About Mark

Early Passion for the Ocean

Come rain or shine, Mark Tozer happily walks his part of the South Australian coast every morning. He takes in his daily dose of appreciation for his marine backyard. Mark’s passion for the ocean began in his childhood, growing up in Birkenhead, South Australia. He loved frequenting the local beaches at Semaphore, spending almost every weekend snorkeling with his dad, inspecting the seagrass and marine life.

Career and Charity Work

Mark owns and operates a large commercial furniture factory in Lonsdale and a retail furniture store in Mile End and the Northern Territory. These businesses employ over 80 Australians. Besides his professional life, Mark dedicates time to the charity he established in 2013, Dive for Cancer. This charity has expanded across several Australian states and internationally to New Zealand, Sweden, and Belgium. Over the last nine years, funds raised by the charity have supported the Cancer Council.

Diving Experience and Certifications

Since starting diving in 1987, Mark has logged over 5000 dives and earned more than 20 different scuba diving and rebreather certifications. He began diving at Adelaide Skin Diving Centre with FAUI (Federation of Australian Underwater Instructors). He later moved to NASDS (National Association of Scuba Diving Schools) in 1991 and to PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) in 2010.

Studies and Diving in the Northern Territory

After accepting a place at Charles Darwin University in 1991 to study Building Design and Engineering, Mark migrated to the Northern Territory. He carried out hundreds of exploratory dives in Darwin Harbour. These dives sparked his passion for exploring numerous WWII ship and plane wrecks and wrecks from Cyclone Tracy in 1974.

Diving Adventures Abroad

Mark’s appetite for ocean exploration extended beyond Australia. He journeyed to the Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Palau, and Santo, diving into historical deep-water wrecks. However, no dive beats his favorite locations:

• Truk Lagoon: Located 1800 kilometers northeast of New Guinea, it holds around 80 wrecks from WWII’s Operation Hailstone.
• SS President Coolidge in Vanuatu: An American luxury steamship that sank after hitting US mines, with 5000 troops aboard.

Most weekends, you will find Mark diving his favorite local spot, ‘The Dredge’ in South Australia.

Fascination with Sharks

Mark’s deep fascination with sharks began after reading about the USS Indianapolis. The story details how over 600 American sailors lost their lives in the deadliest shark attack in history. This interest led to a lifelong friendship with Rodney Fox, a Great White shark attack survivor, filmmaker, and marine conservationist. Mark, Rodney, and Kay Fox spent hours discussing ocean conservation. Eventually, Mark partnered with Andrew Fox and Rodney Fox Shark Expeditions. Together, they aim to foster appreciation and understanding of great white sharks through research and education.

Establishing the Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Learning Centre

Mark’s passion for the underwater world led him to build the Rodney Fox Shark Museum and Learning Centre in March 2019. He dedicated thousands of hours to constructing the museum and continues to add new exhibits and artifacts. Mark’s love for the ocean shines through in every corner of the museum. He hopes the museum will inspire others to join his mission to protect and preserve our oceans.

The Museum Experience

Visitors to the museum can enjoy vintage diving equipment and stunning displays of sharks and other sea creatures. The exhibits and interactive displays teach visitors about the ocean and its inhabitants. Mark’s commitment to education and outreach is evident throughout the museum.

Leadership in Sharks and Rays Australia

In 2022, Mark became the Director of the research and conservation organization Sharks and Rays Australia (SARA). SARA’s conservation goals rely on sound science, public outreach, and collaboration with local stakeholders. SARA aims to involve the general public in sawfish and shark research expeditions.

Collection of Historical Diving Equipment

Mark is a natural collector of historical diving equipment and memorabilia. Many of these items are on display in the museum, helping to educate visitors about the ocean world.