A farewell to a crocodile sanctuary unlike any other…

For over seven years, I’ve been leading trips to the remote, wild waters of Banco Chinchorro, Mexico—a place where ancient reptiles glide beneath crystalline shallows and where time seems to pause. I’ve seen a lot out here. Murky days, clear days, quiet crocs, bold crocs. But during our 2020 season, something changed.

This trip… this one was different.

It was, without question, the best crocodile diving expedition we've ever had in Banco Chinchorro. Everything aligned. The light. The action. The water. The energy.

*My best split shot. 1/250, f/11, ISO 200*

Visibility Like I’ve Never Seen Before

The water clarity was unreal—like diving in a swimming pool.

On most trips, we expect to work around pockets of silt or lose clarity when the tides shift. But this time, even when the tide was low and the typical “crappy water” rolled in… it didn’t matter. We still had insane visibility. We could see every ripple, every movement, every scale.

It felt like the ocean had opened up just for us.

We spent two full days diving with the crocs, and the action was non-stop. There were quiet moments, sure—but they were the kind that build tension in the best way.

You knew something was coming. You could feel it.

And then Gambit would appear.

Our star croc. The dream model. The absolute legend.

Gambit has always been the star of this sanctuary, but on this trip, he was pure magic. Calm, curious, photogenic. He gave us photo opportunities I couldn’t have scripted. \

Every photo felt like a gift.

A Photographer’s Dream

It’s rare to have such a wild subject in such perfect conditions. Every element lined up—light piercing the shallows, the patterns of sunlight danced across Gambit’s back, the stillness of the mangroves above. We shot wide, we shot tight, we played with reflections and motion.

The ocean gave us everything.

And sadly a storm was brewing....

We had been hearing rumors that licenses might get pulled. Every year it seemed was a struggle for the operator to get the croc diving permits released.

We had no idea this would be one of the final season’s that croc diving in Banco Chinchorro was allowed.

The End of an Era

Sadly, not long after this trip, the permits that allowed us to dive with crocodiles in this sanctuary were revoked. The sanctuary closed to all in-water activity. The era of swimming with crocs at Banco Chinchorro—at least for now—is over.

No more mornings with coffee and crocs. No more floating eye to eye with ancient reptiles in perfect water.

No more moments like this.

But this trip stays with me. It’s burned into my memory. Not just because of how good it was technically—but because it was the final chapter of something rare and special.

This was the send-off we didn’t know we needed.

And I’m so grateful we were there for it.

Lessons from this trip…

Every expedition teaches you something. But when the location is this special—and it turns out to be the one of the last trips here ever… you hold onto those lessons a little tighter.

Here are a few that stayed with me:

1. Never Take a Wild Place for Granted

We always say it, but this trip drove it home: nothing is guaranteed. Permits can change. Ecosystems can close. Species can vanish. If a place is calling to you… go now.

Document it. Experience it. Respect it.

2. Water Clarity Can Change Everything

Great wildlife photography isn’t just about the subject, it’s about the conditions. And on this trip, the visibility was a reminder that even one variable, like clearer water can elevate every image.

Sometimes you just have to keep showing up until all the elements click.

3. The Best Animal Encounters Happen When You’re Present, Not Just Shooting

With Gambit, it wasn’t just the images, it was the interaction. Being still, being open, watching his behavior… that’s when the best moments happened.

Sometimes the best shot comes after you lower the camera for a moment… and just soak it all in.