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Cristina Zenato Most Liked Photos and Posts

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Most liked photo of Cristina Zenato with over 5.5K likes is the following photo

Most liked Instagram photo of Cristina Zenato
We have around 26 most liked photos of Cristina Zenato with the thumbnails listed below. Click on any of them to view the full image along with its caption, like count, and a button to download the photo.

Cristina Zenato Instagram - “One day you will end up all alone and miserable regretting your life choices” - comment received several time over the years over my choice of being single and not having kids. I never planned for anything, nor I looked to fulfill a role that it was not designed for me. I went about my life, finding joy in the passion I had for the ocean, sharks, diving, teaching. I never lacked friends and company, and although alone I never felt lonely. Along the way, I entered and exited relationships that didn’t work for me (us) that didn’t fulfill, that requested a change I wasn’t ready for. I never looked for @kewinlorenzen but we happened and it was a perfect match from the beginning. I always joke I had to wait for him to grow older (we have a considerable age difference, but I know no one noticed 😉) Late in life I found the right person, the right companion and life took a different turn. The “what if” went quickly out of the window, after all I learned that life is the day we live, the rest is just a surprise. Many worried on the “what if he leaves you for a younger one.” My thought was, if I only had one year to live, would I want to live it with him or would I want to not be with him because it was only one?” The answer was very clear from the beginning. I will take what it brings, the rest we can only move on, evolve and learn from. Both times of my life were wonderful, perfect and allowed me to explore and be a part of myself. Today we celebrate six years together, happy anniversary my love. Image from our trip to Cocos Island. @fourthelementdive freediving suits
Cristina Zenato Instagram - A man died in a cave two days ago; a man we knew, a friend, an industry leader, a family man with a wonderful wife, two children and a long life ahead of him. He was an accomplished and trained cave diver, an experienced rebreather diver, an instructor with thousands of hours under his belt. He grew up breathing scuba diving and technical diving. But he is no longer with us. When these incidents happen it is very easy to hear people saying that what we do is dangerous, pointless, that they would never do it, that we should never go. Instead, after we mourn and cry and speak to each other, we prep our gear and go cave diving, again. We go because it is a way to honor the friend we lost; we honor his passion, his dedication and we continue forward to respond to the same call that has us all going in there. It is the call of human nature to explore, to investigate, to discover, to understand. It is the call that has allowed us to move forward from a fire camp, to technology, to think about going to space, to travel to the depths of the ocean, to climb the highest of mountains. It is a call that might take its toll, but what would we be without that call, without that burning desire to go and push forward? Where would science and technology be if at the first failure we all had given up? Many won’t understand, but those who have been at the edge of their comfort zone and pushed through the boundaries, have found the beginning of their world, their meaning, their passion, their truth. In loving memory of Jared Hires, may you rest in peace, we will see you on the other side, gear in hand.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Entering the third stage in a woman’s life, under the general umbrella of menopause. Traditionally, this phase begins around 50; however, many women experience it younger, naturally and medically I want to talk about how some cultures associate menopause with aging and a tremendous sense of loss, as if entering this stage, the woman becomes less than a woman. This implies that the work of my womb should define me, and once that is no longer working, I, as an individual, lose my worth Provided that I elected not to have children, I find these thoughts damaging towards women and the broader roles that we play in life and society We need to challenge the negative cultural perceptions of aging that contribute to the shame and stigma around menopause While women are usually aware of hot flashes and period changes, many don’t know of other symptoms, including heart palpitations, UTI, anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, mental confusion, incontinence, osteoporotic symptoms & vasomotor symptoms One morning, I woke up at the bottom of a dark hole. I was sitting in it, feeling the world’s weight on my shoulders, no explanations, no triggers, no warnings. Just a deep sense of sadness, as if life had been sucked out of my soul. No matter what I did or tried to think, it was a heaviness I could not lift, and it left me sad and confused. As it appeared so it disappeared Now imagine dealing with it while running a trip, or teaching a class. I still do it, as do many other women, but it’s not easy, and I wish I could share it without shame When I started to inquire about it, I felt undertreated, and my symptoms trivialized; directly told to “suck it up.” When I asked questions, I heard, “It’s different for each one of you; hence, we cannot study it” We need a more open conversation about all the aspects of what women go through, not being afraid to share the downs together with the ups. It starts among us, mentioning words that have for a long time whispered and hushed in the corner of a room as if it is something only a few have experienced and should be ashamed of. Reflection post
Cristina Zenato Instagram - "One small action is better than no big action" - Me When we feel that being one does not matter, that we cannot make a difference because we might be alone, too young, too old, too something else, we must think that each action, no matter how small, has a repercussion, like a stone cast in the water creating ripples effect. At times, we do not realize the reach of our actions, words, or examples, and it's incredible to find out how far they might have gone. The fact is that we might only touch a certain number of individuals, but each one of them owns the power of one and is capable of transferring the message to the next and the next in an expanding wave. When we put our energy, positivity, and connection, we make a difference; all we need to do is start. I am deeply grateful for the support of each and every one of you. Your encouragement and comments are a constant source of inspiration, fueling my determination to continue on this journey.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Reflections from the deck. I have recenly posted about being authentic and refusing to use filters on social media. There were so many beautiful, supportive comments and couple of not so nice. I am not affected by them but they brought up a few thoughts about the way people are acting and interacting on these platforms. The comments can be from wrinkles on my face, to the size of my arms, none of which affects me anymore. I stare at them from a distance; I feel for those who utter those words and know that they are projecting their personal hurt onto others. It makes me worry how these comments could affect someone else, make them feel less than. What if the receiving end is a young mind, someone already overwhelmed by the staggering amount of fake, filtered, even AI created lives, which elevate expectations to a perfection that is not real and as such unattainable? I responded that “Spreading kindness is better than using the power to connect trying to hurt someone; my skin tells the story of a beautiful and fully lived life, each line the memory of something special. Next time you are on the keyboard, think how you can support someone instead of trying to tear them down.” Then my thoughts went further. Aging is a privilege, it is a gift many have not been granted. I lost my best friend when we were 29 years old. My friend, and many others in my life have not had this opportunity to grow gray hair, sport soft skin, show wrinkly smiles and experience loss of hearing (yes that too 😂) Aging is not something we should stop, slow down or even attempt to reverse, aging is the gift living is giving us. It goes beyond the filters of an artificial world and enters the realms of what we have been fed forever and ever, in terms of how we are supposed to look, how we are supposed to slow down and reduce a natural process, how if we do not do it we are letting ourselves go. So if there is something we can do when we are out there, when we are being bombarded by information and at times negativity is to remain true to ourselves and when in doubt spread some kindness, it comes cheap and easy to distribute.. Image @kewinlorenzen
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Nurse sharks are “docile” NO! 👇Please read below to understand better sharks and their natural behavior. It is common to hear sharks labeled as more aggressive or docile, especially nurse sharks. The definition of docile is ready to accept control or instruction; submissive. Neither of those descriptions is correct for a nurse shark or any other shark. The nurse shark’s nature is different from that of tiger sharks or great hammerheads, as much as it differs from whale and basking sharks; these last two species are occasionally referred to as docile. These animals have specific lives and feedings that might make them less intense when encountering them in the ocean. However, it is a colossal mistake to consider them as possible to control and be submissive. As a matter of perfect example of these misinterpretations, nurse sharks are responsible for quite a large number of bites on humans because of the carelessness of the humans in interacting with them, including divers or snorkelers pulling on their tails while they are resting under a coral head. No animal is aggressive or docile; they present different behaviors based on how they live, feed, and hunt and other variables, from weather to visibility and temperature. Nurse sharks deserve as much attention and respect as the bigger sharks. With my work, I attempt to educate that “one size does not fit all,” that species are different, and that within the species, individuals are unique. It’s time we speak about sharks from their point of view and not from our human interpretation (anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to an animal or even object.) Image by me of two nurse sharks resting on the ocean floor during our recent liveaboard trip around the Northern Bahamas to learn about sharks, behaviors, and how to be in the water with them safely. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Sometimes I fell I am a broken record in saying the same things over and over again but I also notice from comments and questions that repetition is the way to create change. Here are a few words we should consider eliminating from our vocabulary when talking about sharks: Shark infested waters; this trend is on the lower side and it makes me happy. Sharks don’t infest, they live in the ocean, even close to shore, still their world. Attack: I receive a lot of heat about this one, but a biting shark is feeding not attacking Lurking, patrolling: they don’t do any of that, they swim in their world Menacing, aggressive, vicious: let’s remove human emotional interpretations from the analysis of an animal behavior. Image of a juvenile tiger shark by @kewinlorenzen during our educational liveaboard trip around The Bahamas to discover and learn more about sharks. @isotta_underwater_housings
Cristina Zenato Instagram - It’s time to say goodbye. I have waited for several months, but the truth is that I knew her time had come from the first few times she stopped showing up for the dive. Grandma had been at the dive site for nearly 14 years, but considering Caribbean Reef sharks live an average of 15-19 years and only show up once they are young adults, I knew her time was coming. Grandma had started to show the signs of aging, something I have seen way too many times. She was thin, with a gaunt look that one acquires towards the end of life. She was no longer interested in coming in and started to skip some days. Grandma is gone, but I still look into the blurred blue, hoping to see her swimming through. My relationship with them is a unique one. It’s one of love and hope and worry. It’s one of never closure because I never really know. It’s one that leaves a piece of my soul empty every time one goes and never comes back. Image of Grandma, named after her light skin color, as gray as the hair of a grandma, and her very calm predisposition. Grandma had a blemish in her left eye and Periodontitis. @isotta_underwater_housings
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Who manages my social media? I do; I manage every channel, every image, post, and writing. People who get a chance to observe my life behind the scenes often suggest seeking help, especially with social media posts and replies, handling messages, and requests. There is a trend to hire an intern and allow them to manage the day-to-day social media platforms to allow more time for managing the business. I complete all these tasks myself because I believe in sharing a valuable message, and to be my message, it has to come from me. How can someone, most likely younger, without the same experience, post the sentiment I want to share using the correct words when they haven’t been through what I have and haven’t walked the same road? It’s not that they are not good, but they are not me, and they will not be able to catch what I want to share in that moment. My posts are inspired by comments, interactions, and experiences with students, guests, and on social media. I process the words, reflect on the emotions they stir, and communicate the outcome. Do I miss some trends and opportunities for better exposure or following? Most likely, yes, my social media is paired with me, my age, and my abilities to keep following or deciding not to follow some trends, but when someone comes on my posts, they find me uniquely, and they will always deal with direct interaction.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - I am banging my head against a rubber wall! That’s how I feel today. A rubber wall, because in a concrete wall, I might be able to make a dent, but against a rubber wall, my head bounces back, and the wall remains intact, while I get a major headache. Why? Very simple: there is nothing like the word shark for people to jump on the train of fear, closed mind, and unacceptance of the reality of them, coming back with comments about the viciousness and the mean demeanor of these animals, comparing them to this or that, without any personal in water experience, yet being such excellent keyboard experts in all that is sharks. Repeating the same cliches, the same sentence, clinging to beliefs that cannot and will never be changed, trying to convince me, on my profile, in my line of work, with 30 years of experience, that what they read on the internet has of course much more value than any life long experience. Part of my work is in education, and my mission is to help people transform fear into fascination or at least respect. I have decided to share this state of mind because if you, too, are involved in shark conservation and education, you might hit these walls, and it’s okay to feel this way. It doesn’t mean I will stop or give up; that is not an option; at the same time, it’s okay to share a state of mind that is not always positive and to show that feeling this way is part of the journey. If knowledge is water and different materials absorb water (knowledge) differently, let’s say today I came across an ocean of plastic! I kindly ask that you refrain from comments of the kind: “Deal with it,” “You are on the internet, what do you expect?” or “Ignore them.” Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Day 1 Question 1 A career path like no other! In 1994, through a series of coincidences and choices, I landed in the Bahamas to complete scuba diving training, a dream since I was eight. Once here, I decided I didn’t want to go back. I was drawn to the island by the beauty of the ocean, the sharks I had met on my first dive and the lifestyle. I stayed because my heart found home, and my soul found happiness and peace. My background is in hotel management and languages, art, history, & literature. It has nothing to do with STEM; I grew up with the notion that women were not allowed in STEM and other more male-oriented jobs like engineering. I followed my other childhood dream: speaking all the languages of the world. I stopped at 5, but those languages & my hotel expertise allowed me to find a job to stay. In a week, I quit work, boyfriend, car. I was 22 years old & started from the bottom up. I tried to learn everything in my field, vertically by becoming a more advanced and trained diver & laterally by learning everything from regulator repair to photography, driving boats, & creating moorings. I read books about physics, physiology, & geology I used the little money I made to travel and learn from people working in the fields I was interested in. I kept informed with anything I could put my hands on, living on an island without computers and the internet. I found terrific mentors and tried to soak up as much as possible. Later, I turned back to the studies I never had access to, and that’s how I became a shark ecologist and behaviorist. Arriving where I am now took thirty years of daily work and dedication, overcoming significant challenges, and sticking to listening to my heart My work is my passion, and my passion is my work; there is no distinct line. By trade, I am a diving professional, and by calling a scientist. Loving something makes us want to protect it. It didn’t take much to see that sharks, ocean, caves, and even the pine forest were intrinsically connected and that damaging one would affect the other. Conservation is my lifestyle, not once a day action, but that’s for another post. Archive image 1997
