Shark Safari by Isla Mujeres Shark Initiative

Cris Lopez
July 23, 2025

Shark Safari: From Shark Fishing to Shark Guardianship

Finally, the Dream Is Real! The tide is turning — and it’s bringing change that matters.

What once seemed like an impossible dream is now a living, breathing reality in the Mexican Caribbean. With grit, vision, and your support, former shark fishermen are stepping into a bold new chapter. One that honors their heritage, protects their oceans, and redefines what it means to truly coexist with the natural world.

Welcome to Shark Safari — an unforgettable eco-experience born from the heart of tradition and driven by the power of transformation.

Here at the Saving Our Sharks Foundation, we are proud to present something more than just a marine tourism venture. Shark Safari is a movement — a meaningful journey from exploitation to protection, from survival to stewardship. And now, we’re inviting you to dive in.

From Hooks to Hope: A Community’s Transformation

For generations, the men of the Kab Xok Cooperative in the Mexican Caribbean knew the sea as a source of life — but also as a place where sharks were once feared, hunted, and misunderstood. Fishing was a way of survival. But over time, the toll on shark populations and marine ecosystems became impossible to ignore.

That’s when change began.

With support from the Saving Our Sharks Foundation, Scuba Life and allies, a powerful transition unfolded. These fishermen, with decades of ocean knowledge in their veins, made the courageous leap from extractors to protectors. Today, they are Masters of the Sea, the skilled guides behind Shark Safari — bringing their expertise to a mission rooted in respect, sustainability, and conservation science.

They haven’t left the sea — they’ve redefined their relationship with it.

Dive with Purpose. Discover Shark Safari.

Shark Safari isn’t your average snorkeling trip. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience where visitors don’t just see sharks — they help save them.

The expedition is totally executed and guided by the Kab Xok Cooperative and supported by marine biologists from Saving our Sharks Foundation. Each expedition is part citizen science, part cultural journey, and part conservation action. You’ll glide through crystal-clear Caribbean waters alongside majestic sharks, learning about their behavior, their importance to ocean health, and the threats they face. You’ll also have the rare opportunity to snorkel with them for a few unforgettable minutes—an experience that will change your life and deeply connect you with nature.

But most importantly — your presence supports the ongoing efforts to protect them.

Explore more and book your experience at kabxok.com

By Joining a Shark Safari, You’re Helping to:

Protect Marine Life: Proceeds from each expedition fund shark monitoring programs, habitat protection, and public education.
Empower Coastal Communities: Your visit directly supports the livelihoods of local families who are now earning sustainable incomes through conservation, not overfishing.
Preserve Cultural Heritage: This initiative honors traditional maritime knowledge and gives it a new, future-facing purpose.

More Than Tourism — It’s a Movement

In a world facing unprecedented environmental challenges, Shark Safari represents a new model: one where conservation and culture walk hand in hand, and where the people who once depended on shark fishing become their most passionate protectors.

Shark Safari, it’s only possible with your help! We extend our deepest gratitude to our collaborators, marine scientists, conservation partners, and local advocates who have walked alongside us in this journey, sharing their knowledge, resources, and hearts. And to our donors and supporters around the world — thank you for believing in a future where communities thrive and sharks survive. Your generosity fuels every dive, every data point, every ripple of change. This movement belongs to all of you.