SEA MERMAID ....... Dugong at Corbett Reef
fathom on 31.08.07 @ 02:50 AM AEST [Dugong at Corbett Reef">link]
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Friday, August 31st fathom on 31.08.07 @ 02:50 AM AEST [Dugong at Corbett Reef">link] Wednesday, August 29th VANISHING CORALS ........of Lady Musgrave Lagoon
 A beautiful formation of very delicate coral that would have covered one hundred square meters of lagoon floor. A single carelessly dropped small boat anchor could carve a noticeable path through this pristine formation. The corals had probably survived due to the unusual location - in a direct line 100 meters inside the lagoon from the "pass" the channel or entrance that allows ocean water to freely spill into and from the lagoon. Not a location for any boat to wish to anchor at. Also a place where strong nutrient-rich current was a daily occurance. Is this formation alive today? This picture was made in 1979 when Janine Thomson and I were camped on the island off Bundaberg, Queensland, for two weeks as guests of a Sydney-based dive company. We recorded 16mm underwater footage of this formation. It is yet to be used due to illustrate the size and uniquness of this formation. Something we almost took for granted at the time. My experiences elsewhere had never encountered anything like this. Today it might be protected and promoted as an attraction in much the same manner as a very old, tall forest tree. Does anyone really care? Things hidden under the surface are too easily ignored. fathom on 29.08.07 @ 10:44 AM AEST [of Lady Musgrave Lagoon">link] Tuesday, August 28th NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE ...... Shark chews cod
 A newspaper version of events: When the shark rushed at Rick he held the fish in front of him for protection...... note the teeth marks, it was a huge bull shark so long the tail disappeared into the murky Darwin Harbour waters where visibility rarely exceeds 15 feet. A TV news version A skin diver escaped death from a huge shark in Darwin Harbor today...... diver Rick Trippe had just speared a 100 found groper when the shark charged him...... The true version (as told here) Rick sent me this picture, it looks like a large shark had a chew on this Brown Spotted Cod soon after this fish was speared. The vibrations of the struggling fish attracting the shark as they will. Often the shark gets the lot. The slimy, tough fish scales offered some protection - a lot more than a divers wet suit, that's for certain. fathom on 28.08.07 @ 01:34 PM AEST [Shark chews cod">link] Monday, August 27th FIRST BOAT ........ water skiing after diving
 I'm aged about 20, not enough money for both a car and a boat, so I settled for the boat. My dear and late father paid for half. I chose a clinker-plywood boat. It turned out to be a real dud, although it looked good. We switched to an aluminium Tempest after this. (Traveling at full speed through any wave conditions we managed to punch the sharp corners of our seats through the hull, much to the amazement of the boat builders). Here we were at Bundeena, near Cronulla on the southern end of Sydney, water skiing. That's Lennie McLeod at the rear. I'm pulling back on the throttle. John Magill has fallen off his ski (not shown). Picture courtesy: Richard J. Swansborough fathom on 27.08.07 @ 02:43 PM AEST [water skiing after diving">link] MERIMBULA SURF ........ South Coast holiday town
 I took an underwater camera to the beach. A big surf was running. It shows other uses for our equipment. The typical beach scene of Australia is changing as a variety of new nationalities arrive on our shores. The recent riots at Cronulla is but one example. fathom on 27.08.07 @ 02:33 PM AEST [South Coast holiday town">link] ON ANY SUMMER SUNDAY ...... southern New South Wales
 fathom on 27.08.07 @ 02:29 PM AEST [southern New South Wales">link] MERMAIDS ....... Fitzroy Lagoon, Queensland
 fathom on 27.08.07 @ 02:14 PM AEST [Fitzroy Lagoon, Queensland">link] Tuesday, August 21st STORM DAMMAGE ? Coffs Harbour, NSW
 Not at all, local kids with a sense of humor regularly remove a letter. vortex on 21.08.07 @ 05:37 AM AEST [Coffs Harbour, NSW">link] Monday, August 20th MY 1930 PENNY ....... 1930 pennies - worth a fortune
