Understanding Sharks

Shark Conservation

Cristina’s day to day work is with Caribbean Reef sharks. She has built a special relationship and imprint with them. Many recognize her and willingly approach to be pet. Cristina uses this connection to remove hooks from their mouths while at the same time educating the public about the real dangers sharks face. While working on a regular basis with the Caribbean Reef, she has also travelled the world, worked and experienced twelve different species of sharks. She puts this knowledge into use and works on different levels on the creation and maintenance of safe shark diving procedures, local education about sharks and world shark conservation, through her direct work, diving and speaking engagements. Cristina has been instrumental in pushing forward an image of sharks that shows their real nature. She wears protection in respect of her knowledge and understanding of the animals. While handling them she shows people that sharks are not eating machines or swimming nervous systems looking for food. Her special relationship with the local sharks, and the value it gives to shark diving tourism, inspired Cristina to start a petition and a campaign later supported by The Bahamas National Trust and the PEW organization that sees the Bahamas declared as shark sanctuary.