I approached Cristina Zenato for an image I wanted to appear in my forthcoming book (Beyond Tooth and Claw), for which I also interviewed her. I've worked with Zenato before and she's always helpful and enlightening. This time was no different. I'm ever grateful to her for the important work she does, as I am for her photographer, Kewin Lorenzen, for his beautiful photos.

My diving trip to the Bahamas with Cristina Zenato, Kewin Lorenzen and Dr. Brian Goff was truly an unforgettable experience\. Diving with Cristina is so much more than simply going underwater — it is an opportunity to learn, observe, and experience marine life in a completely different way\. Her knowledge, passion, confidence, and deep respect for sharks are absolutely inspiring\. But what made the trip even more special was the entire experience above and below the water\. The group was wonderful, the sessions with Dr. Brian Goff were to me, full of reflection and self-analysis\. I came home with unforgettable images, literally, in my mind, because the pictures and the movie Kewin shared with us were absolutely stunning\. Thank you, Cristina, Kewin and Brian for the wonderful time in the Bahamas!

Toward not away. Leaning into what you value rather than running from thoughts you'd rather escape was just one of the things I learned during this diving/psychological flexibility experience. Cristina Zenato led stunning daily diving trips leaving us with breathtaking memories of abundant sea life under the warm tropical Caribbean waters. As a lifelong steward to sharks, Christina shared with us both her expertise and fondness for these misunderstood creatures. Then, she allowed us a glimpse into her world as she introduced us to some of her shark friends. It was magical to see. Dr. Brian Goff, also an avid diver, gave us new perspectives and ideas about openness, willingness, living according to one's values, and perspective shifts that were applicable both to the dive experience and our everyday lives. Our small group of divers had a fantastic time enjoying both on shore and off shore time together. All of this was capped off by the phenomenal underwater photographic artistry of Kewin Lorenzen whose work allowed the rest of us to be in the moment and immerse ourselves in the experience. 10/10 I would highly recommend! ❤️🦈🐠🪸

Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Water I signed up for Cristina Zenato’s “Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Water” expecting extraordinary diving and an interesting exploration of how our minds affect us underwater. I came home with something much more. Cristina and psychologist Brian Goff created an experience in which the diving and the psychological work became inseparable. We explored presence, fear, willingness, values and the stories our minds tell us—and then took those ideas underwater and actually experienced them. Ironically, the week itself became a lesson in psychological flexibility. People got sick. Plans changed. Dives were missed. Disappointment and FOMO were real. Cristina summed up one of the week’s best lessons perfectly: “FOMO is a terrible advisor.” The diving was beautiful, but what affected me most was Cristina herself. She has spent decades returning to the same water, caves and sharks—not for spectacle, but building understanding and trust through patience, attention and simply continuing to show up. Cristina stays. That idea resonated deeply with me. I believe understanding is constructed rather than simply received, and watching Cristina with the underwater world she loves was a living example of that. Brian gave us another lasting idea: sometimes the best view is from above. Underwater, that meant remembering to look up and around rather than focusing only on what was directly in front of us. In life, it means recognizing that changing where we stand can change what we see. I went to Grand Bahama expecting a remarkable dive trip. I came home looking at things differently. And perhaps that is exactly what “Get Out of Your Mind and Into the Water” was supposed to do. 💙

Always a treat to get to dive with Cristina! She is the ultimate guide, mentor, educator, and host. Highly recommend to divers of all skill levels.