 Before my skin diving career began, I saw an advert in a comic, maybe The Silver Jacket which offered two shillings for each 1930 penny. Two shillings (20 cents) would buy a quarter pound block of Dairy Milk chocolate in those days, which would be, in today's currency about $4 or so. So $4 for a one cent. Fantastic. I looked hard for years to no avail. Then one day on Sydney public transport I was given a 1930 penny in my change. My search was over. (Actually it had taken about three years). Much later I realised my penny was only a near-worthless British coin, not the valuable Australian version. The limited edition Australian penny was so rare and valueable you could virtually buy a house with the sale proceeds, as one person did. Copyright2007 on 20.08.07 @ 02:36 AM AEST [1930 pennies - worth a fortune">link] FILM SHOW ASSISTANT
 Gina and I traveled from Newcastle where she lived with her parents to Cairns, Queensland via Mt Isa doing traveling film shows. Gina was a good scuba diver. Film shows were a bit boring for a nineteen year-old so after a few weeks she took off to Iceland and adventures with whales. We met again recently at the popular Byron Bay Writers Festival, which was by chance. The above picture of Gina was in the beautiful and clear very fast-flowing fresh Mossman Gorge swimming hole north of Port Douglas, Queensland (1978). Copyright2007 on 20.08.07 @ 02:20 AM AEST [link] Saturday, August 18th MOVIE CINEMA MOGUL ....... John W Smith
 Big shots in the Queensland cinema business. John W Smith (left) CEO of Birch Carroll & Coyle Limited congratulates Bundaberg cinema manager (center) and independent 16mm film distributor JHH on the outstanding success of Queensland Seafari film shows. John W.Smith initially gave Queensland Seafari bookings throughout the hard-top theater circut, following the success of Northern Safari - an outback adventure film also made and shown in 16mm. When negotiating for the bookings I kept quiet the film was a silent print with concern the product may be seen as a low budget 'home movie'. Made to a professional standard by the supportive Colorfilm staff at their film laboratory where, in later years Crocodile Dundee prints were produced for USA release. Copyright2007 on 18.08.07 @ 01:41 AM AEST [John W Smith">link] Friday, August 17th QUEENSLAND GROPER ....... R.E.G. in 1968
 Copyright2007 on 17.08.07 @ 12:01 PM AEST [R.E.G. in 1968">link] VINTAGE MOVIE POSTER ...... printed by Bega District News
 We began promoting film shows for R J T, first with three screenings in a movie buff's private theatrette with 64 seats, especially for USFA member skin divers. Predictably it was a full house each night. We then tested the same films for the general public at the Union Theater, a luxurious 624 seat cinema and filled every seat. A re-run a week later had the same result, this was the beginning. The color was fantastic with original Kodachrome film being projected. The latest color slides were in fact medium format 6x6cm originals. I played background music from the bio box with records borrowed from Sydney radio station 2UW's library, thanks to Gary Jaeger. You had to distribute your own product. If put in commercial film distributor hands, the promotion and advertising was not as effective as they had many other films to look after. Doing it yourself was a novelty or a gimmick that works. Copyright2007 on 17.08.07 @ 04:58 AM AEST [printed by Bega District News">link] LIFE ON THE ROAD ...... Traveling film shows
 (left) A former cinema at Yeppoon, Central Queensland coast. (right) A serious problem with my 16mm projector's 'take-up'. The Yeppoon Cinema is now a church, another independent theater has closed. We did many shows here beginning in 1968 with Ron Taylor's films. For the first show there was a queue waiting to buy tickets that stretched 100 meters down the street. The original cinema had an earth floor and deck chair seats. One night a snake was set free in the theatre, possibly by one of Wally Muller's wild sons. Another time during the screening of a skyscraper fire movie, (The Towering Inferno, ) a large heater ceiling fan caught fire. Patrons thought the smoke and flames filling the theater was part of the new special effects. The picture at right shows a heap of 16mm film that has spilled onto the carpet. A slack take-up reel was the problem. Running a projector meant you had to be nearby. A dreary business when it becomes six or more hour per day. The consolation was counting lots of money. Eventually the money wasn't all that spectacular. People were not going to the movies like they once did. We could have become very rich in those early days if we'd wanted to work. There were better things to do..... like being underwater. Copyright2007 on 17.08.07 @ 04:30 AM AEST [Traveling film shows">link] Thursday, August 16th CENTRAL AUSTRALIA ....... Red Sands
 Copyright2007 on 16.08.07 @ 08:14 AM AEST [Red Sands">link] CAMERA ASSISTANT ....... Central Australia, 1984
 When an especially tough piece of rough had to be negotiated, we'd film whatever happened....... here is a Beaulieu 16mm with Angenieux zoom on a Miller tripod. A 100 foot load of film runs 2 mins 44 seconds. It would cost heaps today. This simple equipment gave good results. Copyright2007 on 16.08.07 @ 08:11 AM AEST [Central Australia, 1984">link] GULF COUNTRY ....... Borroloola - Northern Territory
 Our good mate Mr Northern Safari himself, Keith F Adams checks the timing of our safari vehicle. We screened Keith our own marine safari film in the local hotel beer garden. Maybe the hotel paid us or maybe it was a free show. All through the territory and into Cape York we'd slept in a small K-Mart tent oblivious to the hazard of attack by saltwater crocodiles. You can be lucky or unlucky. Best to sleep in your car and transfer the gear into the tent. Trouble is, a car gets very hot after traveling all day. On more than one occasion I drove 1100km in a single day. Ridiculous. Australia is a big country. Copyright2007 on 16.08.07 @ 07:37 AM AEST [Borroloola - Northern Territory">link] FALCON V8 at ULURU ...... 1984
 Our first of what would become three visits to Ayres Rock. A real holiday right away from the sea. We did underwater photography in the rainwater ponds on top of the rock - nothing exciting - but underwater on a rock in central Australia. Amazing - there are tiny fish in these shallow pools. Copyright2007 on 16.08.07 @ 07:26 AM AEST [1984">link] ESCAPE TO THE CAPE ..... Cape York in a Falcon
 Christine Danaher snapped this shot of the Ford crossing the Wenlock River in Cape York, Queensland, Australia. Today there is a proper bridge there - people have said. This was 1985 when Christine and I drove north with no particular plan where we were going. It had begun as a visit to Cooktown, then became a drive through Lakefield (which was a real horror road for the low clearance of the Ford - indeed it was a journey once commenced there was no turning back). The sump hit quite a few rocks and began leaking - it was plugged with blu-tak poster putty on many occasions. We proceeded north to a point just beyond the Alice River before turning around. By this time I'd learned how to negotiate the sandy road - keep the auto in 2nd gear with foot flat to the boards. We still got bogged a couple of times, usually when we'd caught up to a slower moving vehicle and had to stop. We exposed some 16mm film of our journey (as a tribute to Keith F Adams' Northern Safari - the classic Australian documentary feature film of an true epic journey in an even older car from Perth Western Australia to The Gulf of Carpentaria in Queensland via Ayres Rock and home along the WA coast). My footage has remained in archives ever since. Maybe it will become a production eventually - maybe. It is recorded on Kodachrome - which does not change color as do "professional" grade films. Copyright2007 on 16.08.07 @ 01:18 AM AEST [Cape York in a Falcon">link] Tuesday, August 14th ADVERTISING ...... Hand drawn theatre slide
 Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 10:21 PM AEST [Hand drawn theatre slide">link] TROPIC REEF SEAFARI ....... movie poster
 This version of Australian Seafari was intended to be especially for schools showings - the plan was shelved and no traveling shows were ever made. It was an expensive poster too. Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 10:14 PM AEST [movie poster">link] DOLPHIN JUMPS ....... from Australian Seafari
 Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 10:08 PM AEST [from Australian Seafari">link] SEA SAFARI ...... 1983 video-only documentary
 Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 09:11 AM AEST [1983 video-only documentary">link] AUSTRALIAN SEAFARI ....... Shark Films go on tour
