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06/07/2004: "PEOPLE OF THE SEA .....Hec Goodall and Ben Cropp"
Legendary diver and documentary film maker Ben Cropp recently visited the Coffs Harbour Pet Porpoise Pool where he caught up with manager Hec Goodall.
They knew each other from the days of Jack Evan's porpoise pool at Tweed Heads but had not been in contact for more than 40 years. They had much to speak about.
Hec spoke of the probelms the Pet Porpoise Pool had during the 1980's when poorly informed authorities had almost closed the pool; about new extensions to the pool due for completion later this month.
Ben Cropp has made more than 100 films for television. His latest "The Vanishing Grey Nurse Shark" has received acclaim from NSW Fisheries and the CSIRO for the archieval content showing divers with sharks and powerheads more than 40 years ago.
While in Coffs Harbour Ben planned to catch up with another old mate and underwater legend, Wally Gibbins who is preparing his boat Mr Wally for an lengthy expedition to the Solomon Islands with pioneer divers Johnny Sumner and Des Woodley.
Wally Gibbins is featured in many of Ben's films made when the team filmed almost around Australia a series of documentaries in the 1980's. During that period Wally salvaged the ships bell from Yongala near Townsville, the site today being one of the most significant tourist-dive destinations in the world. The bell is displayed in a Townsville maritime museum today.
The forthcoming trip to the Solomons (where Wally worked for several years salvaging WWII wrecks) will concentrate on deep water salvage with a mechanical grab.
Meanwhile Ben is preparing his own northern Great Barrier Reef filming expedition aboard Freedom III which will involve a culinary adventure to find and prepare exotic seafood in the freshest possible form.
