Bahamas, the land of tropical islands and clear water beaches, most people come here to vacation and relax, but not me– I came here for two weeks full of adventure, learning, and new experiences. Cristina Zenato, Kewin Lorenzen, and their three dogs, Mack, Tino, and Prince, hosted me and showed me what their life looks like, living in a Caribbean Island, working in the dive industry.

Cristina is a shark conservationist who has created a unique bond with sharks in the Grand Bahamas for 30 years. She took me diving to observe how she operates shark interactions with her clients and I got the opportunity to even experience one dive myself! It was incredible to be part of it and watch closely, step by step, how she prepares for a shark dive and informs the diver how to act in the presence of sharks. The dive is really unique because Caribbean reef sharks get close to Cristina and you, at the point where they bump into us and even touch them. We used chainmail suits for protection, but Cristina explained to me that it is not because sharks are dangerous, but for prevention and security for us humans and sharks. I felt like a medieval knight, but instead of a horse, I had a scuba tank. Since the moment we get in the water, it is impressive how sharks already know what is to come and start swimming around us. When we descend and get in position in the sand, the first step is to breathe, relax, and the unbelievable happens. Sharks that are swimming around me get really close. They start bumping into us, and some get so close, we are able to touch them, but we need to be gentle and not make sudden and quick moves. The energy is amazing– there were sharks everywhere I turned, even on my feet, where a stubborn nurse shark lay. One of the sharks stopped at Cristina´s lap and lay on the sand while Cristina petted him. I kneeled, and Cristina signaled to me that it was okay to touch her (all sharks were females). Slowly, I lifted my hand to her head and started petting her with slow and gentle movements. The calmness and connection I felt in that moment are really difficult to explain. The moment felt surreal, and that was when I understood the deep connection Cristina has with them, how a shark trusts a human and stays still in her lap while we pet her! After thirty years of building a connection, these sharks trust her to the point that she has learned to retrieve hooks from them. This is an interaction that science can´t really explain yet, but Cristina will keep fighting to defend sharks, and so will I. These kinds of interactions create a connection with people that creates a different perspective from the monsters most people believe sharks are.

With Kewin, I got an incredible introduction to submarine photography. He taught me a well-needed beginner’s class and taught me the fundamentals of photography. He also took me on a couple of dives to practice what I learned in different environments, including coral reefs, wrecks, and caverns. It was harder to do than I thought. There are many things you need to think about while taking a photo, and being underwater makes it more challenging. After many tries, I was able to get some decent pictures, but I definitely need to keep practicing. He also introduced me to photo editing and how a couple of changes can improve your picture. I had so much fun learning, and it will be truly helpful as I document my journey in the next year.

I also got the chance to be trained by Cristina as a cavern diver. Cavern diving is something I have always been curious about, but at the same time, a little scared. Coming from Mexico, every time I go to the Yucatan Peninsula, swimming in a cenote has been a must. I have always been impressed by these mystical places and wanted to explore them more. As Cristina is one of the cave diving pioneers in the Bahamas, I was super lucky to be offered to learn how to cavern dive with her; she is an excellent instructor. As soon as the training began, I realized it was a whole new world, literally and metaphorically. It is so different from open water scuba that I felt I was learning how to dive again. Even though I made mistakes, I am happy they helped me to become a better diver, and I successfully completed the course. I am very happy to continue my cave training in the future.

These past two weeks were full of learning and trying new things for the first time. I am truly grateful to Cristina and Kewin for sharing their passions and their life with me. Thanks to Grand Bahama Scuba for donating the boat rides. A big thank you to Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society for giving me this dream opportunity. Thank you to all my sponsors: Aqualung, Drysuits Unlimited International (DUI), Faith Ortins/Blue Green Expeditions, Fourth Element, and Backscatter for giving me the gear and tools I will need during my year.