Preserving Paradise
Supporting the conservation efforts of Sea Shepherd : Oliver's Dive has made a commitment to the NGO Sea Shepherd. For every dive you make, Oliver's Dive will donate $1 to Sea Shepherd to defend, protect and conserve the ocean.
Because we know that doing less is our only option to preserve the ecosystem and reduce the stressful human impact on it, we choose to put into practice our proper regulations such as limited number of divers per day and different dive schedules to avoid over-frequentation harmful to marine life.
Encouraging slow travel and long stays on the island for less CO2 emissions and more sustainable tourism.
Reduce plastic waste and pollution. The dive center is equipped with filtered water refill stations. We encourage you to bring your own reusable bottle.
Empowering the local community. The captain, chef and deckhand are Nicaraguan. The owner of the company is also Nicaraguan.
Sourcing local snacks from responsible suppliers. We work with Gloria Bakery to provide fresh homemade island cakes every day.
Participate in good initiatives. Kelly from The Little Corner organises beach clean-ups on the island on Sundays to pick up some of the rubbish that the currents bring in from all over the world.
Protecting Sharks : Our conservation journey
The shark was one of the first jawed vertebrates and has remained virtually unchanged since its appearance 400 million years ago. They have shaped our oceans and influenced the behaviour of many fish species.
Present in all the oceans, their vast distribution is the result of a long evolutionary process, explained by the perfect adaptation of each species to its "ecological niche".
Feared by humans, sharks are now threatened by overfishing.
Around 60% of pelagic sharks are currently threatened with extinction. The disappearance of these key predators at the top of the food chain would have serious consequences for marine ecosystems.
Habitat disappearance and degradation :
The development of human activities, resulting in pollution and overfishing, has led to the disappearance of natural marine habitats essential to the survival of shark populations. Destructive fishing practices, waste dumped at sea and coastal development all have a serious impact on the marine habitats on which sharks depend for survival.
Sharks role in marine ecosystems :
These large predators are responsible for regulating the food chain and providing ecosystems with the balance they need to survive.
As well as regulating or dispersing prey populations, sharks are the ocean's medicine. By eliminating the weak and sick, they help maintain healthy prey populations. Attacking the weakest individuals also strengthens the genetic make-up of their prey.
Their impact on the climate :
Guarantors of blue carbon Sharks are the guarantors of a healthy, functioning ecosystem: it's thanks to them, among other things, that the blue carbon pump in the oceans can function. Small fish such as sardines are eaten by medium-sized fish, then larger fish, and at the end of the chain, if the largest predators - such as sharks - are not caught, their bodies fall back into the abyss, full of carbon. On land, carcasses release their carbon into the atmosphere after death, but in the ocean, the bodies of large marine fish sink. The carbon that makes up their bodies is trapped in the depths of the ocean by the pressure of the water.
A study carried out in Australia in 2007 shows that the presence of tiger sharks favours the dispersal of herbivorous grazer populations (in particular sea turtles and dugongs). Specifically, the presence of sharks prevents grazers from overexploiting certain areas. These seagrass beds are also carbon sinks. These plants, the famous Posidonia, store carbon in the same way as trees do on land. Maintaining healthy shark populations therefore helps to sequester carbon, including the CO2 responsible for global warming.
Dive with Great Hammerhead Sharks
Ecology :
The Great Hammerhead or Sphyrna mokarran is the largest hammerhead shark of the genus Sphyrna. It is the fifth largest shark in the world, can grow to 6m (20ft) and has a life expectancy of at least 45 years.
This shark reaches sexual maturity at around 8 years of age. Females can reproduce once every two years and the gestation period is between 10 and 11 months. Litters are small, ranging from 6 to 44 pups that can measure between 50 and 70 cm at birth.
Its ecology is poorly understood worldwide, with no known nursery or breeding area. Its movements around the world remain a mystery. Its favourite prey are cartilaginous fish, small sharks and rays.
The species is critically endangered worldwide, with a global population decline of 80% in 70 years.
Credits : Mokarran Protection Society
Great hammerhead sharks of Little Corn Island :
Several great hammerhead sharks have made Little Corn Island their home since 2023, specifically in Tarpon Channel and have been there all year round since. Legend has it that they have been here for 20 million years.
Remember that humans know very little about Great Hammerheads and our knowledge is based on observations made while diving with them.
Our mission is to create a safe place for them.
Tarpon Channel is located on the east side of the island, an open wind area that makes the site inaccessible on most days. When the wind calms down, we have the privilege to visit this channel with a sandy bottom from 15 to 22 meters, where the visibility is usually less than 15 meters.
They probably love to stay in this particular location because of the minimal human impact due to the natural weather patterns. It's vital that we minimise our impact on the diveable days.
At least 5 individuals have been identified, 4 females and 1 male, ranging in size from approximately 2 to 3.5 meters. We decided not to give them names because it's a deeply anthropocentric habit.
We did not observe any cleaning, hunting or mating behaviour.
However, we usually see several Great Hammerheads at the same time, which can be a sign of sociability.
Most of the time, if not disturbed, they also swim sideways, which is a resting position.
Thanks to our respectful approach and understanding of animal behaviour, we are proud to say that in 2024/2025 we had +90% Great Hammerhead sightings at Tarpon Channel, home of the Great Hammerheads.
Go to Tarpon Channel without the right skills = you will probably not see the sharks, or disturb them.
Underwater behaviour :
Hammerheads are generally very shy and not aggressive towards divers, but they can be easily startled. Here are some tips on how to avoid scaring them while diving :
1. Keep a respectful distance (at least 5 metres). Don't chase them or swim directly towards them. Let them approach on their own terms.
2. Stay low and horizontal. Keep your body in a horizontal position to appear less threatening. Staying lower in the water column rather than hovering above them can make them feel more comfortable.
3. Stay in a group. Sharks are more comfortable approaching a group of divers than a single diver. This also increases safety for everyone.
4. Move slowly and calmly. Avoid sudden or jerky movements. Stay relaxed and maintain slow, steady flipper strokes.
5. Control your bubbles. Exhale slowly and avoid excessive bubbles, which can startle sharks. Minimise noise.
6. Wear dark or neutral colours. Bright colours and reflective gear can make you stand out and potentially alarm sharks. Choose black, dark blue or grey wetsuits and equipment.
7. Avoid eye contact. Hammerheads are highly sensitive to direct eye contact. Instead of staring, observe them with peripheral vision. 8. Go with experienced guides who understand their behaviour and habitat.