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Day 7 Question 7 The physical consequences of 30 years spent underwater and in the elements. My hair is bleached blond from sunlight and salt, but it’s not a big issue besides being a tad dry. I have a Pterygium, known as a surfer’s eye, in my left eye, combined with a constant redness in both eyes caused by sun exposure. I am missing a tooth that was not closed correctly and cracked upon ascent due to the trapped air; I never replaced it because, at the time, it meant spending more than six months out of the water. Ear tinnitus might be the worst consequence. It is sometimes loud and even prevents me from sleeping. I have a lot of extra wrinkles due to sun exposure, but I don’t care; they are more the story of my life. My hands, according to doctors, present signs of arthritis; I only see powerful hands with somewhat large knuckles; I have mild carpal tunnel from carrying tanks I have been bent twice, early in my career, for diving too much, for too many consecutive days, and most likely not drinking enough water. Those hits have no significant consequences, but they make me attentive to my diving (No PFO) There are also general consequences that are part of physical work, from tightness in the shoulder muscles to sometimes dropping something heavy on a toe or trapping a nail somewhere and watching it as it goes from red to purple to even falling, the tiredness brought by a day of diving, and carrying gear, together with the mental strain related to the planning and execution of these dives. Being an active diver and sportsperson has allowed me to be strong, to have muscles that keep my bones healthy and flexible, and to recover quickly from a hard day or days. One of the best results of this life is not having to deal with hammer toe, a major hereditary issue in the women in my family, by mainly living barefoot, balancing on boats, and walking over uneven terrain without constricting shoes. My healing is through my yoga practice. It prevents tingling in my hands from carpal tunnel, repositions what I push out of place when hiking and carrying loads, and soothes the body while keeping it strong and I love all of it. 💕
Cristina Zenato Instagram - “You will never make a difference,” said the old man. “But I made it for that one,” replied the young person - from the Starfish Story Every day, we are bombarded and overwhelmed with news about the negative course our planet and the environment are taking. We watch most of the time helpless at the, literally, rivers of plastic choking our streams, reversing into the ocean, killing all animals indiscriminately. We hear about these pollutants returning to us, into our plates and drinking water. We watch as truckloads of garbage and abandoned goods are taken away. Remember, when we throw something away, it doesn’t go to a magic place called “away. “ It goes somewhere else on this planet. We feel that anything we do won’t make much of an impact. Each of us has the power to be the change and inspire it in others. We do not have to kill ourselves by trying to do everything all the time. It is impossible to fight an uphill battle constantly, but each day, we can select actions that have a positive outcome right in the place where we are, in the moment we are living. As I have said before, I cannot save all the sharks in the world nor pick up all the plastic on the beach where we were yesterday. Still, I will pick up as much as I can fit in the car and, through that action, spare a bird, a turtle, or a shark from becoming entangled, eating the incorrect food, or suffering because of our actions. Beach clean up with @kewinlorenzen Wearing my favorite brand @fourthelementdive biking made from recycled nylong.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Follow your heart, it knows the way! But remember that there is always a price to pay and it’s up to us, not others, to decide if it is worth it. For me the biggest price has been being away from my family, missing most of the holidays, the milestones, the celebrations and the losses. And times doesn’t help, nor makes things easier. If anything time makes it harder; each year there is someone less to say “see you next time” to; every year there is someone we can’t visit anymore but in our memories. When I started this I thought one day it would hurt less; it doesn’t. It hurts more, perhaps because I already know the feeling and the pain that is to come. Now having two families with @kewinlorenzen instead of one, it has created an even higher price tag. I am not saying this for sympathy or words of encouragement, nor please don’t tell me “your choice” but to give a little behind the scenes of what it means to follow our heart. It is the most rewarding choice we could ever make, but it has a price and it’s up to us to decide if we are ready to pay it, sometimes over and over again. The dragon fly on this necklace by @goghjewelrydesign is my way to carry my grandmother with me.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Today I am reposting this incredible capture by @kewinlorenzen I saw the picture as soon as he took it but the more I look at it, the more it makes me think. 👉 Of the many years passed diving and observing creatures, the behavior, and choice, of this remora is incredible on so many levels. 👉To find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👉to benefit not only from the protection but as a source of food while remaining safe 💯 Additionally, for me, as a perfect example of how sharks are not empty brains swimming around always looking to chomp down on something (like many still tell me that sharks are) but thinking creatures with have a role to play and a connection and interaction with the ecosystem they belong to. to find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👇Kewin’s original post ・・・ Who’s in there? While taking macro images of the tiger sharks, I noticed this remora happily resting inside the mouth of Maria, one of the biggest tiger sharks on the site. Remoras are usually found hitch hiking on sharks, as they have a mutualism symbiotic relationship. The remora keeps the shark clean from parasites, dead skin, while feeding on food scraps from the tigers meals. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the remora sitting comfortably inside and at a later time swimming outside and resuming a more traditional position. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @fourthelementdive
Cristina Zenato Instagram - “Authentic” Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023 is “authentic.” In an age of deepfakes, post-truth, and artificial intelligence, when full accounts are made up by virtual people who live artificially created lives, when we question authenticity, we value it even more. I decided a long time ago that my images and posts would be authentic, representing my life and how I look, with no filters, no smoothing of lines, and no changes in who I am and what I do. My images come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest, my body comes in its natural shape, in the moment, with messy hair, and unchecked blemishes. Authenticity is missing from our lives, and we crave it now more than ever. I hope more will join in showing their true selves, sharing their unfiltered faces, and reducing comparisons with an unattainable reality to live lighter lives. Celebrating authenticity with these images wearing the designs from @goghjewelrydesign dear friend, and sea sister in the @wdhof. Szilvia makes her pieces one by one and promotes them using images of friends and clients of all ages and looks wearing them; she never uses models. When I sent her the images of me wearing her pieces, I told her, “ They come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest,” she replied, “ That is how I want them, authentic. “ Use code SHARMOM for 20% off at check out at https://goghjewelrydesign.com Image by @kewinlorenzen
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Most people would be terrified to do what you do. So what terrifies you, if anything? I fear shallow living; I fear a life of repetition without fulfillment. I fear the conformity of a life focused on the sole scope of owning material things, a title, a position, a life that, instead of being lived, is full of “when” and “if” of wasted time and missed opportunities. Fear of a life where conformity is the norm and we live by what we “should do” instead of what we “would love to do.” I have seen so many people unhappy living the life they should have instead of the life they would love to have. So they wait when this lines up, or that will happen; meanwhile, life flows through our fingers like the water of a waterfall. I am afraid of having to “fit in” instead of being able to overflow. I am scared of empty small talk and people who can’t play like children, of keeping appearances instead of being able to wear the heart on a sleeve. Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings wearing @fourthelementdive mask and Lycra skin @wdhof
Cristina Zenato Instagram - What do we do when after only one week absence we come back to Half-Baked with two hooks (collected between December 2nd and 3rd), Peggy with three (she had only one on the 24th of November) and Nacho still with her one hook through the gills (that one is a very difficult and dangerous one to try to remove), with Crook showing a short line coming out of her mouth and looking all scratched up and beat up (looks like might have been pulled super close to the fishing boat to cut the line.)? If we let the negative of this world affect us, it could be very disheartening. Instead I went to work, because I want to make a difference where I have the power to help. I was able to remove two hooks, one from Half-Baked, one from Peggy, when a new small girl showed up with a double hook and a long line. She will take some time to approach but I will try again today. When we think we cannot make a difference we need to remember we can always make a difference for that one. As I usually say: one small action is better than no big action. @neptunic_com @peopleofthewater With @kewinlorenzen Neptunic
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - The shark approached slowly, gently gliding over my back, slightly hidden by the morning light shining through the water. Her belly was skillfully blended by millions of years of evolution as I looked up. I took a quick image and lowered the camera; I have been here before and seen them many times, but, for a moment, their stories passed through my eyes. I saw an ocean teaming with bountiful sharks, fish, creatures; I saw a world that belonged to them for much longer than we can record in our books and imagine in our studies. In her movement I read the story of an ocean that never included us, yet so necessary for our survival on this planet. I watched as she swam away, never coming closer, and sent with her a wish that we see and understand her value and of all of the others, that we will change our ways, we will pause to let them tell us their stories, before it’s too late and we cannot record. Extinction is forever. Image with @isotta_underwater_housings on @shark_explorers for the liveaboard educational trip @kewinlorenzen and I organize several times per year. @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive @diveshearwater @peopleofthewater
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Have you tried to google if fish, and specifically sharks feel pain? On the internet there is a huge amount of disparete information. It is very confusing and people claim that not having the same receptors we have makes these animals not feel pain. But pain (for the lack of better word) is a necessity of survival, it is a warning, it is a learning step for many creatures. Pain might not feel the same to sharks or fish, but it is present. I have seen it first hand, many times over. I have watched these sharks struggling to keep a fish in their mouth, dive into the sand to remove the hook, suffering of long term infections caused by the lingering lines, twiching their fins trying to dislodge the embedded hooks and the pulling caused by some of them. Direct observation of a repeated behavior, provides in this case, as many others, a more reliable information, and although sharks might not feel the way we do, they still feel their definition of pain. It is time we understand that not everyone has to be measured according to our standards and levels, as not everyone is a mammal, walking on two legs. Image of Nacho with a residual infection left behind by a hook I was able to remove by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings
Cristina Zenato Instagram - Dear anxiety: an open conversation about a factor in many people’s lives It’s early morning, and my phone is receiving a lot of messages from different parts of the world; the messages explain the current feelings about mental health and the concerns related to diving. Anxiety, excitement, expectations, and self-judgment, we can add more names to it, are part of many people involved in this industry. It is brought on by goals we set for ourselves that we feel we cannot achieve, by the expectations of perfection, by the comparison we conduct by scrolling through others’ accounts, feeling they have it all sorted out and we don’t. When we put ourselves at the edge of our comfort zone and try to go beyond it, it’s normal to have some uncomfortable feelings; if we didn’t have them, it would mean the mind is not reading itself for the obstacles ahead of us. But in many cases, especially with certain personalities, we become very hard on ourselves; we set it for all, we want it perfect, and we put so much pressure to make it all happen we sometimes self-trigger these reactions. Provided that we had a very long time to work harder and better than our counterparts in these fields, it’s typical also to feel inadequate. As I tell my students, everything I know is not by coincidence. One of the ways I cope with the feeling is to acknowledge it, recognize the presence sitting at the table with me, and ask, “Why are you here?” The simple fact of voicing the feeling over our shoulders makes the presence less threatening and the conversation open. I then search for why that wave is coming over me and threatening to crash me. At times, it might be a painful process, but it is the same as a wound: once we find the source of the pain, we can work to remove it. I have suffered from an overlap of work and relationship situations that brought massive anxiety levels into my life; once I recognized it, I was able to start the process. It was evident that I had to let go of both sources and jump feet-first into a new state. It was interesting to notice with all the uncertainty and fear that the vast jump brought with it, my anxiety instantly dissolved.
Cristina Zenato Instagram - We are not only… More often than not, we allow society to stuff us into a box. People are so used to what we do that they expect us to always and only show that aspect. When we change, when we show a different side of ourselves when we speak about new, creativity, inventiveness, and being a lot more than one box, we may scare many away, we may deter them from following, and we become afraid of whom we want to be and to evolve into. We allow others to stuff us into a box and go quietly into the night. Why? Is it because we fear the consequences if we break out of the box? In a way, have we convinced ourselves that our choices are the only ones we can keep? In life, we change all the time; for sure, we cannot say we are the same age (fill in the blank) as when we were 18 (if you have already passed that age.) While I have an unmovable passion for sharks, oceans, caves, and their conservation, I have always had other interests and loves. I do not wake up every morning thinking only and solely about the sharks (gasp!) I do not always and only need the ocean; I love the mountains and the snow, and I can stay away from the sharks for a few weeks as I stay away from my pups when traveling for work. My diving has changed since I started; I had an encounter with a long-time guest a couple of months ago, and this person was shocked I was no longer guiding groups of divers on regular reef dives, as I did 30 years ago. I was hit with a “Oh, you are too good for that, now?” I am not; I have evolved as a scuba diving professional and ocean conservationist. I have seen and experienced different environments, I have matured, and I have changed. Who I am today doesn’t make me less than what I was yesterday, and I can be many different aspects in one. As I always say, we need to follow the heart in life, and the heart knows what’s best for us. When we deal with people, let’s try not to put them into a box and to try to watch them from different angles, understanding we come in 360 and not in a flat digital format. Image from a special day in the mountains while visiting my family and being caught up under a major snow storm by @kewinlorenzen
Cristina Zenato Instagram - "I am a galaxy I am 450 million years old I have been here before your time, before the time of the trees I have swam around Pangea and I have shared the oceans with ancient dinosaurs, And yet, now, I am at risk, my survival is threatened by your commercial and recreational fishing pressures, your impact on the seabed and our preys, and damage and loss from your coastal development and marine pollution I am a galaxy and I am trying to survive" - Cristina Zenato Close up image of Tiger Shark eye Maria, at Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama Island by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings
Cristina Zenato - 5.5K Likes - “One day you will end up all alone and miserable regretting your life choices” - comment received several time over the years over my choice of being single and not having kids. I never planned for anything, nor I looked to fulfill a role that it was not designed for me. I went about my life, finding joy in the passion I had for the ocean, sharks, diving, teaching. I never lacked friends and company, and although alone I never felt lonely. Along the way, I entered and exited relationships that didn’t work for me (us) that didn’t fulfill, that requested a change I wasn’t ready for. I never looked for @kewinlorenzen but we happened and it was a perfect match from the beginning. I always joke I had to wait for him to grow older (we have a considerable age difference, but I know no one noticed 😉) Late in life I found the right person, the right companion and life took a different turn. The “what if” went quickly out of the window, after all I learned that life is the day we live, the rest is just a surprise. Many worried on the “what if he leaves you for a younger one.” My thought was, if I only had one year to live, would I want to live it with him or would I want to not be with him because it was only one?” The answer was very clear from the beginning. I will take what it brings, the rest we can only move on, evolve and learn from. Both times of my life were wonderful, perfect and allowed me to explore and be a part of myself. Today we celebrate six years together, happy anniversary my love. Image from our trip to Cocos Island. @fourthelementdive freediving suits

