Department Of Misunderstood Monsters–The Great White Shark: Sure, there has been a lot of bad pub, with the odd chewed up surfer and late night reruns of “Jaws.” But South African diver Michael Rutzen wants you to know that Great Whites are really pussycats (pussyfish?), and to prove it he has made a documentary of his exploits swimming free with the cuddly, over-toothed, fishies. Here’s a great gallery of hair-raising pics. And here’s his description of how he pulls off stunts like hitching a ride on a dorsal fin and living to film the tale:

“There’s a whole hierarchy among sharks and they see you as a predator, too. You’ve got to learn how their body language works and to work with it. I’ve had some incredible moments. To get a shark so relaxed that within 10 minutes it comes up to you and you can tickle it beneath its nose next to its teeth, that’s something…

I made some mistakes in the beginning. Like once I needed to come up for air and I pushed the shark away with a speargun to disengage and he came at me and gaped. I shat myself.”

Hmm. Don’t know the name of the flick, but better see it if you get a chance. Not sure there’s going to be a Part II…



“This is nice, sweetheart. But don’t go too deep or my ears will bleed…”



“Hey! It was a nice swim, but I don’t kiss on the first date…”