students and thousands of divers I have worked with when I work with. Instead of tackiling the skills for the sake of the performance requirement, I work more on the mindset, the self-awareness, and learning correct personal evaluation. The new awareness becomes the base to subsequently work on the skills. Once the mindset is leveled, the results will show and differences will no longer be there. Image by @kewinlorenzen @neptunic_com
To meet sharks is to understand them better. While I conduct a lot of education online, and I am happy to keep sharing the knowledge I have acquired, a close encounter is the best and most direct way to understand, appreciate, and learn more about them. Kewin Lorenzen and I have been conducting exclusive liveaboard trips around the Northern Bahamas (our home) for the last three years. During these trips, we have the unique opportunity to encounter up to eight different species of sharks, from our local shiver of Caribbean Reef sharks all the way to Great Hammerhead, passing through Tiger, Lemon and Bulls (Leucas), to name a few. Due to the high demand, we have now opened March 3-13, 2026. All other liveaboard trips for 2024, 2025, and January 2026 are fully booked. https://cristinazenato.com/trips/ Image of Queen, Great Hammerhead as she swims by me, in Bimini by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive
One size does not fit all. I want to address several misconceptions about scuba diving and interacting with different species of sharks. Many are used to seeing me with the chainsuit when working with my shiver of Caribbean Reef sharks. It is not uncommon to also read comments of the kind, “try with tigers or bulls without the chain suit,” as if wearing protection like a seat belt while driving a car makes us less than good car drivers and attentive to our and others’ safety. Diving with sharks is not a dare or a challenge, but a responsibility. With over 500 species of sharks, many of which we will never encounter due to their habitats, there is no one-size-fits-all rule for diving, interacting, approaching, or sharing the water with them. The conditions of each location, each species, and even each individual shark vary, and it’s our responsibility to adapt. We must act in a controlled and careful manner to avoid issues and misinformation when in the water with sharks. In this image, by @kewinlorenzen I am taking a picture of one of the tiger sharks at Tiger Beach. Although they know us and are familiar with the structure of the dives, Tiger sharks like to test their capabilities and are very inquisitive. It is essential always to keep eye contact and body language that tells them that we see them and are aware of their presence. We encounter these sharks and more during our liveaboard trips around the Northern Bahamas, from November through March. Currently we have one new trip open March 3-13 2026, one spot (male) for November 14-24 2026 open. All other liveaboard trips for 2024 and 2025 are fully booked; however we are still available for on island reservations. Check www.cristinazenato.com for more details. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive @scubapro
Global Awareness in Diving: more than just knowing our surroundings. It’s about being fully present in the underwater world. I give this short list my students of essential components: Self-awareness: when we wake up to go diving, we must pay attention to our physical and psychological status. It is advisable to pay attention if we already have a minor pain somewhere, a slight headache, if we feel ready to go diving, or if we should skip. Each individual has a different threshold and should abide by the personal feeling, not what others recommend. If I need to discuss this with someone, it is relevant enough. Self-awareness continues to and during the dive, providing constant information on possible changes. Awareness of the buddy: it starts before the dive through direct questions and observations of possible physical or psychological disturbances. We should make sure they are not too pressed by other factors in their lives that might deter their attention. Again, these observations continue throughout the dive by watching responsiveness to communication, changes in swimming and buoyancy patterns, lack of focus, and attention, to mention a few. As mentioned in my previous post, awareness of the environment goes with buoyancy, combined with watching the world around us. In numerous cases, the underwater scene gives us clues about current, surge, and thermocline. We must consider possible deteriorating changes and conditions, including surface situations. Awareness of instruments: we carry different instruments. The first step is to learn how they work and which information they provide way before the dive. Reading the instructions on how the new computer works should be completed before arriving on the dive site. Once we decide to use them, we must pay attention to them, check them frequently, and listen to the data they provide. One of the fundamental rules I encourage anyone diving with me to use is the “Any-Any-Any” rule: Any Diver can call Any Dive at Any Time for Any Reason without Any Repercussions. If we follow it and appreciate it when our buddies follow it, with a healthy open review and conversation, we guarantee more relaxed and safer dives.
