We are privileged to have Michael Rutzen as our guest speaker on Tuesday 29 March at 17h30 (5.30 pm) at the Green House.
Mike free dives with great white sharks in order to understand their behaviour better. He is one of only three people in the world able to communicate with great white sharks using body language.
Michael has been a member of the White Shark Cage Diving Foundation since its inception and helped to pioneer techniques that are now the backbone of the industry. With Shark Diving Unlimited he has guided several world-renowned still photographers and film crews and started a series of internationally acclaimed documentaries to promote white shark conservation. He also provides field support for researchers, including the Department of Environmental Affairs.
Despite a negative popular image, Great White Sharks are extremely vulnerable as a species that’s rapidly declining in numbers. Lack of knowledge remains a huge obstacle in planning their effective protection. Michael has dedicated 20 years of his life to promoting a healthier relationship between humans and great white sharks by way of education, documentary films and by supporting the major research projects currently running in South Africa.
Michael’s documentaries bring greater understanding of the great white shark – potentially dangerous to prey, but astonishingly interesting if approached in the right way.
Michael has been involved in the SharkSafe barrier Project since 2011. The SharkSafe barrier is a new technology that combines magnetism and visual stimuli to deter the three shark species considered dangerous to humans, to find an alternative solution to anti-shark nets.
In recognition of his great contribution to the environment, Michael Rutzen (left) was awarded the 2015 Mayoral Award for Conservation. On the right is Kim “Sharklady” Mc Lean, Woman of the Year 2015. It was a great year for shark conservation.
Your donation of R20 at the door goes towards the speaker’s travel costs and other expenses.