 In 1986 the first screenings of the new version began, with a terrific TV campaigns beginning in the Tamworth zone, then Orange, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle TV networks. We covered the whole state and went back months later for return showings. Every town with 1000 people or more. The small places responded very well. In each case we'd use the best venue in town, usually an RSL or bowling club auditorium. If these were not available there'd be an old hall or meeting room somewhere. Some shows were during winter with snow on the roof in an unheated hall People came along rugged up with blankets to keep warm. Christine sold tickets and appeared in the film. People loved to see a 'celebrity' in person. I preferred to avoid this and did not appear on screen in my own film, probably a mistake. Providing entertainment is what it is all about. We mostly chose school holiday times and did three sessions each day. Windows of halls were blacked out with sheets of plastic. Jocelyn Edwards learned to operate a 16mm projector and sell tickets and toured separately with a second print. Being the 'star' of the film and featured on the advertising posters, she was treated like royalty. The good TV advertising was the key, with 30 second and 60 second adverts. Our old mate from radio station 2UW Ward "Pally" Austin loaned his voice for the audio. It was the professional touch that made the difference. Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 05:24 AM AEST [Shark Films go on tour">link] 16mm Vs. Super 8 ...... New for film makers
 The above location was Lady Musgrave Island where we camped for a couple of weeks with the Sea Life Dive Company this was 1980. By then the price of processed 16mm film was hurting. The Leyland Brothers were now shooting their TV documentaries on Super8 and transferring to two-inch video tape for delivery to the station. We figured if the two-inch tape could be edited (expensive) then a clean result with no splices might be worthwhile. One-inch tape was to be the industry standard. We used this format for a pair of video's released in 1983 that were filmed exclusively on Super8. The quality was sufficient and easy to use with underwater Eumig Nautica Super8 camera's. The lens lacked sufficient wide-angle capabilities, so it was back to 16mm. Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 05:09 AM AEST [New for film makers">link] THE TRAVELING FILM SHOW ...... Queensland Seafari, 1976
 After doing amazing ticket sales in coastal Queensland for four years, we brought the program home with screenings in Newcastle and Sydney's Regent Theatre. It was not exactly a disaster but far form the success up north. TV advertising was too expensive and we learned relying on print and radio advertising alone was not sufficient. The shows broke even but we'd wasted a lot of energy. Maybe if we changed the name of the show to Australian Seafari it might work in New South Wales? Copyright2007 on 14.08.07 @ 04:55 AM AEST [Queensland Seafari, 1976">link] Monday, August 13th REPAIRS ON THE ROAD ......
 We did 500,000 km in the V8 Ford (pictured) doing film shows and dives around the coast. Cairns to Perth and back via Broome and Darwin, carrying a full load of heavy equipment. Eventually the differential broke on the rough dirt road between Seal Rocks and Forster, NSW of all places, so close to home. Today we have a Toyota 4X4 which is far superior in all respects. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 07:04 AM AEST [link] MORE HAIR ....... JHH, in Sydney 1975
 fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:45 AM AEST [JHH, in Sydney 1975">link] SUNSET FILMING ...... JHH in The Coral Sea 1991
 fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:38 AM AEST [JHH in The Coral Sea 1991">link] TRAVELING SHOWMAN .......Northern Safari
 For many years we took films along the east coast of Australia to towns where there was no longer a cinema. In Queensland we used existing cinemas- which was the rule. Although more expensive to hire the attendances were phenomenal. This introduced us to the merits of using TV advertising. Equipment used were Eiki xenon 16mm projectors holding 55 minutes of film per reel, which was sufficient with two reels and an intermission break between the change-over. This picture was in 1981 when I did shows for Northern Safari, the all-time classic outback adventure documentary feature film that grossed many millions with shows in several countries. It still does well today with book and DVD sales. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:34 AM AEST [Northern Safari">link] KIDS SHOW ...... JHH surprise guest on Brisbane TV
 fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:27 AM AEST [JHH surprise guest on Brisbane TV">link] DIVING IN A CYCLONE ...... JHH, Middleton Reef
 March 1976 with a cyclone called Ulan - a dive to check the anchor was more perilous than it may appear here - due to the current and wild swinging of Coralita. Miss the boat on the way back and it would have been goodbye. The two dinghies were all anchored elsewhere away from Coralita. A wise move would have been to take a safety line with me, just in case. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:25 AM AEST [JHH, Middleton Reef">link] PETER BROOKS ..... Marine Art