5.5K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : “One day you will end up all alone and miserable regretting your life choices” – comment received several time over the years over my choice of being single and not having kids. I never planned for anything, nor I looked to fulfill a role that it was not designed for me. I went about my life, finding joy in the passion I had for the ocean, sharks, diving, teaching. I never lacked friends and company, and although alone I never felt lonely. Along the way, I entered and exited relationships that didn’t work for me (us) that didn’t fulfill, that requested a change I wasn’t ready for. I never looked for @kewinlorenzen but we happened and it was a perfect match from the beginning. I always joke I had to wait for him to grow older (we have a considerable age difference, but I know no one noticed 😉) Late in life I found the right person, the right companion and life took a different turn. The “what if” went quickly out of the window, after all I learned that life is the day we live, the rest is just a surprise. Many worried on the “what if he leaves you for a younger one.” My thought was, if I only had one year to live, would I want to live it with him or would I want to not be with him because it was only one?” The answer was very clear from the beginning. I will take what it brings, the rest we can only move on, evolve and learn from. Both times of my life were wonderful, perfect and allowed me to explore and be a part of myself. Today we celebrate six years together, happy anniversary my love. Image from our trip to Cocos Island. @fourthelementdive freediving suits
Likes : 5508Cristina Zenato - 4.6K Likes - A man died in a cave two days ago; a man we knew, a friend, an industry leader, a family man with a wonderful wife, two children and a long life ahead of him. He was an accomplished and trained cave diver, an experienced rebreather diver, an instructor with thousands of hours under his belt. He grew up breathing scuba diving and technical diving. But he is no longer with us. When these incidents happen it is very easy to hear people saying that what we do is dangerous, pointless, that they would never do it, that we should never go. Instead, after we mourn and cry and speak to each other, we prep our gear and go cave diving, again. We go because it is a way to honor the friend we lost; we honor his passion, his dedication and we continue forward to respond to the same call that has us all going in there. It is the call of human nature to explore, to investigate, to discover, to understand. It is the call that has allowed us to move forward from a fire camp, to technology, to think about going to space, to travel to the depths of the ocean, to climb the highest of mountains. It is a call that might take its toll, but what would we be without that call, without that burning desire to go and push forward? Where would science and technology be if at the first failure we all had given up? Many won’t understand, but those who have been at the edge of their comfort zone and pushed through the boundaries, have found the beginning of their world, their meaning, their passion, their truth. In loving memory of Jared Hires, may you rest in peace, we will see you on the other side, gear in hand.

