Page 28 - August 2019

Mike Harris

Beaufort’s Very Own Shark Tooth Fairy

story by LINDSEY LENOIR photos by PAUL NURNBERG

T he tale of Mike Harris, Beaufort’s You know, out of all the diving I’ve done and Marine Institute). The institute served as
very own “Shark Tooth Fairy” is a
a launching point for him. While there, he
all the teeth I’ve found, what you see right
obtained his GED and was taught life skills:
true story of perseverance. Sitting
here is what I have held onto of museum
with Mike today at his kitchen
scuba diving certification.
table, a pristine collection of fossilized quality. Sure, I could’ve sold any of these sailing, fishing, even earning his deep water
teeth and made a good bit of money. Yes,
shark teeth and bones on display before there are better teeth out there, teeth more Mike would spend the next 20 plus years
me, I immediately feel like I’m speaking beautiful and possibly better quality, but as a boat mechanic, sailing, fishing, raising
to a seasoned Paleontologist. As he tells none can say they have been held and his children, and living the easy life on his
me all about what I see before me and the touched by over 5,000 kids, eager to learn house boat. He was in his 30’s, working
prehistoric back story of the Lowcountry, I about diving and fossils. That makes them on larger boats that often required him to
can’t help but gawk at the extremely large priceless right there.” replace huge, heavy, 8D batteries, when he
Megalodon tooth sitting directly in front of Growing up in Beaufort, Mike had a herniated his back. He went to the doctor
me. I fight the urge to touch it for fear I might misadventurous youth. It was one of these and was prescribed medication for his pain.
disrupt its ancient serenity. Immediately “misadventures” that landed him, by the He was able to function with his back injury
Mike assures me, “Go ahead and touch it! age of 15, at AMIkids (formerly the Beaufort and continue to take care of himself and his
28 August 2019 | www.BeaufortLifestyle.com