Shark Tale: Alamo man ‘in love with' diving among dangerous fish

The first time Eli Martinez went shark diving, he was hooked.

“I ended up falling in love with the animal,” he said. “They’re just beautiful.”

Martinez, 39, who helps his family run an Alamo-based construction company, said he enjoys following the migration patterns of various shark species. In his spare time, Martinez publishes Shark Diver Magazine, which features images, articles and stories from shark divers and publishes three times a year.

One of his favorite spots to dive is Tiger Beach in The Bahamas. During every visit there, Martinez looks for a shark he named “Cindy.” Martinez said he recognizes the animal by a scar on her cheek left by a fisherman’s hook. The injury left the shark with a deformity that prevents it from fully opening its jaw.

“It’s like coming to see an old friend,” Martinez said. “I always make sure to give her a few extra helpings of fish when I feed them, because she’s a little on the thin side.”

Martinez, who created Shark Diver Magazine eight years ago, is working on his second documentary film on shark diving. His most recent film, called The Shark Con, focuses on shark conservation. He has also co-hosted a show on Animal Planet and he has been featured on National Geographic, the Discovery Channel and NBC’s Today Show.
The San Juan native said his hobby has taught him that sharks are “extremely misunderstood.”

“They’re really unique animals, different from ordinary fish,” Martinez said. “They have a presence about them, an air of confidence. Every shark has its own personality.”

To learn more about Martinez’s shark diving adventures, visit: www.sharkdivermag.com.

Ana Ley covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4428.