FathomOz

(Click to enlarge)

Kalio became our guide and friend when we were doing a scientific survey on his island, a true atoll in the Eastern Caroline Islands.  (Federated States of Micronesia).

We have not located Kalio on Facebook, not yet, but we are exchanging notes with a younger former resident who remembers our visit – (arriving in a Grumman Hu-16 Albatross seaplane, see Fathom 1).

These pictures show Kalio free diving in front of his island home.  Water visibility a constant 200 feet and sea water temperature luke-warm.  The closest to a diving paradise I’ve experienced.  This was 1969 – dive gear was still traditional Polynesian.

Even so Kalio was reaching a depth close to 20 meters – without fins or snorkel.  The spear being used was a very light gauge and about 3.5 meters long with a single flopper – essential length for getting close to the tiny reef fish.

Our friend Ron Isbell took us to the northern side of Lady Musgrave Island.  Perfect conditions but with a lot of dead plankton or coral spawn on the surface.  It must be good food for manta rays.  There was a line of them swimming in rotation over perhaps one kilometer there and back.

How many?  A dozen – maybe as many as twenty.

What makes a good underwater model?  Christine Danaher is one of the best.  A diminutive figure is a good start although some scuba tanks can appear huge.   We have an extensive collection of Christine D. pictures and some excellent underwater 16mm film footage.

A loving attitude toward animals, especially underwater is another good point.  This helps to eliminate – or will eliminate fear.

A disposition that accepts certain discomforts – wet hair, cold water, rough sea and all the rest requires a tough girl.

The new additions to the world of underwater modeling are breath-hold free divers.  Nadine Werner (Germany) for example is reported to hold her breath while swimming/diving for a remarkable four minutes.

There is a stunning blonde Russian actress, still in her twenties who set a world depth record for free diving some years ago.  Check You Tube videos under “mermaids” for a host of lovelies with good lungs.

My mistake, this looks like Christine Danaher but is one of the pictures by our good friend (the late) Irvin Rockman, taken in New Guinea, featuring model Kirtley Leigh Paine. I should have spotted the difference with her wet suit.  It’s a fine picture – but not mine!!  The following picture is: