Country of residence: Canada
Diving since: 1991
Level/agency of certification: PADI Master Diver
Dr. Neil Hammerschlag is a marine ecologist, shark researcher, and one of the leading public voices in shark science and conservation. Based in Canada, he is the founder and executive director of the Shark Research Foundation, which advances shark conservation through research, education, and public outreach, and the president of Atlantic Shark Expeditions, a Nova Scotia-based operation that brings the public into direct contact with sharks through cage diving and citizen science.
His research focuses on shark behavior, habitat use, and the impacts of human pressures including pollution and overfishing on shark populations. He has appeared on multiple Shark Week programs and his work has been widely covered in major media outlets.
In his own words, here is a little more about Neil and what drives him in and out of the water.
How did you get into diving?
I have been fascinated by the ocean for as long as I can remember. When I was about six years old, I used to imagine I was scuba diving in swimming pools, taping two-liter soda bottles to my back and pretending they were scuba tanks. That fascination with exploring what lies beneath the surface never left me.
What is your most memorable underwater experience?
I have been very fortunate to have had many incredible underwater encounters, but possibly the most memorable was the first time I encountered a tiger shark in the wild. It was a massive moment for me. I had been fascinated by sharks for years, and suddenly I was face-to-face with one of the ocean’s great predators in its natural environment. I have since spent more than 20 years diving with and studying tiger sharks, so that first encounter ultimately became part of a much larger journey.
What is your proudest professional moment?
I am proud of any opportunity where my research can meaningfully support shark conservation. One example came a few years ago, when our team published the first scientific study showing how climate change was altering the movements of tiger sharks. We found that ocean warming was shifting their migration patterns in ways that could make them more vulnerable to fishing.
The study received significant attention and helped bring greater awareness to the complex ways climate change can affect large marine predators. It was even featured as a question on Jeopardy!, which was certainly something I never expected from a shark research paper.
What do you wish more people understood about the ocean?
I wish more people understood that the ocean is not an infinite resource. Humans depend immensely on the ocean—for food, jobs, climate regulation, recreation, beauty, and even our sense of connection and spirituality. Yet despite that dependence, the ocean is fragile and under immense pressure from human activities.
We need to treat the ocean as though our lives depend on it, because they do.
What advice would you give to a new diver?
Never lose your sense of curiosity. Much of the ocean remains unexplored and poorly understood, and every dive offers an opportunity to notice something new. Every diver is, in some sense, an explorer, so embrace that. Look closely, stay curious, and never take for granted the privilege of entering the underwater world.
What is your favorite piece of Cressi gear and why?
Definitely my 7 mm Fast wetsuit. I spend a lot of time in cold North Atlantic water, and I would not want to be without it. Compared with many other thick wetsuits that can leave me feeling stiff and restricted, the Fast gives me the warmth I need while still providing excellent comfort and mobility.
That combination is especially important for the work we do through Atlantic Shark Expeditions, where both my team and our guests are spending time in cold water while cage diving and conducting research with great white sharks.
What does being a Cressi ambassador mean to you?
It is a real privilege to be a Cressi ambassador. My work takes me into the ocean as a diver, scientist, educator, and expedition leader, so I depend on equipment that performs in demanding real-world conditions.
What makes the relationship especially meaningful to me is the opportunity to represent a brand that supports ocean exploration while also helping me share a broader message about sharks, science, and marine conservation. For me, being an ambassador is not simply about using great gear, it’s about using that platform to help inspire greater curiosity about, connection to, and care for the ocean.
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