Mike Rutzen South African white shark expert Country: South Africa

1. The Biography of Mike Rutzen
2. Early Life and Career
3. Shark Diving and Conservation
4. Contributions to Shark Research

The Biography of Mike Rutzen

Mike Rutzen is a South African expert on great white sharks, which are traditionally considered the most dangerous species of these fearsome marine predators. Rutzen is also an advocate for the conservation of great white sharks, as they are currently on the brink of extinction, with an estimated population of only around 3,500 individuals. He has gained fame primarily through his free diving excursions with sharks, without the use of a protective cage. Rutzen has spent more time swimming with sharks than anyone else on Earth. Convinced that sharks are not the ferocious monsters portrayed by Hollywood, Rutzen spends an increasing amount of time traveling the world, making documentaries about sharks, and giving lectures.

Early Life and Career

Mike Rutzen started out as a fisherman in the coastal town of Gansbaai, South Africa, which became popular among tourists from around the world due to its large population of great white sharks. He was not initially a scientist and, like many other local boys, referred to great white sharks as "Tommy Sharks" because of the high number of British soldiers who died in shark attacks during the sinking of the HMS Birkenhead in 1845 near Gansbaai. When Rutzen was earning a living through fishing, he feared great white sharks. However, as tourism developed in the area and there was a need for qualified skippers to take tourists to see the sharks, Rutzen gradually changed his opinion. Over time, his involuntary respect for these independent and powerful marine predators turned into a true passion. He has been involved in shark diving since 1994.

Shark Diving and Conservation

For a period of time, Rutzen worked under Andre Hartman and learned about free diving with sharks from him. The more time Rutzen spent in their presence, the better he understood and learned to interpret shark behavior, avoiding attacks through gestures and body positioning. He discovered that great white sharks have a highly sensitive area on the tip of their snouts, known as Lorenzini ampullae, and even a gentle strike to this area can cause the predator to change its course. Eventually, Rutzen acquired his own boat for the tourism business, taking people who wanted to admire sharks while sitting in a protective cage. His company, "Shark Diving Unlimited," became the first to offer a specialization in great white sharks through PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

Contributions to Shark Research

Rutzen's greatest desire in his professional field is to learn how to induce tonic immobility in sharks, making it easier for researchers to approach them in the wild and ultimately better understand these animals. According to his recent statements, he has discovered the secret of touch that induces tonic immobility, causing sharks to enter a trance-like state and obey his commands. Today, he is renowned as one of the most prominent figures in the shark-related field. Rutzen frequently appears on television, giving interviews and starring in documentary features. Recently, he had his own television show on Discovery Channel.