Podcast | Diving deeper: Cristina Zenato on sharks, conservation & purpose
What happens when you stop fearing sharks — and start listening to them? In this inspiring episode, we dive into the extraordinary world of Cristina Zenato – a trailblazing shark behaviourist, cave explorer, and professional diver who has spent over three decades in the Bahamas.
As Founder of the non-profit People of the Water, Cristina has dedicated her life to understanding and protecting the ocean’s most misunderstood creatures.
Join us as we explore her fascinating journey from her roots in Italy and the Congo to the depths of underwater caves and the intimate world of sharks. Cristina shares powerful stories of connection, resilience, and redefining success, while offering rich advice for anyone dreaming of a career in marine conservation.
Whether you’re intrigued by the emotional intelligence of sharks, curious about cave diving, or navigating your own conservation career path, this episode is packed with insight, heart, and raw inspiration.
Enjoy.
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Transcript
Host (Nick Askew, Conservation Careers):
Well, my name is Nick Askew and I’m joined today by Cristina Zenato – shark behaviourist, cave explorer, and all-round scuba diving professional and conservationist. Cristina, thank you so much for sharing your time and joining us on the podcast.
I first came across your work through one of our members who follows you on LinkedIn, and once I looked into your background, I could see why. You have such incredible depth of knowledge about sharks, your cave diving in the Bahamas looks breathtaking, and you’ve dedicated your life to marine conservation.
Where I’d love to start is right at the beginning – where did your love and connection with the ocean come from? When did you know this was your calling?
Early Connection with the Ocean
Cristina Zenato:
The connection comes from my family. I’m originally Italian. My mum is from Liguria, a coastal region tied to the sea, and my dad was an ex-military diver with the special forces. He had these black-and-white photos of his adventures, and both of them passed on a passion for water to me.
Although I grew up near the Dolomites, my parents always took me to the water. Later, when we lived in the Congo, I grew up surrounded by wild nature. My parents taught me not to fear animals, but to learn the rules of nature and respect them. That mentality shaped me deeply.
My father always said: “There are no monsters in the sea, only the ones you make up in your head.” He also taught me to respect the ocean – the winds, waves, and rip currents. That became the foundation for everything I do today.
Building an Unconventional Career Path
Host:
Fascinating. So how did that upbringing connect to the career path you followed?
Cristina:
I didn’t grow up exposed to STEM careers – in fact, women weren’t even allowed on construction sites where my father worked. My background was in languages. I loved learning them because, growing up in the Congo, I realised they opened doors to new worlds.
That path eventually took me into hotel management, and it was actually while on holiday – learning to scuba dive in the Bahamas – that I saw my first shark. It was a turning point. I came back, packed up my life in Italy, and moved to the Bahamas. That was 31 years ago.
Falling in Love with Sharks
Host:
How did you feel on that first dive when you saw sharks?
Cristina:
Excited – absolutely fascinated. I wasn’t scared, I was curious. The sharks would swim by, make eye contact, and I just wanted more time with them. That passion led me to build a career where diving with sharks, understanding them, and conserving their environment became central.
Multifaceted Work: Diving, Conservation, Education
Host:
Tell us more about your work now.
Cristina:
At the base, I’m a professional scuba diver. But over time, I’ve carved out a career that blends guiding shark interactions, cave exploration, education, research, and conservation.
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I take people to encounter species like tiger sharks, hammerheads, and Caribbean reef sharks.
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I train cave divers and map underwater cave systems, providing data to the Bahamian government.
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I host young conservation scholars to give them hands-on experience.
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I collect daily data on shark behaviour and ecology, including long-term studies on how hurricanes affect sharks.
It’s not one thing – it’s a patchwork career. My livelihood supports my conservation and education work, and together they reinforce each other.
Relationships with Sharks
Host:
I’ve seen videos of sharks calmly resting their heads in your lap while you remove hooks. How does that happen?
Cristina:
It’s about building a relationship, just like with people. Time, repetition, and mutual understanding create trust. Some sharks never come close, some take years, and some are more comfortable quickly.
Every shark is different – just like cats. Some are cuddly, some keep their distance. But the key is patience and respect.
Facing Challenges: Hurricanes, Pandemics & Resilience
Host:
Your journey hasn’t been easy. Can you share some challenges?
Cristina:
Yes – in 2019 Hurricane Dorian devastated our island, followed soon after by the pandemic. Tourism, our livelihood, disappeared overnight. We survived by taking any work we could, even cleaning houses, while still continuing cave exploration and conservation projects.
That period reinforced that if you have passion and resilience, you can adapt and keep going.
Shark Tourism & Cage Diving
Host:
What’s your view on shark feeding and cage diving?
Cristina:
I prefer calling it shark interactive diving. It’s not feeding – it’s more like offering a scent or treat to bring sharks closer. When done responsibly, shark tourism is powerful. It brings money into local economies and creates incentives to protect sharks.
The Bahamas became a shark sanctuary in 2011 partly due to shark tourism. But like anything, it depends on the operator. Good operators run safe, respectful dives. Poor operators chase adrenaline and create unnecessary risks.
For great whites, I think cage diving is still useful for safety in commercial operations. But again, it’s about how it’s done.
Careers Advice for Aspiring Marine Conservationists
Host:
Many listeners dream of working in marine conservation. What advice would you give?
Cristina:
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Try it out. If you want to live on an island or work at sea – test it first. It’s not all turquoise waters and palm trees.
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Use your skills. Whatever you’re good at – languages, teaching, medicine – can be a way to get a foothold.
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Understand the reality. Marine biology often means months of data analysis for every few weeks in the field. Be clear about what the job really involves.
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Ask specific questions. When reaching out to mentors, ask about daily routines, hidden tasks, and hardships – not just the highlights.
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Balance passion with resilience. Every path has challenges. The question is: what hardships are you willing to accept in exchange for the work you love?
Final Thoughts
Host:
Cristina, thank you so much for your time, energy, and passion. It’s been a pleasure talking with you.
Cristina:
Thank you. People can find me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube as Cristina Zenato – that’s Cristina without an H. My websites are cristinazenato.com and People of the Water, my non-profit focusing on cave exploration and conservation.
Animal Welfare, Podcasts, Senior Level, Educator, Marine Conservation Jobs