 In 1976 Peter Brooks lived around the corner from 2JJ, the new radio station in East Sydney, now known a Tripplejay. Through Peter we photographed visiting US gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson at the art studio with the Rolleiflex camera pictured here. The belt buckle by Peter Brooks was made from twisted solid silver cutlery. The wrist bracelet is six copper coins each dated 1857 ex Dunbar shipwreck, welded into a band. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:19 AM AEST [Marine Art">link] TV SPECIAL ....... 1976
 We were hired to do underwater close-ups of grey nurse sharks for an American TV special featuring Glenn Campbell and Olivia Newton-John. We met Glenn, but sadly not Olivia! fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:07 AM AEST [1976 ">link] JOCELYN & JHH ...... at Saumarez Reef 1974
 fathom on 13.08.07 @ 06:03 AM AEST [at Saumarez Reef 1974">link] JOCELYN ....... Cairns, Queensland. August 1972
 New Zealander, Jocelyn Edwards was to become famous for her underwater nude (G rated) appearance in Queensland Seafari and Sea Jade. The sequence was filmed off Coralita at Saumarez Reef in 200 foot visibility with bubbles streaming from a scuba tank below. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 05:58 AM AEST [Cairns, Queensland. August 1972">link] JHH - NOVEMBER 1970 ...... Hawaiian film shows
 We were in "The Islands" presenting an Underwater Film Festival from Australia when this picture was taken by Richard Ibara, the USA correspondent for fathom magazine. fathom on 13.08.07 @ 05:52 AM AEST [Hawaiian film shows">link] KOMODO STARFISH (1981) ...... Lindblad Explorer trip
 The text comes from journalist Ben Mitchell writing in People magazine about some bloke called Harding, surely not the same one. The unusual starfish seems to have impressed the Italian lady - she did not speak English so we can only assume what her thoughts may have been. The Swedish-owned ship was a legendary in it's day. This is a sequence shown in Sea Safari a feature length documentary released in 1984, only on video and only in Australia. vortex on 13.08.07 @ 04:42 AM AEST [Lindblad Explorer trip">link] Saturday, August 11th DREAM COMES TRUE ....... Ben Cropp has ideal lifestyle
 The following pictures show the lifestyle of Australia's Ben Cropp as he travels the northern Great Barrier Reef from his home at Port Douglas. With over 100 documentary TV films made to date and a twin hull cruiser as a filming platform, he is Australia's nearest equivalent to Jacques Cousteau. The following pictures have been taken during several expeditions where I was aboard as deckhand and diving assistant - and on one trip a 2nd cameraman. I've also written the script for "Tale of a Shark Hunter" the story of Ben's underwater career inspired as an idea by Peter West. (NUMA). Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 11:36 PM AEST [Ben Cropp has ideal lifestyle">link] LYNN ROBERTS ....... Underwater Model
 Lynn has appeared in five years of Ben's documentaries often in a black bikini or pink lycra suit. Lynn is a resident of the coastal tourist town of Port Douglas, Queensland. Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 11:18 PM AEST [Underwater Model">link] MURRAY ISLAND ...... fish for dinner
 Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 02:49 AM AEST [fish for dinner">link] MURRAY ISLAND ........ brothers collect triton shells
 Home on school holidays, the boys attend boarding school in Townsville, North Queensland. Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 02:47 AM AEST [brothers collect triton shells">link] MURRAY ISLAND ....... reef lobster
 Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 02:43 AM AEST [reef lobster">link] MURRAY ISLANDER ...... our guide to lobster and triton shells
 Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 02:40 AM AEST [our guide to lobster and triton shells">link] MURRAY ISLAND ....... green turtle stew
 Copyright2007 on 11.08.07 @ 02:38 AM AEST [green turtle stew">link] Friday, August 10th TURTLE PREDATOR ....... common tiger shark
 Any turtle in distress will eventually get eaten by one of these natural recycling creatures. Copyright2007 on 10.08.07 @ 05:10 AM AEST [common tiger shark">link] MURRAY ISLAND ...... turtle hunters
