FathomOz

Worms are sold as bait for beach fishermen.  It takes skill to spot the worm.  A bag of stinking meat is the attraction.

Same whale shark in both pictures.  35mm lens vs. 15mm lens

In early 1942, the (RAAF), experiencing air attacks on towns in northern Australia, found itself unable to obtain British-designed interceptors or sufficient numbers of P-40s. US Fifth Air Force squadrons in Australia were already receiving the brand new P-39D-1. Consequently, in July 1942, older USAAF P-39s, which had been repaired at Australian workshops, were adopted by the RAAF as a stop-gap interceptor.

Seven P-39Ds were sent to No. 23 Squadron RAAF at Lowood, Queensland. Later, seven P-39Fs were operated by No. 24 Squadron RAAF at Townsville. In the absence of adequate supplies of P-39s, both squadrons also operated Wirraway armed trainers. However, neither squadron received a full complement of Airacobras, or saw combat with them. The home air defence role was filled first by P-40s, followed by Spitfires. Plans to equip two more squadrons with P-39s were also abandoned. 23 and 24 Squadrons converted to the Vultee Vengeance in 1943.

Source: Wikipedia

Cyclone Yasi warning before she hit Queensland as a category 5 – the worst in maybe 200 years.

North Stradbroke Island, off Brisbane.

An old cottage nearby had a sign above the door “Amityville Horror” - named after a B  grade movie of the the same name.

Dumping ‘rubbish’ to slow down beach erosion is no longer permitted. Today Amity has very high land values. Entire streets have vanished into Moreton Bay at Amity Point – fortunately it’s been a slow process.

John Harding and Ben Cropp aboard Freedom III (2001)

Handbook for Skindivers (By Ben Cropp 1963) had instructions in a chapter ‘How to make a speargun’.

The design was a simple and functional identical to this spear gun used today by Ben Cropp (right).

A piece of Silky Oak timber, a trigger mechanism purchased by a sports store.  The handle could also be purchased – or in 1963 when these were not available, a carpenter’s woodworking plane handle would be sufficient.

I made three spear guns to these specifications and  have one left today.   A shark swam away with another in 1963.

The fish is a Barramundi – not speared.

Young sharks taken from their dead mother – some survived and swam away.  One of the sequences of Australian Seafari destined to be added to You Tube.  The girl is Sandra Greentree - a speargun model from the pages of Fathom magazine.

Meanwhile check out other amazing marine videos of a variety of subjects.  http://seauw.blogspot.com

South of the Margaret River area was this stunning (for snorkel diving) piece of coastline.  The best view of good free diving territory possible.

Providing water depth is 15 feet or more in the bright sandy patch, there would be sufficient depth elsewhere.

It looks like it might have been good for abalone at one stage.

Getting down the steep landscape would be good exercise too.

Photo’s by JOHN HARDING for Peer Productions, Cairns, Queensland

click to enlarge