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25/04/2005: "SCUBA GIRL WITH FISH is Dianne Widdowson"

Previously published just one time this picture appeared on my 90 minute Sea Safari video rear jacket, without a caption.

According to the very knowledgable and influential Mrs Valerie Taylor, this (pictured) petite underwater model was 'the best in the world', (and the most widely photographed too).

Dianne Widdowson hailed from Yeppoon, Queensland - home base for the then famed Coralita diver charter boat expeditions when owned by Captain Wally Muller. Dianne had a couple of years aboard as a crew member and consequently dived many of the exotic reefs in The Coral Sea - many equalling what then existed in the more easily reached by land of The Red Sea.

North American visitors soon had Coralita fully booked more than a year in advance. The guest book included every leading underwater film cameraman some working with a Hollywood-project budget.

While The Red Sea has since suffered disasterously, The Coral Sea, through it's isolation is not so effected. Also protected by high diesel fuel costs, Australia's The Coral Sea is our last frontier for pristine coral reef life.

Dianne later worked at (the former) Truk Lagoon, diving sunken Japanese fleet of warships from the largest diver boat offering 'cruising accomodation.'

The term 'live-aboard' seems erroneous as such short expeditions are involved. (The term first appeared when promoting Coralita extended trips and has been plaguarised since). Dianne may have lived aboard boats but the rest of us on Coralita trips simply had a short holidays.

The above picture is a 'C' grade copy of a copy. The original Kodachrome is stored in mint condition and may eventually be published as a poster. I clicked it from the duckboard of Coralita while we were anchored in a true one knot current of clear water above a now famous shipwreck. Dianne was swimming strongly to stay in position. The trevally stayed with her for minutes. It was a beautiful scene.