Country of residence: USA
Diving since: 1999
Level/agency of certification: Divemaster
Tristan Guttridge is a marine scientist and conservationist whose research has focused on shark and ray behavior, ecology, and conservation for more than two decades. He is the co-founder of Saving the Blue, a nonprofit dedicated to field research and public education aimed at protecting threatened shark species across the Atlantic and Caribbean, with projects targeting hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, and the critically endangered smalltooth sawfish.
His fieldwork has taken him from the shark-rich waters of Cocos Island to the Bahamas and beyond, combining acoustic tagging, behavioral research, and conservation advocacy. Cressi has supported his field operations since the early days of his career.
In his own words, here is a little more about Tristan and what drives him in and out of the water.
How did you get into diving?
I have always loved sharks, marine wildlife and particularly their behavior. When I was 17, I learned to dive because I'd organized my year off before university to run fish and coral reef surveys in Madagascar. I needed 30 dives before starting, so I learned to dive in the UK in gravel pits! It was freezing, visibility was poor, and there wasn't much to see, but I loved it. I figured if I could enjoy diving in the UK, then surveys on coral reefs in Africa would be incredible.
What is your most memorable underwater experience?
Hard to say with so many to choose from! However, clinging on to a rock, at 100 feet (30 m) depth with 150+ scalloped hammerheads swimming over the top off Cocos Island, Costa Rica would have to be very close to the top!
What is your proudest professional moment?
Establishing our non-profit Saving the Blue. Knowing that for the rest of my life I can work towards educating people about sharks and rays, generating key data for their improved management and conservation and can do it together with my wife!
What do you wish more people understood about the ocean?
The ocean's health is fundamental to the health of our planet. Without it, we simply don't exist. But for most people, its importance and the role it plays is out of sight, and so it becomes out of mind too. That means we don't respect or care for it as much as we should. I only hope that with increased access to and understanding of the ocean through diving, education, and research more people get to see its beauty and learn its importance.
What advice would you give to a new diver?
When I learned to dive, my biggest hurdle was feeling comfortable enough to actually enjoy the animals and the experience. Real diving experience is the best fix, but since diving is expensive, you can build confidence in other ways: snorkeling often, getting used to your mask (wearing it, clearing it, taking it off), duck diving, wearing a wetsuit, even just swimming in fins. The more time you spend in water, the more comfortable you'll feel until every dive becomes fun.
But no two dives are the same. You'll hit snags: a leaky mask, buoyancy issues, breathing through air faster than usual. These are common early on and can make people want to quit. Push through them anyway. Confidence builds, and soon you'll feel at home underwater. For me, diving is like nothing else, the one place where I'm not distracted, fully in the moment.
What is your favorite piece of Cressi gear and why?
The Gara free dive fins! I have literally used them for over two decades. They have been on many incredible snorkel adventures as well as scuba dives and are forever reliable, robust and easy to slip on. The best thing about them is durability. I have had a handful of pairs across the years despite massive overuse.
What does being a Cressi ambassador mean to you?
I've used Cressi equipment for over 20 years and I'm extremely proud to wear it on all of my expeditions, whether that's in a cage observing white shark behavior, clinging to a rock with hammerheads passing overhead, or changing out acoustic receivers as part of my research programs. I'm honored to be an ambassador, grateful for Cressi's support, and I look forward to continued collaboration in promoting the importance of a healthy ocean.
Find Tristan:
