Shark aficioniados rejoice! NatGeo is stepping onto the proverbial entertainment plate with not one week but a whole month of shark programming fantastically bordering on shark overload.

John Cena did a great job hosting “Shark Week 2024”. His brand of zany, comical, engaging quips was marvelous— but did he get in the water and dive with sharks? No! He drank a “chum smoothie” with a shark scientist and interviewed other shark experts, which, by the way, I was happy to see more women of color included this year. Marine ecologist Dr. Tiara Moore, aka Dr. T., host of “Sharks of the Dead Zone” and CEO of Black In Marine Science, livened things up with her funny reactions to sharks suddenly appearing around the water with the contaminants she’s been tracking in the Indian River Lagoon (Atlantic side of Florida). Moore teamed up with other scientists to figure out ways to prevent the onset of these pollutants, typically found where bull sharks drop their pups.

On another note: Here’s hoping John Cena returns to get up close and personal with the ocean’s most featured majestic creatures as actor/producer Anthony Mackie did.

The Marvel star of the upcoming Captain America: Brave New World kicked off “SharkFest” on the National Geographic network with the premiere of “Shark Beach with Anthony Mackie.”

Mackie traveled to his native Louisiana to investigate the ongoing problem between sharks and fishermen. Sharks are stealing fishermen’s catch (whole or half-eaten), a term called shark depredation, affecting fishermen’s livelihoods. Mackie, shark experts, and scientists explored Lake Pontchartrain, where he used to fish and spend time as a kid, and learned that sharks inhabit it. He also traveled to the rigs where fishermen hook multiple fish species and compete with sharks’ quick meals.

Mackie didn’t just talk the talk; he walked the walk. The action star helped scientists tag baby bull sharks, gave one shark an anal swab to learn about their diet, and overcame his fears and plunged into the ocean. The Gulf of Mexico, to be precise, with marine biologist Jasmine Graham to guide him and serve as a security blanket, the actor revealed. He spent over four hours in the water, discovering humans and sharks can coexist. In addition, Mackie helped conservationists plant grass in eroding marshlands to ward off the effects of flooding and preserve the ecosystem.

Beyond trekking the swampy wetlands with Anthony Mackie, NatGeo brought a slate of shows ranging from a newly discovered shark nursery near NYC to documented experiences of shark attacks by men, women, and children and how they survived—or not!

With “Maui Shark Mystery,” National Geographic introduces a skilled team of young female scientists from the University of Hawaii who navigate the coast of Maui in search of Tiger sharks to tag and learn more about their behavior and mating habits. To say these female scientists are badasses doesn’t even cut it. The strength and fearlessness they displayed on this show is unmatched.

SharkFest ends July 31st. You have a few more days! Be sure to check out this insightful, action-packed show, which features scientists and conservationists, shark attack survivors, and witnesses recounting their experiences and educating viewers on the preservation and habits of these majestic creatures. Watch SharkFest on the National Geographic Channel or stream it on Disney+.