CRISTINA ZENATO PART I
In the first of a two part interview, we chat to the ‘Mother of Sharks’, technical and cave diver – and GO Diving Show 2023 Main Stage speaker - Cristina Zenato about sharks, caves, and the lure of the deep. Photographs courtesy of Cristina Zenato, Kewin Lorenzen, Amanda Cotton, Paige Colwell & Lucie Drlikova
Cristina in a rare moment out of the water
The Mother of Sharks with her ‘children’
Q: As we always do to kick off these question-and-answer sessions, how did you first get into scuba diving, and what ignited that passion for the underwater world? A: My passion for the underwater world is as old as I am 50 years and counting. It is a passion for water, no matter the environment. I was lucky enough to be born in a family from the ocean, who always brought me to the ocean. My dad was a diver in the Italian special forces. His images and stories of the underwater world he explored back in the 50s gave me awe and the desire to experience it. I grew up swimming in the wild Atlantic Ocean of the Congolese coast and the Mediterranean basin around Italy and France, or the lake next to my family’s hometown in Italy. I accessed scuba diving ‘late’ in life, at age 22, when I travelled to the Bahamas to become a certified scuba diver; before then, scuba diving was considered too dangerous and not adequate for a woman of my background and culture. That trip in 1994 would change the course of my life forever. In less than a week, I decided to make the Bahamas my home and scuba diving my life.
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Q: The Bahamas has held a special place in your heart for many years. What is it about this island nation that makes it unique in your eyes? A: My love for the Bahamas was at first sight. I fell in love with nature’s wilderness, the unchartered territories, the empty spaces, the people, and the freedom. After submerging in the crystal beauty of the waters surrounding this unique archipelago, I realized I had finally found my home above and below the water. My heart found the same peace and happiness I experienced while growing up in Africa. In name and sight, the Bahamas trigger the thought of Paradise on Earth, and in a way, they are; living here for the last 28 years has taught me that they are also a harsh and demanding place, and yet I have to find a better choice. I cherish the simplicity of living, the caring hand provided by Cristina is also passionate about cave diving