 (top) Demonstrating the art of turtle catching by leaping onto one from a moving boat. (below) A captured green turtle is brought ashore. Ben Cropp rolls tape on the action, son Dean Cropp assisting the locals. Murray Islanders are permitted to catch turtles to compliment their otherwise limited food supply. When asked what is best food between fish and turtle meat, the answer was fish is best. Copyright2007 on 10.08.07 @ 05:05 AM AEST [turtle hunters">link] MURRAY ISLAND ...... tiger shark on set-line
 Copyright2007 on 10.08.07 @ 04:56 AM AEST [tiger shark on set-line">link] Thursday, August 9th OLIVE RIVER ...... near Cape Grenville, Cape York
 In the upper reaches of the river are interesting palms growing at the waters' edge. Crocodiles and barramundi are a feature here in the brackish water. On the ocean beach (which requires a hike through the bush) are literally hundreds of fishing buoys washed ashore. Adam collected all he could carry. (Picture to come). vortex on 09.08.07 @ 10:57 AM AEST [near Cape Grenville, Cape York">link] MURRAY ISLANDER ...... also known as Mer Island
 Copyright2007 on 09.08.07 @ 09:56 AM AEST [also known as Mer Island">link] GIANT QUEENSLAND GROPER ....... Their residence
 The (previously mentioned) big fish roll onto their side and slip under and into this coral formation for protection. Copyright2007 on 09.08.07 @ 02:50 AM AEST [Their residence">link] GREAT DETACHED REEF ...... 'weather side'
 Showing the lush 'wall-to-wall' corals in the surf zone on the eastern side of the reef. Millions of tiny aquarium fish live here too, a really beautiful location requiring an often difficult swim through surf. Note how the color changes to blue (in the distance) just as it does with vertical depth. Copyright2007 on 09.08.07 @ 02:46 AM AEST ['weather side'">link] SHIPWRECK SITE ...... Great Detached Reef
 On the reef nearby are a couple of ancient anchors. This would be where the ship was blown onto the Great Detached Reef. The question is: Is that big lump part of the ship that has become overgrown with live coral? Being in the surf zone it's not going to be an easy task to ever investigate. I'm betting any effort would be worthwhile. Maybe. Copyright2007 on 09.08.07 @ 02:38 AM AEST [Great Detached Reef">link] Wednesday, August 8th ADMIRALTY ANCHOR ....... covered with live corals
 This standard sized sailing ship anchor is believed to have been on the deck of the wrecked ship The Sun (or Sun) when she became a total loss on a remote reef in The Coral Sea. The former timber deck has since washed away by heavy and constant surf. Our new destination was Murray Island (also know as Mer) very close to the Australian border with New Guinea. An island where locals are permitted to hunt turtles for food. We had a several hours swimming on the Sun wreck at Ashmore Reef while en route. Copyright2007 on 08.08.07 @ 07:28 AM AEST [covered with live corals">link] LEOPARD SHARK ...... Lynn Roberts models
 Copyright2007 on 08.08.07 @ 07:17 AM AEST [Lynn Roberts models">link] THE CRYSTAL OCEAN ...... Great Detached Reef, 'the arrival'
 Copyright2007 on 08.08.07 @ 07:13 AM AEST [Great Detached Reef, 'the arrival'">link] REEF WAVE UNDERWATER .... Great Detached Reef
Tuesday, August 7th HISTORIC LEAD INGOTS ...... Charles Eaton (wreck site)
 Ben and Wally Gibbins came to Great Detached Reef in the mid 1970's aboard Beva to located several shipwrecks from the early colony days of Australia. In those times ships sailing back to England ran incredible risks navigating around and through coral reefs. Eventually a primitive lighthouse (without a light) was erected on nearby Raine Island some 15 nautical miles to the north. These lead ship's ballast ingots are of the Charles Eaton shipwreck, today in five meters of water, in the surf zone. Nearby an anchor with a single broken fluke - I wonder, could this the very reason why the anchor failed - and this ship went aground? It would have to be part of the problem. vortex on 07.08.07 @ 01:00 AM AEST [Charles Eaton (wreck site)">link] GIANT QUEENSLAND GROPER ... called 'grouper' overseas
 We 'swam' with a 'family' of five. This picture is representative of the largest, about two meters in length and 150 kg. The big fish saw us and 'took off' for a nearby large porites coral mound on the sand in 10 meters of depth, maybe their local residence. (See picture which follows). We have a nearby GPS of the location at Great Detached Reef (These huge fish are known leave an area for months, at the same season, then return). Through the very transparent water I could see them slip underneath and out of view. We followed. They gave us the slip. It's always nice to see these Queensland Groper, an indication of a pristine area. Copyright2007 on 07.08.07 @ 12:25 AM AEST [called 'grouper' overseas">link] Monday, August 6th LOBSTER ............... Close-up
