FathomOz

(The late) Ron Harding was not related to the editor of Fathom

Ron Harding was one of the first scuba divers who set a depth record in the 1950′s.  His dive shop at the beach side suburb of Manly was one of the original and best.  His younger brother John worked in the store as did Kevin Deacon and later Steve Duffy.

A Valerie Taylor portrait of Vic Ley – underwater stunt man appearing in the TV series Barrier Reef.

The Taylor’s and divers Vic Ley and Mal McLeod were based on Heron Island for nine months to do underwater scenes. The above water production was elsewhere – further north at Hayman Island.

Barrier Reef was produced by the same company as Skippy -The Bush Kangaroo.

http://www.classicaustraliantv.com/BarrierReef1.htm

One of the best white pointer shark action frames lifted from 16mm movie film running at 24 frames per second, by cameraman Ron Taylor (1966). The first underwater scenes of this once mysterious shark. Stills from the film are probably the most published shark pictures ever. The pictures have continue to inspire authors and film productions for more than 40 years.

JUMPING SHARKS.

The mystery as to why no researchers knew the shark jumped free of the water when attacking seals was overlooked until recent times. It’s almost as though the shark has only just learned this hunting skill.

No fishing book, encyclopedia or natural history book published the phenomena of white sharks jumping until a few years ago.

Cousin to the white pointer is the blue pointer or mako shark. This species will jump spectacularly when hooked by game fishermen. This aspect was known, but not so for the bulkier white pointer.