Bull shark season in Playa del Carmen has become a yearly ritual for us — a chance to revisit Shark Point, reconnect with familiar faces in the water, and witness one of the ocean’s most powerful species returning to the same stretch of coastline year after year.

(Be sure to scroll to the bottom to view our photos and videos after the story for this trip.)

A group of female bull sharks circles calmly in the blue water at Shark Point in Playa del Carmen, creating a powerful mid-water encounter early in the season. — *The bull sharks were plentiful early in the season, making for exciting opportunities to capture photos and videos.*

About 500 meters from the beautiful beaches of downtown Playa del Carmen and 80 feet below the ocean surface lies a dive site simply known as Shark Point. Several local dive organizations have spent years helping the migrating bull sharks become accustomed to divers — through controlled feeding, consistent protocols, and a deep respect for the animals. The spectacle begins in late October/early November and can last until April, depending on when the bull sharks decide to migrate in and out.

The bull shark will always be a special species to me and my wife. While not my favorite—that distinction belongs to the hammerhead—it was the first of the “big sharks” we encountered up close. Before that moment, we had visited feeding sites in Florida and the Bahamas and spent time with lemon, silky, dusky, and Caribbean reef sharks, but bulls and hammerheads had only appeared in the distance. That changed in 2017 at Shark Point, where we watched skilled feeders reward the sharks with cuts of fish as they circled above and around the divers lying flat on the sandy bottom. It was the first time we were truly face-to-face with them — and the photo and video opportunities were endless.

“Shoulder to shoulder” explained the divemaster during the safety brief. “Any space between you and the next diver and the bull sharks will be tempted to surprise you by swimming right next to you, which is dangerous.”

Welcome to Shark Point!

Of course, the safety briefing isn’t meant to frighten anyone. It’s simply there to keep divers aware, respectful, and predictable in an environment where large animals move quickly. Despite the occasional unruly diver(s), the site’s safety record is exceptional. We know that sharks in general have a bad reputation for being ruthless and indiscriminate killers, but that image couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re intelligent and curious, and because they lack arms or hands, the only way they can explore their surroundings is with their mouths — behavior often mistaken for aggression.

So here I am at Shark Point, surrounded by as many as 20 or more bull sharks at a time; co-existing and approaching me with curiosity while bumping my camera for what seems to be their notable invite for a photo op. I always tell tales of Cabezona (which means “big head” in Spanish) who always recognizes my familiar red GoPro rig and makes it a point to spend several minutes each season, almost like greeting an old friend. These are smart animals, and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise..

The bull sharks that migrate to these waters are all females. Often pregnant, they are believed to give birth in the nearby mangroves — which makes protecting this region absolutely critical. This season, we focused some time specifically to learn more about the local shark research, conservation, and educational activities. And given that Playa del Carmen is our second home, we plan to return several times during the bull shark season. Fingers crossed the sharks remain through April — and stay tuned for more photos and videos as the season continues. CaaS

Update 06 Jan 2023: We made it back to Playa del Carmen for another round of dives in late December and early January. The girls are still going strong — we were seeing 12–14 sharks on most dives, with up to 18 on some days. The efforts from local conservation groups and the shark diving community are really paying off.

Gallery: From curious passes to close-up encounters, these moments with Playa del Carmen’s bull sharks reveal the calm power, presence, and connection that define the season beneath the blue.