Mako Pako – Basque Shark Diving was founded in 2013 out of a passion for the sea and sharks. The dive center operates off the coast of the Basque Country from Bermeo (Biscay) and offers responsible shark encounters in the open Cantabrian Sea, combined with environmental education and conservation projects.
Shark diving with Mako Pako
The tours run daily from mid-June to mid-October in small groups, departing from Bermeo harbor. After a safety briefing, the boat takes participants out to wait for the sharks. As soon as the first animals approach, a guide introduces their behavior, then spends up to 10 minutes in the water before giving each participant the chance to calmly and respectfully enter the water one by one. The guides ensure safety and accompany participants throughout the entire encounter. In addition, there is the chance to observe other marine life during the trips, such as dolphins, sunfish, jellyfish, salps, swimming crabs, or various seabirds.
Equipment & details
A standard tour lasts 4–5 hours and costs €200 per person. A private tour (up to 6 people) costs €1,400 for about 5 hours. Snacks and drinks are included on board, and snorkeling equipment can be rented for €20. In summer, the water temperature is around 22 °C – a 5 mm wetsuit is recommended. Visibility ranges from 8 to 15 meters depending on weather conditions. Participation is possible from a minimum age of 10 (with parental consent), and aqua sports insurance is mandatory.
Diverse encounters & conservation commitment
Mako Pako focuses on encounters with blue sharks (Prionace glauca) and occasionally with mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus). Both species are pelagic wild animals – encounters are possible but not guaranteed; the sighting rate is around 90%. The activities are used to raise awareness and support marine and shark conservation projects. Mako Pako also participates in citizen science initiatives for reporting sightings.