4.6K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : A man died in a cave two days ago; a man we knew, a friend, an industry leader, a family man with a wonderful wife, two children and a long life ahead of him. He was an accomplished and trained cave diver, an experienced rebreather diver, an instructor with thousands of hours under his belt. He grew up breathing scuba diving and technical diving. But he is no longer with us. When these incidents happen it is very easy to hear people saying that what we do is dangerous, pointless, that they would never do it, that we should never go. Instead, after we mourn and cry and speak to each other, we prep our gear and go cave diving, again. We go because it is a way to honor the friend we lost; we honor his passion, his dedication and we continue forward to respond to the same call that has us all going in there. It is the call of human nature to explore, to investigate, to discover, to understand. It is the call that has allowed us to move forward from a fire camp, to technology, to think about going to space, to travel to the depths of the ocean, to climb the highest of mountains. It is a call that might take its toll, but what would we be without that call, without that burning desire to go and push forward? Where would science and technology be if at the first failure we all had given up? Many won’t understand, but those who have been at the edge of their comfort zone and pushed through the boundaries, have found the beginning of their world, their meaning, their passion, their truth. In loving memory of Jared Hires, may you rest in peace, we will see you on the other side, gear in hand.
Likes : 4635Cristina Zenato - 3.9K Likes - Entering the third stage in a woman’s life, under the general umbrella of menopause. Traditionally, this phase begins around 50; however, many women experience it younger, naturally and medically I want to talk about how some cultures associate menopause with aging and a tremendous sense of loss, as if entering this stage, the woman becomes less than a woman. This implies that the work of my womb should define me, and once that is no longer working, I, as an individual, lose my worth Provided that I elected not to have children, I find these thoughts damaging towards women and the broader roles that we play in life and society We need to challenge the negative cultural perceptions of aging that contribute to the shame and stigma around menopause While women are usually aware of hot flashes and period changes, many don’t know of other symptoms, including heart palpitations, UTI, anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, mental confusion, incontinence, osteoporotic symptoms & vasomotor symptoms One morning, I woke up at the bottom of a dark hole. I was sitting in it, feeling the world’s weight on my shoulders, no explanations, no triggers, no warnings. Just a deep sense of sadness, as if life had been sucked out of my soul. No matter what I did or tried to think, it was a heaviness I could not lift, and it left me sad and confused. As it appeared so it disappeared Now imagine dealing with it while running a trip, or teaching a class. I still do it, as do many other women, but it’s not easy, and I wish I could share it without shame When I started to inquire about it, I felt undertreated, and my symptoms trivialized; directly told to “suck it up.” When I asked questions, I heard, “It’s different for each one of you; hence, we cannot study it” We need a more open conversation about all the aspects of what women go through, not being afraid to share the downs together with the ups. It starts among us, mentioning words that have for a long time whispered and hushed in the corner of a room as if it is something only a few have experienced and should be ashamed of. Reflection post

3.9K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Entering the third stage in a woman’s life, under the general umbrella of menopause. Traditionally, this phase begins around 50; however, many women experience it younger, naturally and medically I want to talk about how some cultures associate menopause with aging and a tremendous sense of loss, as if entering this stage, the woman becomes less than a woman. This implies that the work of my womb should define me, and once that is no longer working, I, as an individual, lose my worth Provided that I elected not to have children, I find these thoughts damaging towards women and the broader roles that we play in life and society We need to challenge the negative cultural perceptions of aging that contribute to the shame and stigma around menopause While women are usually aware of hot flashes and period changes, many don’t know of other symptoms, including heart palpitations, UTI, anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, mental confusion, incontinence, osteoporotic symptoms & vasomotor symptoms One morning, I woke up at the bottom of a dark hole. I was sitting in it, feeling the world’s weight on my shoulders, no explanations, no triggers, no warnings. Just a deep sense of sadness, as if life had been sucked out of my soul. No matter what I did or tried to think, it was a heaviness I could not lift, and it left me sad and confused. As it appeared so it disappeared Now imagine dealing with it while running a trip, or teaching a class. I still do it, as do many other women, but it’s not easy, and I wish I could share it without shame When I started to inquire about it, I felt undertreated, and my symptoms trivialized; directly told to “suck it up.” When I asked questions, I heard, “It’s different for each one of you; hence, we cannot study it” We need a more open conversation about all the aspects of what women go through, not being afraid to share the downs together with the ups. It starts among us, mentioning words that have for a long time whispered and hushed in the corner of a room as if it is something only a few have experienced and should be ashamed of. Reflection post
Likes : 3928Cristina Zenato - 2.7K Likes - "One small action is better than no big action" - Me When we feel that being one does not matter, that we cannot make a difference because we might be alone, too young, too old, too something else, we must think that each action, no matter how small, has a repercussion, like a stone cast in the water creating ripples effect. At times, we do not realize the reach of our actions, words, or examples, and it's incredible to find out how far they might have gone. The fact is that we might only touch a certain number of individuals, but each one of them owns the power of one and is capable of transferring the message to the next and the next in an expanding wave. When we put our energy, positivity, and connection, we make a difference; all we need to do is start. I am deeply grateful for the support of each and every one of you. Your encouragement and comments are a constant source of inspiration, fueling my determination to continue on this journey.

2.7K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : “One small action is better than no big action” – Me When we feel that being one does not matter, that we cannot make a difference because we might be alone, too young, too old, too something else, we must think that each action, no matter how small, has a repercussion, like a stone cast in the water creating ripples effect. At times, we do not realize the reach of our actions, words, or examples, and it’s incredible to find out how far they might have gone. The fact is that we might only touch a certain number of individuals, but each one of them owns the power of one and is capable of transferring the message to the next and the next in an expanding wave. When we put our energy, positivity, and connection, we make a difference; all we need to do is start. I am deeply grateful for the support of each and every one of you. Your encouragement and comments are a constant source of inspiration, fueling my determination to continue on this journey.
Likes : 2665Cristina Zenato - 2.1K Likes - Reflections from the deck. I have recenly posted about being authentic and refusing to use filters on social media. There were so many beautiful, supportive comments and couple of not so nice. I am not affected by them but they brought up a few thoughts about the way people are acting and interacting on these platforms. The comments can be from wrinkles on my face, to the size of my arms, none of which affects me anymore. I stare at them from a distance; I feel for those who utter those words and know that they are projecting their personal hurt onto others. It makes me worry how these comments could affect someone else, make them feel less than. What if the receiving end is a young mind, someone already overwhelmed by the staggering amount of fake, filtered, even AI created lives, which elevate expectations to a perfection that is not real and as such unattainable? I responded that “Spreading kindness is better than using the power to connect trying to hurt someone; my skin tells the story of a beautiful and fully lived life, each line the memory of something special. Next time you are on the keyboard, think how you can support someone instead of trying to tear them down.” Then my thoughts went further. Aging is a privilege, it is a gift many have not been granted. I lost my best friend when we were 29 years old. My friend, and many others in my life have not had this opportunity to grow gray hair, sport soft skin, show wrinkly smiles and experience loss of hearing (yes that too 😂) Aging is not something we should stop, slow down or even attempt to reverse, aging is the gift living is giving us. It goes beyond the filters of an artificial world and enters the realms of what we have been fed forever and ever, in terms of how we are supposed to look, how we are supposed to slow down and reduce a natural process, how if we do not do it we are letting ourselves go. So if there is something we can do when we are out there, when we are being bombarded by information and at times negativity is to remain true to ourselves and when in doubt spread some kindness, it comes cheap and easy to distribute.. Image @kewinlorenzen

2.1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Reflections from the deck. I have recenly posted about being authentic and refusing to use filters on social media. There were so many beautiful, supportive comments and couple of not so nice. I am not affected by them but they brought up a few thoughts about the way people are acting and interacting on these platforms. The comments can be from wrinkles on my face, to the size of my arms, none of which affects me anymore. I stare at them from a distance; I feel for those who utter those words and know that they are projecting their personal hurt onto others. It makes me worry how these comments could affect someone else, make them feel less than. What if the receiving end is a young mind, someone already overwhelmed by the staggering amount of fake, filtered, even AI created lives, which elevate expectations to a perfection that is not real and as such unattainable? I responded that “Spreading kindness is better than using the power to connect trying to hurt someone; my skin tells the story of a beautiful and fully lived life, each line the memory of something special. Next time you are on the keyboard, think how you can support someone instead of trying to tear them down.” Then my thoughts went further. Aging is a privilege, it is a gift many have not been granted. I lost my best friend when we were 29 years old. My friend, and many others in my life have not had this opportunity to grow gray hair, sport soft skin, show wrinkly smiles and experience loss of hearing (yes that too 😂) Aging is not something we should stop, slow down or even attempt to reverse, aging is the gift living is giving us. It goes beyond the filters of an artificial world and enters the realms of what we have been fed forever and ever, in terms of how we are supposed to look, how we are supposed to slow down and reduce a natural process, how if we do not do it we are letting ourselves go. So if there is something we can do when we are out there, when we are being bombarded by information and at times negativity is to remain true to ourselves and when in doubt spread some kindness, it comes cheap and easy to distribute.. Image @kewinlorenzen
Likes : 2126Cristina Zenato - 2K Likes - Nurse sharks are “docile” NO! 👇Please read below to understand better sharks and their natural behavior. It is common to hear sharks labeled as more aggressive or docile, especially nurse sharks. The definition of docile is ready to accept control or instruction; submissive. Neither of those descriptions is correct for a nurse shark or any other shark. The nurse shark’s nature is different from that of tiger sharks or great hammerheads, as much as it differs from whale and basking sharks; these last two species are occasionally referred to as docile. These animals have specific lives and feedings that might make them less intense when encountering them in the ocean. However, it is a colossal mistake to consider them as possible to control and be submissive. As a matter of perfect example of these misinterpretations, nurse sharks are responsible for quite a large number of bites on humans because of the carelessness of the humans in interacting with them, including divers or snorkelers pulling on their tails while they are resting under a coral head. No animal is aggressive or docile; they present different behaviors based on how they live, feed, and hunt and other variables, from weather to visibility and temperature. Nurse sharks deserve as much attention and respect as the bigger sharks. With my work, I attempt to educate that “one size does not fit all,” that species are different, and that within the species, individuals are unique. It’s time we speak about sharks from their point of view and not from our human interpretation (anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to an animal or even object.) Image by me of two nurse sharks resting on the ocean floor during our recent liveaboard trip around the Northern Bahamas to learn about sharks, behaviors, and how to be in the water with them safely. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive

2K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Nurse sharks are “docile” NO! 👇Please read below to understand better sharks and their natural behavior. It is common to hear sharks labeled as more aggressive or docile, especially nurse sharks. The definition of docile is ready to accept control or instruction; submissive. Neither of those descriptions is correct for a nurse shark or any other shark. The nurse shark’s nature is different from that of tiger sharks or great hammerheads, as much as it differs from whale and basking sharks; these last two species are occasionally referred to as docile. These animals have specific lives and feedings that might make them less intense when encountering them in the ocean. However, it is a colossal mistake to consider them as possible to control and be submissive. As a matter of perfect example of these misinterpretations, nurse sharks are responsible for quite a large number of bites on humans because of the carelessness of the humans in interacting with them, including divers or snorkelers pulling on their tails while they are resting under a coral head. No animal is aggressive or docile; they present different behaviors based on how they live, feed, and hunt and other variables, from weather to visibility and temperature. Nurse sharks deserve as much attention and respect as the bigger sharks. With my work, I attempt to educate that “one size does not fit all,” that species are different, and that within the species, individuals are unique. It’s time we speak about sharks from their point of view and not from our human interpretation (anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to an animal or even object.) Image by me of two nurse sharks resting on the ocean floor during our recent liveaboard trip around the Northern Bahamas to learn about sharks, behaviors, and how to be in the water with them safely. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive
Likes : 1982Cristina Zenato - 1.9K Likes - Sometimes I fell I am a broken record in saying the same things over and over again but I also notice from comments and questions that repetition is the way to create change. Here are a few words we should consider eliminating from our vocabulary when talking about sharks: Shark infested waters; this trend is on the lower side and it makes me happy. Sharks don’t infest, they live in the ocean, even close to shore, still their world. Attack: I receive a lot of heat about this one, but a biting shark is feeding not attacking Lurking, patrolling: they don’t do any of that, they swim in their world Menacing, aggressive, vicious: let’s remove human emotional interpretations from the analysis of an animal behavior. Image of a juvenile tiger shark by @kewinlorenzen during our educational liveaboard trip around The Bahamas to discover and learn more about sharks. @isotta_underwater_housings

1.9K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Sometimes I fell I am a broken record in saying the same things over and over again but I also notice from comments and questions that repetition is the way to create change. Here are a few words we should consider eliminating from our vocabulary when talking about sharks: Shark infested waters; this trend is on the lower side and it makes me happy. Sharks don’t infest, they live in the ocean, even close to shore, still their world. Attack: I receive a lot of heat about this one, but a biting shark is feeding not attacking Lurking, patrolling: they don’t do any of that, they swim in their world Menacing, aggressive, vicious: let’s remove human emotional interpretations from the analysis of an animal behavior. Image of a juvenile tiger shark by @kewinlorenzen during our educational liveaboard trip around The Bahamas to discover and learn more about sharks. @isotta_underwater_housings
Likes : 1874Cristina Zenato - 1.8K Likes - It’s time to say goodbye. I have waited for several months, but the truth is that I knew her time had come from the first few times she stopped showing up for the dive. Grandma had been at the dive site for nearly 14 years, but considering Caribbean Reef sharks live an average of 15-19 years and only show up once they are young adults, I knew her time was coming. Grandma had started to show the signs of aging, something I have seen way too many times. She was thin, with a gaunt look that one acquires towards the end of life. She was no longer interested in coming in and started to skip some days. Grandma is gone, but I still look into the blurred blue, hoping to see her swimming through. My relationship with them is a unique one. It’s one of love and hope and worry. It’s one of never closure because I never really know. It’s one that leaves a piece of my soul empty every time one goes and never comes back. Image of Grandma, named after her light skin color, as gray as the hair of a grandma, and her very calm predisposition. Grandma had a blemish in her left eye and Periodontitis. @isotta_underwater_housings

1.8K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : It’s time to say goodbye. I have waited for several months, but the truth is that I knew her time had come from the first few times she stopped showing up for the dive. Grandma had been at the dive site for nearly 14 years, but considering Caribbean Reef sharks live an average of 15-19 years and only show up once they are young adults, I knew her time was coming. Grandma had started to show the signs of aging, something I have seen way too many times. She was thin, with a gaunt look that one acquires towards the end of life. She was no longer interested in coming in and started to skip some days. Grandma is gone, but I still look into the blurred blue, hoping to see her swimming through. My relationship with them is a unique one. It’s one of love and hope and worry. It’s one of never closure because I never really know. It’s one that leaves a piece of my soul empty every time one goes and never comes back. Image of Grandma, named after her light skin color, as gray as the hair of a grandma, and her very calm predisposition. Grandma had a blemish in her left eye and Periodontitis. @isotta_underwater_housings
Likes : 1829Cristina Zenato - 1.8K Likes - Who manages my social media? I do; I manage every channel, every image, post, and writing. People who get a chance to observe my life behind the scenes often suggest seeking help, especially with social media posts and replies, handling messages, and requests. There is a trend to hire an intern and allow them to manage the day-to-day social media platforms to allow more time for managing the business. I complete all these tasks myself because I believe in sharing a valuable message, and to be my message, it has to come from me. How can someone, most likely younger, without the same experience, post the sentiment I want to share using the correct words when they haven’t been through what I have and haven’t walked the same road? It’s not that they are not good, but they are not me, and they will not be able to catch what I want to share in that moment. My posts are inspired by comments, interactions, and experiences with students, guests, and on social media. I process the words, reflect on the emotions they stir, and communicate the outcome. Do I miss some trends and opportunities for better exposure or following? Most likely, yes, my social media is paired with me, my age, and my abilities to keep following or deciding not to follow some trends, but when someone comes on my posts, they find me uniquely, and they will always deal with direct interaction.

1.8K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Who manages my social media? I do; I manage every channel, every image, post, and writing. People who get a chance to observe my life behind the scenes often suggest seeking help, especially with social media posts and replies, handling messages, and requests. There is a trend to hire an intern and allow them to manage the day-to-day social media platforms to allow more time for managing the business. I complete all these tasks myself because I believe in sharing a valuable message, and to be my message, it has to come from me. How can someone, most likely younger, without the same experience, post the sentiment I want to share using the correct words when they haven’t been through what I have and haven’t walked the same road? It’s not that they are not good, but they are not me, and they will not be able to catch what I want to share in that moment. My posts are inspired by comments, interactions, and experiences with students, guests, and on social media. I process the words, reflect on the emotions they stir, and communicate the outcome. Do I miss some trends and opportunities for better exposure or following? Most likely, yes, my social media is paired with me, my age, and my abilities to keep following or deciding not to follow some trends, but when someone comes on my posts, they find me uniquely, and they will always deal with direct interaction.
Likes : 1829Cristina Zenato - 1.8K Likes - I am banging my head against a rubber wall! That’s how I feel today. A rubber wall, because in a concrete wall, I might be able to make a dent, but against a rubber wall, my head bounces back, and the wall remains intact, while I get a major headache. Why? Very simple: there is nothing like the word shark for people to jump on the train of fear, closed mind, and unacceptance of the reality of them, coming back with comments about the viciousness and the mean demeanor of these animals, comparing them to this or that, without any personal in water experience, yet being such excellent keyboard experts in all that is sharks. Repeating the same cliches, the same sentence, clinging to beliefs that cannot and will never be changed, trying to convince me, on my profile, in my line of work, with 30 years of experience, that what they read on the internet has of course much more value than any life long experience. Part of my work is in education, and my mission is to help people transform fear into fascination or at least respect. I have decided to share this state of mind because if you, too, are involved in shark conservation and education, you might hit these walls, and it’s okay to feel this way. It doesn’t mean I will stop or give up; that is not an option; at the same time, it’s okay to share a state of mind that is not always positive and to show that feeling this way is part of the journey. If knowledge is water and different materials absorb water (knowledge) differently, let’s say today I came across an ocean of plastic! I kindly ask that you refrain from comments of the kind: “Deal with it,” “You are on the internet, what do you expect?” or “Ignore them.” Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!

1.8K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : I am banging my head against a rubber wall! That’s how I feel today. A rubber wall, because in a concrete wall, I might be able to make a dent, but against a rubber wall, my head bounces back, and the wall remains intact, while I get a major headache. Why? Very simple: there is nothing like the word shark for people to jump on the train of fear, closed mind, and unacceptance of the reality of them, coming back with comments about the viciousness and the mean demeanor of these animals, comparing them to this or that, without any personal in water experience, yet being such excellent keyboard experts in all that is sharks. Repeating the same cliches, the same sentence, clinging to beliefs that cannot and will never be changed, trying to convince me, on my profile, in my line of work, with 30 years of experience, that what they read on the internet has of course much more value than any life long experience. Part of my work is in education, and my mission is to help people transform fear into fascination or at least respect. I have decided to share this state of mind because if you, too, are involved in shark conservation and education, you might hit these walls, and it’s okay to feel this way. It doesn’t mean I will stop or give up; that is not an option; at the same time, it’s okay to share a state of mind that is not always positive and to show that feeling this way is part of the journey. If knowledge is water and different materials absorb water (knowledge) differently, let’s say today I came across an ocean of plastic! I kindly ask that you refrain from comments of the kind: “Deal with it,” “You are on the internet, what do you expect?” or “Ignore them.” Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!
Likes : 1772Cristina Zenato - 1.7K Likes - Day 1 Question 1 A career path like no other! In 1994, through a series of coincidences and choices, I landed in the Bahamas to complete scuba diving training, a dream since I was eight. Once here, I decided I didn’t want to go back. I was drawn to the island by the beauty of the ocean, the sharks I had met on my first dive and the lifestyle. I stayed because my heart found home, and my soul found happiness and peace. My background is in hotel management and languages, art, history, & literature. It has nothing to do with STEM; I grew up with the notion that women were not allowed in STEM and other more male-oriented jobs like engineering. I followed my other childhood dream: speaking all the languages of the world. I stopped at 5, but those languages & my hotel expertise allowed me to find a job to stay. In a week, I quit work, boyfriend, car. I was 22 years old & started from the bottom up. I tried to learn everything in my field, vertically by becoming a more advanced and trained diver & laterally by learning everything from regulator repair to photography, driving boats, & creating moorings. I read books about physics, physiology, & geology I used the little money I made to travel and learn from people working in the fields I was interested in. I kept informed with anything I could put my hands on, living on an island without computers and the internet. I found terrific mentors and tried to soak up as much as possible. Later, I turned back to the studies I never had access to, and that’s how I became a shark ecologist and behaviorist. Arriving where I am now took thirty years of daily work and dedication, overcoming significant challenges, and sticking to listening to my heart My work is my passion, and my passion is my work; there is no distinct line. By trade, I am a diving professional, and by calling a scientist. Loving something makes us want to protect it. It didn’t take much to see that sharks, ocean, caves, and even the pine forest were intrinsically connected and that damaging one would affect the other. Conservation is my lifestyle, not once a day action, but that’s for another post. Archive image 1997

