KNOW YOUR BULL SHARKS

Bull Sharks differ from other species of sharks as they produce lots of testosterone, they are faster and more unpredictable than the Caribbean Reef Shark for example. They are smart creatures that can retain information and after the first time of approaching a feeding they remember it so they are able to repeat this action. Juvenile female bull sharks can be distinguished from an adult by their size and behavior. The adult is way bigger and has no fear to get close to our feeders to get a bite, instead the juveniles are more shy and will probably get close only after seeing an adult set the example. When we have many juveniles they most likely won’t get close to the feeders.

Bull sharks can thrive in both salt and fresh water and can travel far up rivers.

According to their mood, these sharks can change their skin tone to be darker than usual. They have special sensing organs, called electroreceptors “the ampullae of Lorenzini”, forming a network of jelly-filled pores, which allow sharks to orient and feel the electromagnetic waves of an injured fish.

Exactly like people, every shark is different and has a unique personality. They react differently according to their mood and they have preferences regarding the feeder. Different sharks interact in different ways towards different feeder.

Every shark has a name, according to their physical characteristics.

Sharks that visit us are 50% new sharks and the other 50% comes regularly every year. We can recognize sharks because we marked them, with the help of the association Saving Our Sharks.

ANA    

During this season our feeder Ramon Magaña had much interaction with a shark named Ana, a big female. She has been coming for three season already. Her name comes from a transversal cut on  her anal fin.

She likes a lot interacting with Ramon and she is very playful with him. Instead, with David, she becomes more nervous and doesn’t like to interact.

The Shark´s behavior  can change according to these factors: their mood, the stress of the feeder, if there current or not, how many people are in the area..

Last season we met a very big female, probably 3 mt with a black spot  on the right side, underneath the dorsal fin and we called her Marilyn.

A shark that visits us every year is ROOSTER. She has a malformation from birth in the tip of the fin, that makes her look like a rooster.

DEDOS

This shark most likely was injured from a propeller and has many cuts on a pectoral fin. It looks like she has three finger, that’s why we called her DEDOS, in Spanish fingers. In one occasion this shark came before the season, she stayed during the season, and after the season, till August.

FRIZZIA

This female adult comes every season and has a specific mark on her right side gills. She has a malformation from birth as the gills are joined together.

To learn more about these amazing creatures you can also take the PADI Shark Observer Certification. So next season, be on the lookout for these girls and try to identify them.

How about diving with Bull Sharks?

Cageless Baited Bull Shark Diving:

If you're up for an adventure of pure adrenaline, join us on this trip of a lifetime!

This season is on fire!

While most divers around the world seek to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of a colorful coral reef, others seek a unique experience such as diving with the extraordinary bull sharks.

Bull Sharks visit the coasts of Playa del Carmen in Mexico every winter from November to March.  Females arrive in a pregnant state to give birth to their young and deposit them in the coastal lagoons and mangroves, where they will feed on the nutrients until they reach the juvenile stage and then make their way to other waters. This is where Phantom Divers, pioneers in the Mexican Caribbean with more than 20 years of experience, have developed their own technique to make this a safe, educational, and unforgettable dive.

Increase your adrenaline level with this great scuba diving experience and get ready to be surrounded from 8 up to 25 large pregnant females, admiring nature upfront and at it´s best. Below you can see the explanatory video of this dive.

If you are ready to change your way of seeing nature forever, take the first step by sending an email to INFO@PHANTOMDIVERS.COM to get more information about how you can also live the adventure of your life.

Saving Our Sharks Bracelet

Every winter we receive a special visit in Playa del Carmen: The Bull Sharks.

During the bull shark season, every time that people go diving with the sharks, get a Saving Our Sharks bracelet. it's a donation of $5usd.

 
As many of us already know, the Saving Our Sharks association in Playa del Carmen is truly committed to the protection and conservation of the Bull Shark.This association has as main objectives the education, monitoring and tagging of sharks. This project helps to gather information to gain a better understanding of these species.

 SHARK TAGGING

There are two types of tagging for sharks:

•     Internal: requires capture, incision to insert and suture, later released.
•     External: It is applied with a spear gun.

The transmitters send a signal that has a receiving radius of 500m to 1km. The receiver is located in specific places to know if the observed sharks are the same as they have been seen in previous years.
20 receivers are currently installed along the Mexican Caribbean coast.

This activities are really important because it is necessary to continue collecting information for research purposes that will allow us to understand them and work with them for their protection. These studies require expensive equipment and materials so it is very important to donate.
With information from Saving Our Sharks.

Diving with Phantom Divers

I WANT TO DIVE! 

You have already spent several summers visiting the beaches of Mexico; and you have gotten to know many beautiful snorkel areas with turtles, whale sharks or maybe you just  spent some time looking for fish in the waves; then maybe its time to go to the next level ...     

Imagine that you could breathe underwater, swim for a long time with large schools of fish, turtles or even bull sharks; and have the opportunity to observe how the inhabitants of the Mexican Caribbean reefs live.    

Many people have the idea that scuba diving is very difficult and then just let pass by the opportunity; however is very easy and fun. With Phantom Divers you can try!
 How is a Discover Scuba Diver experience?
 Your diving instructor will spend time with you, to explain the basic principles of scuba diving and to give you a general idea of ​​your scuba gear.  Once you feel comfortable, your instructor will take you to a couple of reefs on Playa del Carmen, where you will be diving within 12 meters / 40 feet.

 Most Discover Scuba Diving experiences last two to three hours.  The exercises you learn during this experience can be use as a credit for the full PADI Open Water Diver certification.   

 Discover Scuba Diving experience is a great way to find out if scuba diving is for you. Contact us for an appointment and try scuba diving in the reefs of the Riviera Maya. Or start your diving lessons online now and finish your certification dives at our center.

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