FathomOz

ALL COPYRIGHT IS HELD BY JOHN H. HARDING

There are TEN issues of Fathom.  Each is 48 pages.

Edition numbers can be located in CATEGORIES in right hand column.

First issue was  1970.  Issue TEN was 1973.  Fathom magazine is said to have put Australia on the international diving map during those early years, as the stories and advertising will illustrate.

In the same era the Captain Wally Muller owner of charter boat Coralita began operation for scuba divers.  The first live-aboard and with dive destinations to The Coral Sea.
We hope you will enjoy these pages from the past.

One of a dozen or more JHH cover pictures supplied to the USFA magazine in the 1960s.  A giant clam and Valerie Taylor – during the Belgian Expedition to the GBR.

The Underwater Spear Fisherman’s Association Inc. is publishing their magazine again today.   We did a video featuring a selection of cover pictures in the 1960s – which is on You Tube.  In a small way it tracks the changes occurring from our simple beginnings as underwater explorers.

John Harding interview <CLICK TITLE

“Aquarius” (1970)

“Tropic Reef Seafari” (1983)  test  only – limited edition

Ron became the world spearfishing champion, in Tahiti, later the same year.  This picture was taken in clear fresh water springs called Ewen Ponds, near Mt Gambier in South Australia.  A good location to check sharpness of camera lens underwater.

Well, a partial history up until 1954 of thereabouts.  From newspaper stories which glorified the horrors, as they once did.  Most attacks were in the era before contract beach meshing nets were positioned (not as barriers) and when there were lots of fish to be caught from beaches, especially at night.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=shark+attack&s=180

Not exactly a Bull shark – a close relative in the same ‘whaler shark’ family.  Potentially an excitable creature.

Narrated by Chuck Faulker, Music by Geoff Harvey. 30 minutes, Kodachrome

Trial version narrated by Ward Austin; 30 minutes, Kodachrome

Narrated by Hayes Gordon, Music by Geoff Harvey.  30 minutes. Kodachrome.

Highlights featured on Robert Raymond‘s Project 64 documentary series.

Experiments using the stainless steel suit.  Self published by Ron Taylor Film Productions Pty Ltd.  66 pages.

Library No. ISBN 0 9593669 03