1.7K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Day 1 Question 1 A career path like no other! In 1994, through a series of coincidences and choices, I landed in the Bahamas to complete scuba diving training, a dream since I was eight. Once here, I decided I didn’t want to go back. I was drawn to the island by the beauty of the ocean, the sharks I had met on my first dive and the lifestyle. I stayed because my heart found home, and my soul found happiness and peace. My background is in hotel management and languages, art, history, & literature. It has nothing to do with STEM; I grew up with the notion that women were not allowed in STEM and other more male-oriented jobs like engineering. I followed my other childhood dream: speaking all the languages of the world. I stopped at 5, but those languages & my hotel expertise allowed me to find a job to stay. In a week, I quit work, boyfriend, car. I was 22 years old & started from the bottom up. I tried to learn everything in my field, vertically by becoming a more advanced and trained diver & laterally by learning everything from regulator repair to photography, driving boats, & creating moorings. I read books about physics, physiology, & geology I used the little money I made to travel and learn from people working in the fields I was interested in. I kept informed with anything I could put my hands on, living on an island without computers and the internet. I found terrific mentors and tried to soak up as much as possible. Later, I turned back to the studies I never had access to, and that’s how I became a shark ecologist and behaviorist. Arriving where I am now took thirty years of daily work and dedication, overcoming significant challenges, and sticking to listening to my heart My work is my passion, and my passion is my work; there is no distinct line. By trade, I am a diving professional, and by calling a scientist. Loving something makes us want to protect it. It didn’t take much to see that sharks, ocean, caves, and even the pine forest were intrinsically connected and that damaging one would affect the other. Conservation is my lifestyle, not once a day action, but that’s for another post. Archive image 1997
Likes : 1701Cristina Zenato - 1.7K Likes - Day 7 Question 7 The physical consequences of 30 years spent underwater and in the elements. My hair is bleached blond from sunlight and salt, but it’s not a big issue besides being a tad dry. I have a Pterygium, known as a surfer’s eye, in my left eye, combined with a constant redness in both eyes caused by sun exposure. I am missing a tooth that was not closed correctly and cracked upon ascent due to the trapped air; I never replaced it because, at the time, it meant spending more than six months out of the water. Ear tinnitus might be the worst consequence. It is sometimes loud and even prevents me from sleeping. I have a lot of extra wrinkles due to sun exposure, but I don’t care; they are more the story of my life. My hands, according to doctors, present signs of arthritis; I only see powerful hands with somewhat large knuckles; I have mild carpal tunnel from carrying tanks I have been bent twice, early in my career, for diving too much, for too many consecutive days, and most likely not drinking enough water. Those hits have no significant consequences, but they make me attentive to my diving (No PFO) There are also general consequences that are part of physical work, from tightness in the shoulder muscles to sometimes dropping something heavy on a toe or trapping a nail somewhere and watching it as it goes from red to purple to even falling, the tiredness brought by a day of diving, and carrying gear, together with the mental strain related to the planning and execution of these dives. Being an active diver and sportsperson has allowed me to be strong, to have muscles that keep my bones healthy and flexible, and to recover quickly from a hard day or days. One of the best results of this life is not having to deal with hammer toe, a major hereditary issue in the women in my family, by mainly living barefoot, balancing on boats, and walking over uneven terrain without constricting shoes. My healing is through my yoga practice. It prevents tingling in my hands from carpal tunnel, repositions what I push out of place when hiking and carrying loads, and soothes the body while keeping it strong and I love all of it. 💕

1.7K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Day 7 Question 7 The physical consequences of 30 years spent underwater and in the elements. My hair is bleached blond from sunlight and salt, but it’s not a big issue besides being a tad dry. I have a Pterygium, known as a surfer’s eye, in my left eye, combined with a constant redness in both eyes caused by sun exposure. I am missing a tooth that was not closed correctly and cracked upon ascent due to the trapped air; I never replaced it because, at the time, it meant spending more than six months out of the water. Ear tinnitus might be the worst consequence. It is sometimes loud and even prevents me from sleeping. I have a lot of extra wrinkles due to sun exposure, but I don’t care; they are more the story of my life. My hands, according to doctors, present signs of arthritis; I only see powerful hands with somewhat large knuckles; I have mild carpal tunnel from carrying tanks I have been bent twice, early in my career, for diving too much, for too many consecutive days, and most likely not drinking enough water. Those hits have no significant consequences, but they make me attentive to my diving (No PFO) There are also general consequences that are part of physical work, from tightness in the shoulder muscles to sometimes dropping something heavy on a toe or trapping a nail somewhere and watching it as it goes from red to purple to even falling, the tiredness brought by a day of diving, and carrying gear, together with the mental strain related to the planning and execution of these dives. Being an active diver and sportsperson has allowed me to be strong, to have muscles that keep my bones healthy and flexible, and to recover quickly from a hard day or days. One of the best results of this life is not having to deal with hammer toe, a major hereditary issue in the women in my family, by mainly living barefoot, balancing on boats, and walking over uneven terrain without constricting shoes. My healing is through my yoga practice. It prevents tingling in my hands from carpal tunnel, repositions what I push out of place when hiking and carrying loads, and soothes the body while keeping it strong and I love all of it. 💕
Likes : 1655Cristina Zenato - 1.6K Likes - “You will never make a difference,” said the old man. “But I made it for that one,” replied the young person - from the Starfish Story Every day, we are bombarded and overwhelmed with news about the negative course our planet and the environment are taking. We watch most of the time helpless at the, literally, rivers of plastic choking our streams, reversing into the ocean, killing all animals indiscriminately. We hear about these pollutants returning to us, into our plates and drinking water. We watch as truckloads of garbage and abandoned goods are taken away. Remember, when we throw something away, it doesn’t go to a magic place called “away. “ It goes somewhere else on this planet. We feel that anything we do won’t make much of an impact. Each of us has the power to be the change and inspire it in others. We do not have to kill ourselves by trying to do everything all the time. It is impossible to fight an uphill battle constantly, but each day, we can select actions that have a positive outcome right in the place where we are, in the moment we are living. As I have said before, I cannot save all the sharks in the world nor pick up all the plastic on the beach where we were yesterday. Still, I will pick up as much as I can fit in the car and, through that action, spare a bird, a turtle, or a shark from becoming entangled, eating the incorrect food, or suffering because of our actions. Beach clean up with @kewinlorenzen Wearing my favorite brand @fourthelementdive biking made from recycled nylong.

1.6K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : “You will never make a difference,” said the old man. “But I made it for that one,” replied the young person – from the Starfish Story Every day, we are bombarded and overwhelmed with news about the negative course our planet and the environment are taking. We watch most of the time helpless at the, literally, rivers of plastic choking our streams, reversing into the ocean, killing all animals indiscriminately. We hear about these pollutants returning to us, into our plates and drinking water. We watch as truckloads of garbage and abandoned goods are taken away. Remember, when we throw something away, it doesn’t go to a magic place called “away. “ It goes somewhere else on this planet. We feel that anything we do won’t make much of an impact. Each of us has the power to be the change and inspire it in others. We do not have to kill ourselves by trying to do everything all the time. It is impossible to fight an uphill battle constantly, but each day, we can select actions that have a positive outcome right in the place where we are, in the moment we are living. As I have said before, I cannot save all the sharks in the world nor pick up all the plastic on the beach where we were yesterday. Still, I will pick up as much as I can fit in the car and, through that action, spare a bird, a turtle, or a shark from becoming entangled, eating the incorrect food, or suffering because of our actions. Beach clean up with @kewinlorenzen Wearing my favorite brand @fourthelementdive biking made from recycled nylong.
Likes : 1571Cristina Zenato - 1.5K Likes - Follow your heart, it knows the way! But remember that there is always a price to pay and it’s up to us, not others, to decide if it is worth it. For me the biggest price has been being away from my family, missing most of the holidays, the milestones, the celebrations and the losses. And times doesn’t help, nor makes things easier. If anything time makes it harder; each year there is someone less to say “see you next time” to; every year there is someone we can’t visit anymore but in our memories. When I started this I thought one day it would hurt less; it doesn’t. It hurts more, perhaps because I already know the feeling and the pain that is to come. Now having two families with @kewinlorenzen instead of one, it has created an even higher price tag. I am not saying this for sympathy or words of encouragement, nor please don’t tell me “your choice” but to give a little behind the scenes of what it means to follow our heart. It is the most rewarding choice we could ever make, but it has a price and it’s up to us to decide if we are ready to pay it, sometimes over and over again. The dragon fly on this necklace by @goghjewelrydesign is my way to carry my grandmother with me.

