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07/07/2004: "PEOPLE OF THE SEA Wal Gibbins and Jacques Mayol"
A possible victim of Severe Depression Virus was the late Jacques Mayol who made a serious decision to leave this world on Dec 23, 2001 in Italy.
Jacques Mayol (centre) with Australia's shipwrecks expert Johnny Sumner (left) and Australia's legendary diver Wally Hamilton Gibbins in 2000 at Las Vegas, USA discussing the "Mr Wally Expedition" to the Solomon Islands, amongst other things, including Hollywood movies.
(Wally Gibbins 'blacked-out' near the surface after a 135 foot free dive with speargun, bag and weight belt in Tahiti 1965, which put Wally out of competiting in the World Spearfishing Championships).
The cult movie The Big Blue (1988) was based on the freediving skills and rivalry between Jacques Mayol and his mate Enzo Maiorca.
Jacques was born in Shanghai to French parents. An exciting time for his conception. The city is described then as: Whore of the orient, Paris of the east, city of quick riches, ill-gotten gains and fortunes lost on the tumble of dice; the domain of adventurers, gamblers, swindlers, drug runners, idle rich, dandies, tycoons, missionaries, gangsters and back street pimps - Shanghai 1927". Lonely Planet CHINA.
Jacques Mayol learned to freedive in Japan at age 15. His inspiration to become a world record breath-holding free diver was sparked while watching nude girls decend 75 feet without flippers (aka fins) to collect pearl shell oysters. Not a bad start to his diving career.
The fact that his own father was later to die in a diving accident is worthy of note.
At the amazing age of 56 years, Jacques Mayol set a world free diving depth record of 105 meters, yet less than 20 years later he chose to end his own life with a rope. Many prisoners on death row would have gladly changed places with him. But the depression virus is a powerful enemy.
Update: October 20 2004. Wally Gibbins admitted to Coffs Harbour hospital. (Peter Fields preparing major interview for popular magazine featuring this legend of the sea, born 19 January 1930). Wally's collection of spearguns and diving gear is ear-marked for Legends Surf Museum (Scott Dillon 02 6653 6536).
UPDATE JAN.7 2005. Only a brief but 'scary' stay in hospital. A burst blood vessel and great loss of blood. Back to normal as of this moment.
