Interview: Mike Coots – Ulysse Nardin brand ambassador and shark conservation activist

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On my last day at Watches and Wonders, I had the honour to meet and interview a special human being – Mike Coots, a Hawaiian surfer, photographer, shark conservation activist, and shark attack survivor. Born and raised in Kaua’i, Hawaii, he lost his right leg at the age of 18 due to a tiger shark attack while bodyboarding. Despite this traumatic experience, Mike returned to surfing shortly after recovery, using a specially designed prosthetic leg.

Rather than harbouring resentment towards sharks, Mike became a passionate advocate for shark conservation. He actively works to raise awareness about the importance of sharks in maintaining marine ecosystems and highlights the threats they face from human activities such as finning and overfishing. His advocacy includes public speaking engagements, educational initiatives, and involvement with various conservation organisations.

Mike is also an accomplished photographer whose work captures the beauty and vulnerability of marine life. His photography has gained international recognition and has been featured by major media outlets including CBS, NBC, CNN, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and Time Magazine.

In addition to his surfing accomplishments, including a silver medal at the 2016 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championships, Mike mentors other adaptive athletes and amputees, inspiring them through his personal story of resilience and courage. In 2022, Mike Coots became a Brand Ambassador for Ulysse Nardin and has since collaborated with the Swiss watchmaking Maison to raise awareness about the need to protect threatened shark species.

Thank you, Mike, for this opportunity and the Ulysse Nardin team for making this possible. Enjoy our open and honest conversation about life journeys, family, food and sharks.