28/12/2004: "World Spearfishing Champ 1965"

Ron Taylor won the main title in Tahiti in September 1965 against team mates Peter Kemp and Wally Gibbins. It was a team of three plus two managers and the first time Australia had been able to send a full team to these World Championships conducted by CMAS of France, the world federation of underwater sporting activities.

Ron Taylor had previously won four sucessive Australian spearfishing championships (and numerous state and club events) and after the world win lost what would have been his fifth Australian title to ........Peter Kempwho felt he could have done better in Tahiti.

Wally Gibbins was put out of the competition after his disasterous "black-out" in the final moments of a 130 foot deep practice free dive and the subsequent hospitalisation for observation.

Pictured is Ron Taylor at Montagu Island (1966) with a kingfish and the speargun (built by an unknown Queenslander) which won him the world spearfishing champion title. Note the face mask. The best mask we have ever used. Wide vision without distortion and professional black rubber (no interior reflections from the surface). Originally titled 'Scuba Vision' they were popular with commercial abalone divers.

Does anyone know where we might obtain some of these masks today? Please 'email the editor'.

28/12/2004: "World Spearfishing Champ 1965"

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