Debra Canabal, PhD

Debra Canabal earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science with a concentration in neuroscience from Rutgers University. A scientist at heart, her path shifted during graduate school when she went on her first shark dive in the Bay Islands of Honduras. That single dive sparked a lifelong passion and deep respect for these powerful yet misunderstood animals.

Motivated to protect sharks, Debra became Director of Development at the Shark Research Institute, advancing conservation through research and global awareness. In 2010, she founded Epic Diving, creating a platform where ecotourism connects people with sharks in their natural environment and inspires their protection.

Education and outreach remain central to her work. She frequently visits schools and community programs to share her knowledge and launched Epic Diving’s scholarship program, which awards graduating Bahamian high school seniors a full tuition scholarship to the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute in Nassau.

Debra believes conservation thrives where science, tourism, and education intersect. By giving people the chance to experience sharks up close, she works to replace fear with understanding and inspire the next generation to protect our oceans’ most iconic predators.