“Where Aliens Live” Nifelfheim, “home of the fog,” named after the color of the water, was discovered, explored, and mapped by Kewin Lorenzen and me in 2020. It has 13 km of lines and passageways, rich hydrogen sulfide, and a thick tannic acid layer (57ft deep) Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings @kissrebreathers @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro @fourthelementdive
Buoyancy. The diver’s capability of maintaining a specific position in the water, be it at the surface before or after a dive or during the dive itself, keeping a certain depth. Mastering buoyancy is a fundamental skill in scuba diving, and it’s essential that these skills are honed during the initial open water course, without the need for additional classes. After the original pool training, all my open water students complete their open water skills while swimming, never on their knees, preparing them for different situations, be it drift, walls, deep blue without references, or solid bottom. Regrettably, many divers find that their buoyancy skills need further refinement after their introductory open water course, making additional classes a needed option. For me and my students, mastering buoyancy is a pivotal learning moment in scuba diving. Mastery learning is about performing a task or skill comfortably, fluidly, and repeatedly. It’s not about ticking a box and moving on but about continuous practice for a more positive outcome. This kind of learning leads to the development of “trained instincts.” “Trained instincts” is the capability of reacting to a situation, sometimes but not always adverse, in the correct manner for a positive outcome, as if that reaction is part of our genetic code; if the diver followed the natural instincts, the result could be incorrect, damaging, or at times fatal. I always say, “There are no walls or bottoms in the ocean.” Learning to manage our position related to the water column creates a comfortable and more relaxed diver who is attentive to their surroundings, including their buddy and dive guide. It allows for the development of the following skill: Global Awareness. I will address this concept in my post tomorrow. Video by me of @kewinlorenzen and the group swimming at Roca Partida in current, heavy surge and over a deep abyss. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro @fourthelementdive
“Light and Darkness” In the eternal darkness of a cave, our lights come through in a momentary glimpse of its beauty, a small window over the work of thousands of years. Each drop, with delicate precision, has carved these tunnels and decorated them with stalactites and stalagmites. Now, frozen in time by the rising of the oceans, they maintain a delicate balance, waiting for the next chance to continue their growth. Image by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings @kissrebreathers @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @fourthelementdive
The legacy we leave behind. Teaching young people, children and teens alike, comes with a series of responsibilities, but it also comes with the highest rewards and hopes for our future and one of the places we love so much, the ocean. I first encountered the work of @kidsseacamp . over a decade ago, but only in the last couple of years have I been able to become more involved and participate in some of these camps. Open to “children” from four to eighty years old (or older), these camps are an incredible opportunity to show what we can do as a community. Watching the young grow into their skills and physically grow through the years, learning to become responsible for themselves, understanding the concept of being responsible and aware of others (buddy, family diving with them, and animals), observing their focused minds, and embracing dedication to obtain results brings a big smile to my face. They create future generations of scuba divers and ocean ambassadors of dedicated individuals. Many are past the age of teens and enter the world of professional diving through the camp, embracing the role of mentors, showing the way to the ones coming after them, and giving back what they have been able to receive. From one year to another, I found myself hugging this young man from under my arms, to reaching up to hug him. While the parents are busy completing their dives, the children/teens are paired according to their ages, classes, and levels to enjoy learning while playing with mates, completing beach clean-ups, forming community, and lasting friendships. | As professionals, we are encouraged to teach; however, with children, we must provide additional care. My best recommendation is to ensure we want to work with children. If we are unsure, if we tried and we didn’t like it, there is nothing wrong with saying, not for me. It is part of our duty as professional adults to understand the responsibility bestowed upon us by the parents and the children and the privilege we are given to create a legacy for the future. Image by @kewinlorenzen during our camp in Belize @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @diveshearwater
The bigger picture: when ecology meets animal behavior, including that of humans! I love sharks. I have loved them since I found out about them as a child, and I have always wanted to be in the water with them. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for providing me with a healthy understanding of sharks and the ocean. My love for sharks dictated my life-changing choices; as I became more involved with them, I realized how little we know and understand. If we want to protect sharks, we need to learn about them and their relationship with their environment; this is when ecology, the study of organisms and how they interact with the environment around them, comes into place. However, as an ecologist, I could fail to notice that we are missing a vital component in conversation and consideration: humans. As we expand more and more into the territory of different animals, from the side of the mountains to the coasts around the ocean, our relationship with these environments and the original inhabitants needs to be considered, and that is when understanding shark behavior becomes another vital piece of the bigger puzzle. We must expand our views to a broader spectrum and find the links that created the chain of events that might have triggered the single event we notice and speak about. Image of a school of Jacks and Tiger Shark in one of our diving spots on Grand Bahama Island taken during our liveaboard trip to learn more about sharks by @kewinlorenzen Learn more with us, www.cristinazenato.com link in bio @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @diveshearwater @scubapro @fourthelementdive