 vortex on 06.08.07 @ 11:56 PM AEST [Close-up">link] CAPE YORK SUNSET ........ Approaching tip of Queensland
 vortex on 06.08.07 @ 06:05 AM AEST [Approaching tip of Queensland">link] SHALLOW WATER SCENE.....far northern GBR
 Corals in the lagoon side of the reef at Great Detached see very few human visitors, maybe those from a cruising yacht or two. The same fish and reef sharks reside there from year to year which I found fascinating. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 05:26 AM AEST [far northern GBR">link] FIRE CORAL
 Brush against or touch the yellowish colored coral with bare skin..... and you'll know it. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 05:22 AM AEST [link] MANGROVE OYSTER
 vortex on 06.08.07 @ 03:03 AM AEST [link]
 Lynn Roberts appears in several recent Ben Cropp documentaries as the stunning blonde in a black bikini. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 02:02 AM AEST [link] LINE FISHING FOR LUNCH ...... Dean Cropp
 Ben's eldest son, Dean Cropp holds a Ruby Emperor, one of several caught from above the small trawler wreck that produced a port hole. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 01:57 AM AEST [Dean Cropp">link] TRAWLER WRECKAGE
 A mystery wreck inshore in 60 feet of murky water turned out to be something like an old trawler. Dean Cropp picked up this porthole, then cleaned it with a bath in acid. The cracked glass adds extra charm to the piece. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 01:50 AM AEST [link] HISTORIC SHIPWRECK SITE 'Fatima' at Great Detached Reef
 Wreckage used to be scattered across the top of the reef in a line behind the twin anchors. A recent cyclone has blown most of these tiny pieces that once existed into sandy shallows on the lagoon side of the reef. Lynn Roberts spotted a 200 year-old iron bar. vortex on 06.08.07 @ 01:43 AM AEST [ 'Fatima' at Great Detached Reef">link] CONTINENTAL SHELF DIVE
 Diving on the weather side of northern reefs is virtually diving on the edge of the continental shelf. The bottom drops away steeply in places, as shown here, into thousands of feet. Below us this day some 200 feet down was a huge bull shark which was more interested in staying deep. (This picture was taken at North Horn, Osprey Reef. I'm including it here, with Great Detached Reef pictures as there are deep water similarities). vortex on 06.08.07 @ 01:38 AM AEST [link] Saturday, August 4th THE NORTHERN SHALLOWS....... of the Great Barrier Reefs
 As seen through polarizing sunglasses - the dark blue line is where the sandy bottom drops into deeper water. A crystal ocean here with 120 foot horizontal visibility - warm and pollution free. Beautiful. On the eastern or 'weather side' of the reef, visibility is mostly to about 200 foot. The Coral Sea touching the Great Barrier Reef(s). vortex on 04.08.07 @ 09:18 AM AEST [ of the Great Barrier Reefs">link] REEF PICS
 vortex on 04.08.07 @ 09:11 AM AEST [link] SPINNER DOLPHIN UNDERWATER ...... collage
 vortex on 04.08.07 @ 03:33 AM AEST [collage">link] Wednesday, August 1st NORTHERN ANCHORAGE ... Location: 13 South, 143 East
 Captains wheelhouse and stateroom on the top. Below is living room, galley and two double bed cabins. Freedom is a high speed catamaran. Inflatable dive dinghy with outboard is carried on rear platform which is raised free from the water when traveling. Air compressor and tanks, heaps of underwater cameras make this a unique Australian film production vessel. We departed Port Douglas, North of Cairns and began a 30 day expedition "north" to film adventure with the sea and especially shipwrecks from the early era of Australian colonization. I'm a semi-vegetarian ( or aqua-tarian) so a seafood diet was perfect for me. The others aboard alternated each day with meat today, fish tomorrow. We'd catch fish over shipwrecks in deeper water using rod and reel. Exceptions would be locations where barramundi might be spear fished.. Saltwater crocodiles are a serious consideration in the north. These certainly exist and can be anywhere. Tracks left on the beach indicate some very large specimens. vortex on 01.08.07 @ 02:16 AM AEST [ Location: 13 South, 143 East">link] |
