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25/08/2006: "JOHNNY SUMNER ......... Wally Gibbins' dive partner"
Johnny Sumner was backing the often mentioned project with Wally Gibbins with the boat Mr Wally.
They searched for months for a suitable vessel eventually deciding on a timber ex-prawn trawler called Bali Hai based at Coffs Harbour.
Recently the essential grab was designed, built and fitted according to Wal’s specifications.
It is a vertical dredge, (my description) intended to snatch non-ferrous materials from deep water beyond the reach of compressed air diving.
With Wal suddenly leaving this world on August 12, the original salvage plan is obviously up for modifications.
A good point being: Johnny Sumner is a keen shipwrecks historian.
His personal divers weight belt has been molded from tiny pieces of lead salvaged from various wreck sites each block marked with essential details.
Flash back to the Canterbury Underwater Club Australia, John was the first to be filmed (in 16mm by Ron Taylor or anyone else) spearing a large shark – in the process inadvertently discovering “the equilateral triangle position for the spear to produce a paralyzing effect”.
The above picture shows John at Montague Island, New South Wales in 1961. The spear gun is a Sea Rocket CO2 powered device.
Film of this encounter formed part of that astounding preview presented by Ron Taylor and Ben Cropp at a Sydney’s USFA club meeting mentioned previously in this blog. (use SEARCH).
Attended by a full house of 300 – 400 spear fishing divers it was all just a few months before The Shark Hunters documentary film was edited and presented on TV.
This early 16mm film night certainly encouraged me to buy a Sea Rocket speargun, and think about making underwater movies one day. Eventually I did both, but it was a seven-year wait for the 16mm movie camera.
