The Ocean Institute will welcome great white shark attack
survivor Rodney Fox for a presentation on great white sharks on Wednesday, September 18, 7-8:30 p.m.
Rodney Fox was attacked by a great white shark while spearfishing and badly bitten around the chest and arm in
December 1963. He is regarded as a miracle survivor of one of the world’s worst non-fatal shark attacks. His wounds
required more than 450 stitches, and fifty years later, he still has part of a great white tooth from the attack embedded in
his wrist.
However this experience led Fox to eventually admire and respect this ocean predator; he went on to design and build the
first underwater observation cage to dive with the great white shark, and for over five decades he has led major
expeditions to film and study these animals.
Rodney’s life since the attack has involved working as a consultant for film crews, including “Jaws”, and guiding ecotourism
adventure trips specializing in great white sharks and other marine creatures. He travels the world giving talks about his
experiences with sharks and the urgent need for conservation.
Today he is regarded as a world authority on the great white shark and has been involved in some way with most great
white shark films made in the 20th century. Rodney has hosted expeditions for over 100 major feature and documentary
films, and for shark researchers from 16 different countries.
Disney, Universal, IMAX, Cousteau Society and National
Geographic have filmed and studied the great white shark from his cages. Rodney Fox is currently producing a documentary about his decades of shark conservation and research, and will
soon release a new book entitled Seven Tenth’s Water – Sharks, the Sea and Me.
Seating is limited and reservations are required. Cost is $15 for adults, or discounted admission of $10 for Ocean
Institute members. Register online at https://ocean-institute.netcommunity1.com/rodney-fox–member or call
(949) 496-2274 and dial the operator with questions.
Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean preservation through
education, setting the standard for educational excellence and serving as a leading resource for universities,
museums, teachers and all others seeking to increase their knowledge of the ocean. The Ocean Institute is open
to the public on weekends, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost: $6.50 adults, $4.50 children (ages 4-12), members free.
Unique maritime and ocean-themed items are available in the Chambers Gallery everyday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Institute address: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point. Website: www.ocean-institute.org. Phone: (949)
496-2274.
Jim Graves
