Bull Shark Aggregation on the Costa Maya, Mexican Caribbean

Embark on an unforgettable adventure by joining our research expedition in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, where female bull sharks arrive each year to reproduce.

Each year, pregnant bull sharks gather in the warm waters off Playa del Carmen before giving birth to their pups. Working alongside local experts, you’ll use cutting-edge monitoring technologies, photography, and videography to identify and study these formidable “jaguars of the sea.”

Through photo identification and video documentation, your citizen science contributions will help improve understanding of bull shark residency, migration, and reproductive behaviors—supporting local and international conservation efforts. You’ll also have the opportunity to refine your biological monitoring and underwater photography skills in one of the Caribbean’s most stunning marine environments.

Immerse yourself in the following scientific techniques:

• Species ID: Identifying marine megafauna, such as sharks, rays, turtles, and piscivorous fishes, is a crucial aspect of assessing the biodiversity of marine ecosystems. This involves recognizing various species through specific physical characteristics and behaviors, and provides vital data for conservation efforts. Accurate species identification helps scientists monitor population trends, understand ecological roles, and evaluate the health of marine habitats.

• Underwater Visual Surveys (UVCs): During our Bull Shark dives in Playa del Carmen, we will use photo and video to help identify species and individual Bull Sharks. We will also be involved in the collection and analysis of samples of Environmental DNA (eDNA). This data allows us to record Bull Sharks in the habitat, which slough skin and mucus unseen through general observation.

• Baited Remote Underwater Video (BRUVs): These ingenious underwater camera traps offer a glimpse into the world hidden beneath the waves. They are a crucial element in the assessment of shark abundance, diversity, and distribution, alongside other mesmerizing marine species attracted to the bait. You will have the opportunity to set up and retrieve the cameras for data review.

Your Expedition Leader: Ceci Gutiérrez Navarro, Underwater Photographer & Shark Expert

Ceci is a professional diver who led the bull shark photo ID community science program in Playa del Carmen. She holds master's degrees in business and in natural resource management and sustainable development, and she is currently pursuing a PhD in environmental law to help build policies that protect sharks, rays, and other marine megafauna in the Mesoamerican Reef. This combination of perspectives shapes the public policy work she does to protect both sharks and the communities that depend on them.

She has played a key role in regulating bull shark diving activities in Playa del Carmen, helping formulate solutions, policies, and regulatory instruments within the Mexican Caribbean Biosphere Reserve, and she leads community science projects throughout the region.

As an author and photographer, Ceci has contributed to publications in major national and international media outlets. In recognition of her career and contributions to shark conservation in the Mexican Caribbean, she received the 2025 Ramón Bravo Prieto Medal of Merit from the Quintana Roo Congress, was named Citizen of the Year by Grupo Salinas, and received an honorary doctorate from the National Academy of History and Geography.

Volunteer with purpose and join us on this unparalleled Expedition, where each moment promises discovery, adventure, and a profound connection with the mesmerizing world beneath the waves.