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Hoping to increase understanding of the elusive hammerhead shark, researchers from the Bimini Biological Field Station are tracking the endangered creatures off the shores of Bimini Islands in the Bahamas.

In a series of breathtaking underwater photographs, the BBC shared the tagging process. Hammerhead sharks return to the islands of Bimini each year, and researchers believe that it might be a stop on their migration route.

In order to tag the creatures, they must first lure them in using fish bait dropped from the boat. Once they’ve attracted the attention of a hammerhead, divers swim at the surface of the water to help the shark grow accustomed to their presence. Eventually, a free diver will carefully approach the shark from behind and use a spear to shoot a dark tag into the muscle below the fin.

See the mesmerizing photos here.