Protecting shark populations is essential for maintaining thriving marine ecosystems, and the Saba Sharks Expedition provides critical insights to support their conservation across the Dutch Caribbean. At SXM Divers, we are proud to collaborate on this vital initiative, driven by organizations like the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF) and the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA), with research often guided by regional experts and scientists. Launched to study the life cycles, migrations, and reproductive behaviors of sharks on the Saba Bank, this expedition deepens our understanding of species like tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and nurse sharks, fostering data-driven strategies to protect these apex predators.

Our hands-on role in the Saba Sharks Expedition involves joining multi-day missions to the Saba Bank, where we assist researchers in tagging sharks with advanced satellite technology, such as tags from the European Space Agency. Alongside the scientific team, our divers help deploy these tags to track shark movements across the Caribbean, while also capturing high-quality underwater footage and photographs to document individual sharks and their behaviors. This work contributes to a growing database that informs both ecological research and conservation efforts, ensuring the Saba Bank—a biodiversity hotspot—remains a sanctuary for these vital species.

This partnership reflects our deep commitment to marine science and stewardship in Saint Martin. The Saba Sharks Expedition, supported by groups like the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten (NFSXM) and aligned with initiatives like the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary, builds a collaborative network to monitor and protect shark populations responsibly. Our participation not only supports the expedition’s goals but also amplifies our ongoing shark research dives around SXM, where we encounter and study these incredible animals. Join us at SXM Divers to explore the Caribbean’s underwater wonders and support a project that safeguards the future of sharks in Saba and beyond.

During the expedition for tiger shark research in August 2021, in which we participated, the team achieved great success in documenting and supporting groundbreaking conservation efforts. The group, led by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by WWF-NL, was able to tag five large tiger sharks, including both males and pregnant females, with satellite tags. This will help track their movements and enhance protection efforts in the Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary. Over the six days at sea, we successfully recorded 56 sharks and contributed vital imagery to the scientific work being done to safeguard these incredible creatures. As you can see in the pictures below, the research team carefully tagging the sharks and collecting data plays a crucial role in understanding their behavior and ensuring their protection.