Archives from month » August, 2009
Fathom Annual was to be a 200-page hard-cover special but was never printed. With this cover featuring a bikini and big sharks strong sales were assured, however the picture wasn't taken until 1975, even then a strong advertising response was still guaranteed when we considered a 200 page once-per-year Fathom magazine.
John Harding took two years to compile 90 minutes of 16mm film. "Aquarius" formed the bulk of The Australian Underwater Film Expo 1970. It was a silent film narrated live with recorded instrumental music in the background. Eventually re-cut to form part of Australian Seafari (1986). The original version concluded with a hammerhead shark giving birth underwater.
A team of four divers with one ton of equipment, including air compressor, scuba tanks, zodiac, outboard motor, fuel and food did an underwater survey for coral destroying crown of thorns starfish. This was part of a large expedition involving seventy marine scientists and experts from around the world who were assembled at the island of Guam under the direction of Dr Richard Chesher. Chief Scientist for Department of Interior Survey of the North Pacific for the Crown of Thorns Starfish (In charge of 69 diving scientists).
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The first issue on Fathom went on sale in January 1971.
Former spear wound on red morwong, Marley NSW
White Water Wanderers - a Bondi spearfishing club. Sydney Sea Hunters a City of Sydney club.
The spear gun used by Ron Taylor in the 1965 world championships was not built by Ron. The above picture was thirty years after he won the main event. Ron found the gun floating in the sea off Yeppoon, Queensland in 1961.
Kathy Troutt set a world depth record for women, off Sydney Heads, on air. Guided by Wally Reynolds a former RAN (Navy) diver. She was a successful model and TV actor. An episode of "Skippy - the Bush Kangaroo" (Marine Biologist) was written especially for her. Kathy also specialized with dolphin training and worked with several large budget Hollywood movies including "Day of the Dolphin" and "Blue Lagoon". She now lives on a property in Queensland (2009) and occasionally gets to the sea these days.
Kathy Troutt held marine jobs with The Australian Museum, State Fisheries and Marineland at Manly. She also trained dolphins in London and Florida and worked on feature length movies as well as holding a world depth record for women, on air.
Small picture by Richard Swansborough; large picture at Dunk Island during filming for "Age of Consent".
The Great Barrier Reef consists of 1250 small reefs separated by channels. It is not an unbroken barrier reef but a collection of reefs. Therefore, informed people might consider adding the letter "S" to the title. This information was inspired by lectures given by Dr Robert Endean, former Reader in Zoology, Uni of Queensland.
Huge Coral Cod at The Cod Hole (1991)
An attempt to cut a huge bronze propeller underwater using a thermic lance misfired. Diver Eric Buchanan was seriously injured. He then spent the next 20 years trying to get accident insurance payment. It is not known if a payment was received before Eric Buchanan died.
Eric Buchanan equipment for the job in Sydney Harbour.
Note: Black Cod cannot be used for this recipe. (Now an endangered species).