1.5K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Follow your heart, it knows the way! But remember that there is always a price to pay and it’s up to us, not others, to decide if it is worth it. For me the biggest price has been being away from my family, missing most of the holidays, the milestones, the celebrations and the losses. And times doesn’t help, nor makes things easier. If anything time makes it harder; each year there is someone less to say “see you next time” to; every year there is someone we can’t visit anymore but in our memories. When I started this I thought one day it would hurt less; it doesn’t. It hurts more, perhaps because I already know the feeling and the pain that is to come. Now having two families with @kewinlorenzen instead of one, it has created an even higher price tag. I am not saying this for sympathy or words of encouragement, nor please don’t tell me “your choice” but to give a little behind the scenes of what it means to follow our heart. It is the most rewarding choice we could ever make, but it has a price and it’s up to us to decide if we are ready to pay it, sometimes over and over again. The dragon fly on this necklace by @goghjewelrydesign is my way to carry my grandmother with me.
Likes : 1517Cristina Zenato - 1.5K Likes - Today I am reposting this incredible capture by @kewinlorenzen I saw the picture as soon as he took it but the more I look at it, the more it makes me think. 👉 Of the many years passed diving and observing creatures, the behavior, and choice, of this remora is incredible on so many levels. 👉To find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👉to benefit not only from the protection but as a source of food while remaining safe 💯 Additionally, for me, as a perfect example of how sharks are not empty brains swimming around always looking to chomp down on something (like many still tell me that sharks are) but thinking creatures with have a role to play and a connection and interaction with the ecosystem they belong to. to find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👇Kewin’s original post ・・・ Who’s in there? While taking macro images of the tiger sharks, I noticed this remora happily resting inside the mouth of Maria, one of the biggest tiger sharks on the site. Remoras are usually found hitch hiking on sharks, as they have a mutualism symbiotic relationship. The remora keeps the shark clean from parasites, dead skin, while feeding on food scraps from the tigers meals. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the remora sitting comfortably inside and at a later time swimming outside and resuming a more traditional position. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @fourthelementdive

1.5K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Today I am reposting this incredible capture by @kewinlorenzen I saw the picture as soon as he took it but the more I look at it, the more it makes me think. 👉 Of the many years passed diving and observing creatures, the behavior, and choice, of this remora is incredible on so many levels. 👉To find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👉to benefit not only from the protection but as a source of food while remaining safe 💯 Additionally, for me, as a perfect example of how sharks are not empty brains swimming around always looking to chomp down on something (like many still tell me that sharks are) but thinking creatures with have a role to play and a connection and interaction with the ecosystem they belong to. to find safety in the mouth of the world’s second largest predatory shark. 👇Kewin’s original post ・・・ Who’s in there? While taking macro images of the tiger sharks, I noticed this remora happily resting inside the mouth of Maria, one of the biggest tiger sharks on the site. Remoras are usually found hitch hiking on sharks, as they have a mutualism symbiotic relationship. The remora keeps the shark clean from parasites, dead skin, while feeding on food scraps from the tigers meals. You can imagine my surprise when I saw the remora sitting comfortably inside and at a later time swimming outside and resuming a more traditional position. @isotta_underwater_housings @waterproofinternational @fourthelementdive
Likes : 1506Cristina Zenato - 1.3K Likes - “Authentic” Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023 is “authentic.” In an age of deepfakes, post-truth, and artificial intelligence, when full accounts are made up by virtual people who live artificially created lives, when we question authenticity, we value it even more. I decided a long time ago that my images and posts would be authentic, representing my life and how I look, with no filters, no smoothing of lines, and no changes in who I am and what I do. My images come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest, my body comes in its natural shape, in the moment, with messy hair, and unchecked blemishes. Authenticity is missing from our lives, and we crave it now more than ever. I hope more will join in showing their true selves, sharing their unfiltered faces, and reducing comparisons with an unattainable reality to live lighter lives. Celebrating authenticity with these images wearing the designs from @goghjewelrydesign dear friend, and sea sister in the @wdhof. Szilvia makes her pieces one by one and promotes them using images of friends and clients of all ages and looks wearing them; she never uses models. When I sent her the images of me wearing her pieces, I told her, “ They come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest,” she replied, “ That is how I want them, authentic. “ Use code SHARMOM for 20% off at check out at https://goghjewelrydesign.com Image by @kewinlorenzen

1.3K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : “Authentic” Merriam-Webster word of the year for 2023 is “authentic.” In an age of deepfakes, post-truth, and artificial intelligence, when full accounts are made up by virtual people who live artificially created lives, when we question authenticity, we value it even more. I decided a long time ago that my images and posts would be authentic, representing my life and how I look, with no filters, no smoothing of lines, and no changes in who I am and what I do. My images come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest, my body comes in its natural shape, in the moment, with messy hair, and unchecked blemishes. Authenticity is missing from our lives, and we crave it now more than ever. I hope more will join in showing their true selves, sharing their unfiltered faces, and reducing comparisons with an unattainable reality to live lighter lives. Celebrating authenticity with these images wearing the designs from @goghjewelrydesign dear friend, and sea sister in the @wdhof. Szilvia makes her pieces one by one and promotes them using images of friends and clients of all ages and looks wearing them; she never uses models. When I sent her the images of me wearing her pieces, I told her, “ They come with shadows, wrinkles, and the rest,” she replied, “ That is how I want them, authentic. “ Use code SHARMOM for 20% off at check out at https://goghjewelrydesign.com Image by @kewinlorenzen
Likes : 1331Cristina Zenato - 1.2K Likes - Most people would be terrified to do what you do. So what terrifies you, if anything? I fear shallow living; I fear a life of repetition without fulfillment. I fear the conformity of a life focused on the sole scope of owning material things, a title, a position, a life that, instead of being lived, is full of “when” and “if” of wasted time and missed opportunities. Fear of a life where conformity is the norm and we live by what we “should do” instead of what we “would love to do.” I have seen so many people unhappy living the life they should have instead of the life they would love to have. So they wait when this lines up, or that will happen; meanwhile, life flows through our fingers like the water of a waterfall. I am afraid of having to “fit in” instead of being able to overflow. I am scared of empty small talk and people who can’t play like children, of keeping appearances instead of being able to wear the heart on a sleeve. Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings wearing @fourthelementdive mask and Lycra skin @wdhof

1.2K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Most people would be terrified to do what you do. So what terrifies you, if anything? I fear shallow living; I fear a life of repetition without fulfillment. I fear the conformity of a life focused on the sole scope of owning material things, a title, a position, a life that, instead of being lived, is full of “when” and “if” of wasted time and missed opportunities. Fear of a life where conformity is the norm and we live by what we “should do” instead of what we “would love to do.” I have seen so many people unhappy living the life they should have instead of the life they would love to have. So they wait when this lines up, or that will happen; meanwhile, life flows through our fingers like the water of a waterfall. I am afraid of having to “fit in” instead of being able to overflow. I am scared of empty small talk and people who can’t play like children, of keeping appearances instead of being able to wear the heart on a sleeve. Image by @kewinlorenzen with @isotta_underwater_housings wearing @fourthelementdive mask and Lycra skin @wdhof
Likes : 1238Cristina Zenato - 1.2K Likes - What do we do when after only one week absence we come back to Half-Baked with two hooks (collected between December 2nd and 3rd), Peggy with three (she had only one on the 24th of November) and Nacho still with her one hook through the gills (that one is a very difficult and dangerous one to try to remove), with Crook showing a short line coming out of her mouth and looking all scratched up and beat up (looks like might have been pulled super close to the fishing boat to cut the line.)? If we let the negative of this world affect us, it could be very disheartening. Instead I went to work, because I want to make a difference where I have the power to help. I was able to remove two hooks, one from Half-Baked, one from Peggy, when a new small girl showed up with a double hook and a long line. She will take some time to approach but I will try again today. When we think we cannot make a difference we need to remember we can always make a difference for that one. As I usually say: one small action is better than no big action. @neptunic_com @peopleofthewater With @kewinlorenzen Neptunic

1.2K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : What do we do when after only one week absence we come back to Half-Baked with two hooks (collected between December 2nd and 3rd), Peggy with three (she had only one on the 24th of November) and Nacho still with her one hook through the gills (that one is a very difficult and dangerous one to try to remove), with Crook showing a short line coming out of her mouth and looking all scratched up and beat up (looks like might have been pulled super close to the fishing boat to cut the line.)? If we let the negative of this world affect us, it could be very disheartening. Instead I went to work, because I want to make a difference where I have the power to help. I was able to remove two hooks, one from Half-Baked, one from Peggy, when a new small girl showed up with a double hook and a long line. She will take some time to approach but I will try again today. When we think we cannot make a difference we need to remember we can always make a difference for that one. As I usually say: one small action is better than no big action. @neptunic_com @peopleofthewater With @kewinlorenzen Neptunic
Likes : 1223Cristina Zenato - 1.2K Likes - Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.

1.2K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.
Likes : 1183Cristina Zenato - 1.2K Likes - Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.

1.2K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Talking about past eating behavioral problems doesn’t mean having them. Talking about past body dismorphia doesn’t mean having it. Talking about it all doesn’t mean encouraging others to follow suit, far from it. I woke up to a rainstorm of blocked images, including the one I am posting again because someone found the content sentitive and to a series of emails from FB suggesting support against self harm because someone reported me. Before acting, learn to read the whole post not the first ten lines. Before reporting learn to check all the way through. The post was about the journey from struggle to power, to understanding the process, to arriving where I am today. To many I might appear small, but when I can carry three tanks at once from the vehicle to the cave, that is strength that cannot be faked, when I can pull tanks with a rope up a 40ft drop, that is strength, when I can run miles and miles and then go cave diving carrying gear to come back and still take care of a million things, that is strength and to have it, I fuel my body, correctly. I might be small but I am mighty, I have learned my lessons and I am trying to share them for others to find inspiration, strenght and the power to perhaps find their way out.
Likes : 1183Cristina Zenato - 1.1K Likes - The shark approached slowly, gently gliding over my back, slightly hidden by the morning light shining through the water. Her belly was skillfully blended by millions of years of evolution as I looked up. I took a quick image and lowered the camera; I have been here before and seen them many times, but, for a moment, their stories passed through my eyes. I saw an ocean teaming with bountiful sharks, fish, creatures; I saw a world that belonged to them for much longer than we can record in our books and imagine in our studies. In her movement I read the story of an ocean that never included us, yet so necessary for our survival on this planet. I watched as she swam away, never coming closer, and sent with her a wish that we see and understand her value and of all of the others, that we will change our ways, we will pause to let them tell us their stories, before it’s too late and we cannot record. Extinction is forever. Image with @isotta_underwater_housings on @shark_explorers for the liveaboard educational trip @kewinlorenzen and I organize several times per year. @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive @diveshearwater @peopleofthewater

