Shark Point -

Shark Point

Article by J. Alejandra Iñiguez Gamez

Every year, between November and March, the turquoise waters of Playa del Carmen are transformed into something extraordinary. Pregnant female bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, return to these shallow coastal waters, attracted by the warm temperatures and ideal conditions for their gestation period. For divers, it is not only an unforgettable encounter, but a great opportunity to protect these sacred sharks.

I have been diving at Shark Point since 2009, when the experience was still raw and improvised. There was little research, few rules, lots of adrenaline… and fear. We didn’t really understand sharks then. It was intense, powerful and a bit reckless.

Now, it’s a completely different story. Today, this amazing site is one of the most regulated and respected shark dive sites in the world, thanks to the efforts of the National Commission of Protected Natural Areas (CONANP), local dive centers and a growing conservation movement driven by those of us who have spent years face-to-face with these magnificent creatures.

What makes Shark Point really special is that on a single dive, 12-15 sharks of different sizes have been observed, the smallest being 1.20m and the largest 2.5m, with its majestic robust body, wide and rounded snouts. It resembles a choreographed underwater ballet, but it is real. These sharks are in their natural habitat. They are simply free, autonomous, curious and powerful beings. We are fortunate enough to witness them, always with respect, from the sandy bottom at a depth of 24 meters.

Over the years, I have fallen deeply in love with bull sharks. When you spend enough time underwater with them, you begin to understand more about these migratory creatures. You become more observant of their behavior, you learn to respect their space, to coexist together. You stop seeing them as a danger because of their large size and sharp teeth and start seeing them as docile individuals that only feed on fish, rays, squid and crustaceans.

And, they come back! Every year, it has been monitored that the same sharks return to these Mexican Caribbean waters. It is as if they are keeping their part of the pact. So we have to keep ours to preserve them. They need us to protect them, so that we can continue interacting with them in the future as we do today.

We need scientific dissemination, to share all empirical information about the species to society in general, to disprove fear for them, to reinforce laws and regulations and above all, a conscious community of divers who know how to respect their environment.

One of the most valuable examples of conservation, of which I am aware, is an action that only a few divers know about. In Playa del Carmen, a local fisherman has a legal shark fishing license for life. He could fish for them today and sell them legally at any time. But, the local diving community got together and created a solution, they pay him annually not to fish.

Every diver who books a shark dive contributes to it, supporting this conservation agreement, helping to protect the very animals we are lucky enough to witness. It’s simple. It’s local. And it works. Of course, there is controversy. Because this interaction is carried out in two ways, sighting, which consists of just observing the shark, and feeding, in which the group of visitors is accompanied by a person with full knowledge of the species and a feeding permit governed under certain rules is who feeds the sharks.

It is a reality that humans should avoid feeding wild animals as there is the possibility of altering their behavior, and even more so, if there is no knowledge about them. I understand those concerns, and I think it is important to question everything we do in the water.

But, we also have to look at the general panorama. Without responsible shark diving, these animals may not be protected at all. Through diving, economic incentives have been created for their preservation. There is now a huge number of divers returning home as shark advocates. Respect has been generated which can be carried on to future generations.

And while the practice of this interaction is not perfect, there has been a change. The results speak for themselves as fewer and fewer sharks are being caught. Sharks are following their migratory path, more data is being collected, and more people are learning to protect these apex predators.

As divers and dive professionals, we cannot remain silent or sit idly by. There are many aquatic species that remain unprotected and endangered. Legal fishing continues. Misinformation spreads. But we have the power – and the platform – to change it.

We must teach, speak and act. We must prepare and raise awareness among the next generation of divers not only with buoyancy control and safety techniques, but also with empirical knowledge. We must show them that the ocean is not just a recreational place, it is also a living system that needs our care and our voice.

Bull sharks are not the villains of the sea. They are guardians of the ecological balance and form an important part of the marine ecosystem. They are majestic, wild and worthy of respect. And here, in Playa del Carmen, we do everything we can to keep them that way.

So, come, dare and dive at The Shark Point.

2 replies

Iris Fuentes says:
September 7, 2025 at 5:50 pm

I agree shark are very important to the ocean & the ecosystem . A lot of people don’t understand that they play a huge role in the ocean . And that without them we are doomed . Instead of hunting these amazing creatures “ because they’re monsters “ we should think that maybe as humans are in their HOME , cause yes the ocean is their home .
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John Staehle says:
September 7, 2025 at 10:00 pm

Outstanding article, keep people informed, all life should be respected !
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