Live Q&A with Ricky the Shark Whisperer

Ricky Mohamed started out as a diving instructor in the Maldives, fell in love with the underwater world, and just kept going deeper - literally and figuratively. He's now the President of Miyaru, the Maldives Shark Research and Conservation Programme, spending his days diving with sharks, photographing them, and building an ID catalogue where every shark has a name and a number. What's remarkable about Ricky's story is how it unfolded - not through a formal academic path, but through passion, curiosity, and showing up. He went from divemaster to NGO president by volunteering, asking questions, and taking photos with whatever camera he had. He runs his dive centre from a traditional Maldivian dhoni, connecting ancient maritime culture with cutting-edge conservation. His message to young people - that you don't need to be a biologist to work in conservation - is one worth sharing widely. His Q&A will be full of sharks, and full of heart.