1.1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : The shark approached slowly, gently gliding over my back, slightly hidden by the morning light shining through the water. Her belly was skillfully blended by millions of years of evolution as I looked up. I took a quick image and lowered the camera; I have been here before and seen them many times, but, for a moment, their stories passed through my eyes. I saw an ocean teaming with bountiful sharks, fish, creatures; I saw a world that belonged to them for much longer than we can record in our books and imagine in our studies. In her movement I read the story of an ocean that never included us, yet so necessary for our survival on this planet. I watched as she swam away, never coming closer, and sent with her a wish that we see and understand her value and of all of the others, that we will change our ways, we will pause to let them tell us their stories, before it’s too late and we cannot record. Extinction is forever. Image with @isotta_underwater_housings on @shark_explorers for the liveaboard educational trip @kewinlorenzen and I organize several times per year. @waterproofinternational @scubapro @fourthelementdive @diveshearwater @peopleofthewater
Likes : 1122Cristina Zenato - 1.1K Likes - Have you tried to google if fish, and specifically sharks feel pain? On the internet there is a huge amount of disparete information. It is very confusing and people claim that not having the same receptors we have makes these animals not feel pain. But pain (for the lack of better word) is a necessity of survival, it is a warning, it is a learning step for many creatures. Pain might not feel the same to sharks or fish, but it is present. I have seen it first hand, many times over. I have watched these sharks struggling to keep a fish in their mouth, dive into the sand to remove the hook, suffering of long term infections caused by the lingering lines, twiching their fins trying to dislodge the embedded hooks and the pulling caused by some of them. Direct observation of a repeated behavior, provides in this case, as many others, a more reliable information, and although sharks might not feel the way we do, they still feel their definition of pain. It is time we understand that not everyone has to be measured according to our standards and levels, as not everyone is a mammal, walking on two legs. Image of Nacho with a residual infection left behind by a hook I was able to remove by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings

1.1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Have you tried to google if fish, and specifically sharks feel pain? On the internet there is a huge amount of disparete information. It is very confusing and people claim that not having the same receptors we have makes these animals not feel pain. But pain (for the lack of better word) is a necessity of survival, it is a warning, it is a learning step for many creatures. Pain might not feel the same to sharks or fish, but it is present. I have seen it first hand, many times over. I have watched these sharks struggling to keep a fish in their mouth, dive into the sand to remove the hook, suffering of long term infections caused by the lingering lines, twiching their fins trying to dislodge the embedded hooks and the pulling caused by some of them. Direct observation of a repeated behavior, provides in this case, as many others, a more reliable information, and although sharks might not feel the way we do, they still feel their definition of pain. It is time we understand that not everyone has to be measured according to our standards and levels, as not everyone is a mammal, walking on two legs. Image of Nacho with a residual infection left behind by a hook I was able to remove by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings
Likes : 1111Cristina Zenato - 1.1K Likes - Dear anxiety: an open conversation about a factor in many people’s lives It’s early morning, and my phone is receiving a lot of messages from different parts of the world; the messages explain the current feelings about mental health and the concerns related to diving. Anxiety, excitement, expectations, and self-judgment, we can add more names to it, are part of many people involved in this industry. It is brought on by goals we set for ourselves that we feel we cannot achieve, by the expectations of perfection, by the comparison we conduct by scrolling through others’ accounts, feeling they have it all sorted out and we don’t. When we put ourselves at the edge of our comfort zone and try to go beyond it, it’s normal to have some uncomfortable feelings; if we didn’t have them, it would mean the mind is not reading itself for the obstacles ahead of us. But in many cases, especially with certain personalities, we become very hard on ourselves; we set it for all, we want it perfect, and we put so much pressure to make it all happen we sometimes self-trigger these reactions. Provided that we had a very long time to work harder and better than our counterparts in these fields, it’s typical also to feel inadequate. As I tell my students, everything I know is not by coincidence. One of the ways I cope with the feeling is to acknowledge it, recognize the presence sitting at the table with me, and ask, “Why are you here?” The simple fact of voicing the feeling over our shoulders makes the presence less threatening and the conversation open. I then search for why that wave is coming over me and threatening to crash me. At times, it might be a painful process, but it is the same as a wound: once we find the source of the pain, we can work to remove it. I have suffered from an overlap of work and relationship situations that brought massive anxiety levels into my life; once I recognized it, I was able to start the process. It was evident that I had to let go of both sources and jump feet-first into a new state. It was interesting to notice with all the uncertainty and fear that the vast jump brought with it, my anxiety instantly dissolved.

1.1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : Dear anxiety: an open conversation about a factor in many people’s lives It’s early morning, and my phone is receiving a lot of messages from different parts of the world; the messages explain the current feelings about mental health and the concerns related to diving. Anxiety, excitement, expectations, and self-judgment, we can add more names to it, are part of many people involved in this industry. It is brought on by goals we set for ourselves that we feel we cannot achieve, by the expectations of perfection, by the comparison we conduct by scrolling through others’ accounts, feeling they have it all sorted out and we don’t. When we put ourselves at the edge of our comfort zone and try to go beyond it, it’s normal to have some uncomfortable feelings; if we didn’t have them, it would mean the mind is not reading itself for the obstacles ahead of us. But in many cases, especially with certain personalities, we become very hard on ourselves; we set it for all, we want it perfect, and we put so much pressure to make it all happen we sometimes self-trigger these reactions. Provided that we had a very long time to work harder and better than our counterparts in these fields, it’s typical also to feel inadequate. As I tell my students, everything I know is not by coincidence. One of the ways I cope with the feeling is to acknowledge it, recognize the presence sitting at the table with me, and ask, “Why are you here?” The simple fact of voicing the feeling over our shoulders makes the presence less threatening and the conversation open. I then search for why that wave is coming over me and threatening to crash me. At times, it might be a painful process, but it is the same as a wound: once we find the source of the pain, we can work to remove it. I have suffered from an overlap of work and relationship situations that brought massive anxiety levels into my life; once I recognized it, I was able to start the process. It was evident that I had to let go of both sources and jump feet-first into a new state. It was interesting to notice with all the uncertainty and fear that the vast jump brought with it, my anxiety instantly dissolved.
Likes : 1079Cristina Zenato - 1.1K Likes - We are not only… More often than not, we allow society to stuff us into a box. People are so used to what we do that they expect us to always and only show that aspect. When we change, when we show a different side of ourselves when we speak about new, creativity, inventiveness, and being a lot more than one box, we may scare many away, we may deter them from following, and we become afraid of whom we want to be and to evolve into. We allow others to stuff us into a box and go quietly into the night. Why? Is it because we fear the consequences if we break out of the box? In a way, have we convinced ourselves that our choices are the only ones we can keep? In life, we change all the time; for sure, we cannot say we are the same age (fill in the blank) as when we were 18 (if you have already passed that age.) While I have an unmovable passion for sharks, oceans, caves, and their conservation, I have always had other interests and loves. I do not wake up every morning thinking only and solely about the sharks (gasp!) I do not always and only need the ocean; I love the mountains and the snow, and I can stay away from the sharks for a few weeks as I stay away from my pups when traveling for work. My diving has changed since I started; I had an encounter with a long-time guest a couple of months ago, and this person was shocked I was no longer guiding groups of divers on regular reef dives, as I did 30 years ago. I was hit with a “Oh, you are too good for that, now?” I am not; I have evolved as a scuba diving professional and ocean conservationist. I have seen and experienced different environments, I have matured, and I have changed. Who I am today doesn’t make me less than what I was yesterday, and I can be many different aspects in one. As I always say, we need to follow the heart in life, and the heart knows what’s best for us. When we deal with people, let’s try not to put them into a box and to try to watch them from different angles, understanding we come in 360 and not in a flat digital format. Image from a special day in the mountains while visiting my family and being caught up under a major snow storm by @kewinlorenzen

1.1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : We are not only… More often than not, we allow society to stuff us into a box. People are so used to what we do that they expect us to always and only show that aspect. When we change, when we show a different side of ourselves when we speak about new, creativity, inventiveness, and being a lot more than one box, we may scare many away, we may deter them from following, and we become afraid of whom we want to be and to evolve into. We allow others to stuff us into a box and go quietly into the night. Why? Is it because we fear the consequences if we break out of the box? In a way, have we convinced ourselves that our choices are the only ones we can keep? In life, we change all the time; for sure, we cannot say we are the same age (fill in the blank) as when we were 18 (if you have already passed that age.) While I have an unmovable passion for sharks, oceans, caves, and their conservation, I have always had other interests and loves. I do not wake up every morning thinking only and solely about the sharks (gasp!) I do not always and only need the ocean; I love the mountains and the snow, and I can stay away from the sharks for a few weeks as I stay away from my pups when traveling for work. My diving has changed since I started; I had an encounter with a long-time guest a couple of months ago, and this person was shocked I was no longer guiding groups of divers on regular reef dives, as I did 30 years ago. I was hit with a “Oh, you are too good for that, now?” I am not; I have evolved as a scuba diving professional and ocean conservationist. I have seen and experienced different environments, I have matured, and I have changed. Who I am today doesn’t make me less than what I was yesterday, and I can be many different aspects in one. As I always say, we need to follow the heart in life, and the heart knows what’s best for us. When we deal with people, let’s try not to put them into a box and to try to watch them from different angles, understanding we come in 360 and not in a flat digital format. Image from a special day in the mountains while visiting my family and being caught up under a major snow storm by @kewinlorenzen
Likes : 1056Cristina Zenato - 1K Likes - "I am a galaxy I am 450 million years old I have been here before your time, before the time of the trees I have swam around Pangea and I have shared the oceans with ancient dinosaurs, And yet, now, I am at risk, my survival is threatened by your commercial and recreational fishing pressures, your impact on the seabed and our preys, and damage and loss from your coastal development and marine pollution I am a galaxy and I am trying to survive" - Cristina Zenato Close up image of Tiger Shark eye Maria, at Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama Island by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings

1K Likes – Cristina Zenato Instagram

Caption : “I am a galaxy I am 450 million years old I have been here before your time, before the time of the trees I have swam around Pangea and I have shared the oceans with ancient dinosaurs, And yet, now, I am at risk, my survival is threatened by your commercial and recreational fishing pressures, your impact on the seabed and our preys, and damage and loss from your coastal development and marine pollution I am a galaxy and I am trying to survive” – Cristina Zenato Close up image of Tiger Shark eye Maria, at Tiger Beach, Grand Bahama Island by @kewinlorenzen @isotta_underwater_housings
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