Одесский национальный университет имени И. И. Мечникова
Zaruski was born on 18 January 1867 in Dumanowo near the Kamieniec Podolski in Poland. During his youth at Odessa University, where he studied mathematics and physics, he was attracted to maritime activities. He worked as a seaman on various ships. He traveled a lot to distant regions like Siberia, China, Japan, India, Egypt and Syria.