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06/03/2005: "WHALER SHARK and QUEENSLAND GROPER with diver on beach"

Replacing the heavy and slow 12 gauge shotgun powerhead which first appeared during 1963, was the tiny .303 powerhead that was attached to a spear - offering greater range.

At last the early divers had a device to stop sharks. The fear of being eaten was replaced by a challenge to 'get even' for all the (exaggerated) fears built-up over years of concern.

It was also a different era, with more sharks and of course more fish. The big fish like giant Queensland groper were not immune to powerhead attack either and many a monster fish ended it's days alongside the shark.

It's different today. Powerheads on spears are illegal, but not on handspears, (in some states). While still regarded as a working device to discourage sharks - especially aboard lifeboats - the use of powerheads as 'protection while diving', proved in time to be more danderous than a shark.

Occasionally, even today, a loaded speargun with powerhead attached is thoughtless brought back aboard a private dive boat and is definately not tollerated by the more experienced.

This picture was made late one afternoon, near dusk, at Point Lookout about 1966. So dark I loaded a clear PF1 flashbulb into the Rolleimarin for this black and white shot.

The big whaler shark had come in to look at the Queensland Groper - or was it the other way around? Anyway, both ended up back on the beach. The freediver was working in 20+ meters of water. The speargun rubber was on half power too. (The cord had slipped off the wire bridle on one side but the rubber was jammed into the gun stock and would still work - just).

This was to be the largest whaler shark I've ever seen taken by a diver. About three meters in length.