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13/07/2006: "WHALE SHARK ........ John and Valerie catching a ride"

Valerie and John H. performing for Ron Taylor's movie camera. (This is a still from 16mm film from that fortunate encounter at Seal Rocks NSW).

Our 35mm still pictures would become published everywhere, and Ron made good plans for his film too.

For an hour and a half we made snorkel dives while swimming alongside the steadily moving giant. It required fast swimming to keep pace with this big creature.

When I touched the tail of the whale shark it responded by ‘sounding’- diving vertically and fast out of sight.

A few minutes later it was back on the surface and we were alongside again. By now the shark was accepting our presence so further contact by touching was no problem.

These snorkel swims were being restricted as it was necessary to leave the 14 foot long dive dinghy unanchored and unattended.

We’d swim alongside and away from the boat until 150 meters from it then return, start the motor, find the shark, repeat the procedure.

For a finale for Ron’s filming my idea would have to work. There was just one chance as his camera was about to run out of film and there was no additional roll.

I held onto the top and bottom lobe of the giant tail with arms outstretched to the max.

Valerie would then hold my ankles as the shark caught up to her.

Ron – positioned ahead would film us passing by his camera with the last 16 seconds of film on his movie camera.