Watch Shark Diver Cristina Zenato Build Trust With Sharks and Save Lives—One Dive at a Time
Cristina Zenato is conquering the oceans one shark at a time
When we dive into the oceans, there’s often a flicker of fear—whether it’s of drowning or encountering a shark. But shark diver Cristina Zenato has made it her life’s mission to change the way we see these magnificent creatures by saving them, one dive at a time.
How shark diver Cristina Zenato began saving sharks
Back in 1996, Zenato was simply a diving enthusiast, when she was suddenly approached by a shark. But, to Zenato’s surprise, the shark didn’t attack — it began circling around her, when she noticed a fishing hook stuck in the shark’s mouth.
Taking a major risk, Zenato reached into the shark’s mouth to try and remove the hook. When she did so successfully, more sharks started to approach her that also had hooks stuck in their mouths. She removed the hooks from all the sharks and has since made a point to dive daily to help the sharks. Over the next 20 years, Zenato removed nearly 300 hooks from the mouths of sharks, being welcomed into the ocean each time she dove. Learn more about Zenato’s journey here.
Cristina Zenato doesn’t let fear stop her from helping sharks
While sharks are often seen as a predatory species, one that will likely kill you before they welcome you. But if you don’t fear the animals, there is another side to them.
“Once people have a preconceived notion of sharks, it’s very difficult to change their opinion or broaden their perspective,” Zenato said.
But just as she doesn’t fear the sharks, she also takes all precautions. She explained that just like a beekeeper wears a bee suit, she wears protective gear for precaution, not because she is threatened.
“When people ask me why none of the sharks in my videos are biting me, I compare it to a beekeeper dealing with a bee’s nest,” Zenato shared. “You wear the beekeeper suit when you’re going to be dealing with the hives, I wear the gear when I’m going to be interacting with the sharks.”
When we expect that sharks will be predatory, we become fearful and angry. But if you go into it without the fear, Zenato believes, it is more likely for there to be a positive outcome.
“So then here comes along the shark, which has this predatory look, and brings up the number one thing we have forgotten as humans… we can also be prey,” Zenato explained. “And this, in my opinion, makes us fearful and very angry.”
Building a healthy relationship between humans and sharks
Ever since helping her first shark, Zenato has made it her mission to continue saving the deep-sea creatures. She has continued to grow a healthy relationship with the sharks thanks to how she has treated them in the past. Zenato knows that sharks are not to be feared but rather protected.
Over the years, Zenato has been greeted warmly by her friends in the ocean. Most of the sharks flock to her when she gets underwater, all seeking her attention. Some of them even cuddle up to Zenato, further proving that treating these animals with respect will result in a mutual feeling. She says that sharks have feelings just like humans do and that most do not have the intent to kill like humans expect.
“I can’t save all the sharks personally, but I made my sharks the ambassadors for the other sharks out there,” Zenato said. “By showing my relationship with my love, and my desire to protect them, I can help people see these animals in a different way.”
Conversation
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