Mike Rutzen

biography

tobe brought up on a farm

started career as a fisherman

became a shark expert

taught himself everything he knows about sharks

swim alongside the sharks, pets them

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  • tourism developed
  • there arose a need for experienced boat skippers

passion

goes beyond the limits of most sharks

dedicated to sharing passion for
great white sharks

started up a cage-diving business

specialise in locating & driving with sharks

provide unique encounter

set the goal of changing
people's negative perception

sharks: far away from ferocious and mindless killing machines that are portrayed in media.

hypnotise them: put them in a stage of total immobility

a sight that scientists can only marvel at

great champion of shark conservation

aim

What does he do?

give talks and lectures

make documentaries

star in an episode of BBC natural's world.

seeking to highlight the GWS's status as endangered species

raise awareness of the need to protect them

took lessons in freediving

learnt how to interpret their behaviour

learn how to adapt posture to avoid being attacked