Welcome to SharkSchool™
Many divers have seen a shark or two. But who knows what the intention of the animal was when it approached, which factors affected the situation the most, or how its swim pattern should have been interpreted? SharkSchool™ focuses on the behavior of sharks with special emphasis on interacting with them. SharkSchool™ is headed by Dr. Erich Ritter Ph.D., the world’s only field biologist specialized in shark-human interaction and behavior.
We offer many different lectures, courses and locations. You may want to experience diving with lemon sharks or snorkeling with bull sharks and interact with them in the Bahamas, or dive with oceanic whitetips or hammerheads on a Red Sea safari cruise or land-based in the South Red Sea, you may want to see tiger sharks in Umkomaas, go cage diving with white sharks in Gansbaai (both South Africa) or observe white sharks up close and personal in Guadeloupe, blue and mako sharks off Catalina Island, USA, 
or cruise the atols of the Maldives in search of their 14 species of sharks. Or you just want to shoot good pictures or make shark videos. Or maybe you are a rescue professional and want to know how to correctly act in the presence of a shark after a bite or while rescuing a victim .Or you might want to know more about bite analysis and interpretation. Whatever your intentions are, SharkSchool™ offers a variety of possibilities. If you can't find a workshop that fits your or your group's interests, we will be more than happy to tailor a course that will suit your needs, even at a destination of your choice.
Erich Ritter participated in the Belgian documentary SharkWise by training Marc Sluszny to dive with sharks safely. RELEASE: Spring 2010
Without sharks, the oceans will die
Sharks are probably the most misunderstood creatures on this planet. Feared by most, these creatures lack the much needed lobby to stop their on-going slaughtering. The killing of sharks is one of the biggest ecological time bombs. A bomb that will go off if not defused in time. Sharks have been around for over 400 million years, making them one of the most successful creatures in the animal kingdom with humans as the only true threat for their very existence. It is estimated that over 150 million sharks are killed each year because of their fins, as by-catch or through “sport” fishing.
The protection of sharks is crucial for the balance of the oceans, earth’s main producer of oxygen.
An important step towards protection is the elimination of the unsubstantiated fear of sharks and the myth surrounding them. It is human's nature to only protect what is loved, and not what is feared. However, this irrational fear of sharks needs to be eliminated and all the erroneous information erased. One way for a better understanding is the active interaction with sharks and spreading the word that there is no such thing as a dangerous shark - just dangerous situations, created by humans, knowingly, unknowingly or by third parties.
SharkSchool™ brings divers, snorkelers and swimmers closer to sharks, with the intention to show the true nature of these incredible animals.