SEA SAFARI WITH BEN CROPP & HIS UNDERWATER TEAM

Young girl of Murray Island

Located at 9.9S 144.00E in the north section of The Coral Sea close to the Australian border with New Guinea. Locals hunt turtles for food, catch plenty of tropical lobster and fish. Serviced by an airstrip. Teenage children attend boarding schools in Townsville. Permission is required to make films here.



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:51 PM AEST [link]

SHIPWRECK SITE ...... Iron anchor in coral

While heading for Murray Island we stopped at the wreck site of The Sun which is positioned on the edge of a reef in The Coral Sea.

A possible explanation as to why this anchor is raised from the reef floor might be that it was being carried on the deck, unattached to any chain.

Slowly the sunken timber vessel decomposed, surrounding wood washed away by surf leaving just this anchor as a marker to why the sailing ship sank. Nearby was a cannon.

It's a fascinating location worth spending more time on.



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:42 PM AEST [Iron anchor in coral">link]

BABY SALTWATER CROCODILE ...... Just Hatched

vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:35 PM AEST [Just Hatched">link]

LIZARD ISLAND ..... View from Cook's Lookout

The Cod Hole (below) is offshore from Lizard Island



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:32 PM AEST [View from Cook's Lookout">link]

COD HOLE REVISITED ...... Near Lizard Island, Great vBarrier Reef

(top) Hump Headed Maori Wrasse in silhouette
(below) Erin and Adam Cropp close to Potato Cod



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:29 PM AEST [Near Lizard Island, Great vBarrier Reef">link]

BEN CROPP ..... Ancient Spanish silver coin from shipwreck

Lynn Roberts appears in several Ben Cropp's documentaries



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:23 PM AEST [Ancient Spanish silver coin from shipwreck">link]

EXPLORING THE OLIVE RIVER .... 12.14S 143.08E (approx)

John H. Ben Cropp, Adam Cropp, Erin
Photo: Lynn Roberts



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:19 PM AEST [12.14S 143.08E (approx)">link]

TIGER SHARK ...... Below Ben Cropp dinghy

Medium-sized, about three meters in length



vortex on 31.12.07 @ 08:14 PM AEST [Below Ben Cropp dinghy">link]

THE FIRST 'CAMERA IN A MASK' COMBO

"Liquid Image (USA based company) will be releasing the Underwater Camera Mask (with a built-in digital camera) in March 2008 for about AUD$130 or less.

The 5-meg version comes with 16MB of built-in memory, an option of adding on to that using a micro SD card slot. It captures videos at VGA resolution and is OK to 30m".

A similar in-built camera idea for spear guns would be popular with the blue water free divers.

For the 'shark divers' an idea might be a mask-camera programmed to make a still picture every, say 5 to 30 seconds?

An 'action switch' could speed up the frame rate when things start to move fast.






vortex on 31.12.07 @ 03:07 AM AEST [link]

HapPy neW yEar

Spare fuel needed on road from Alice Springs to Broome W.A.






Copyright2007 on 31.12.07 @ 01:23 AM AEST [link]

WELCOME ....... To tip of Queensland

Thursday Island hotel wall art



Copyright2007 on 30.12.07 @ 12:10 AM AEST [To tip of Queensland">link]

T.I.

(top) Freedom has an excellent diving platform
(below) The Ben Cropp dive boat at Thursday Island, North Queensland

Almost everyone goes north during the spring months. Many 'celebrity boats' make this journey before the weather gets too warm. It's a worthwhile trip. The former Queen of the Isles was a budget boat offering $500 return fares from Cairns - a long time ago.

There would be an opportunity for any old tub to take her place.








Copyright2007 on 28.12.07 @ 08:16 PM AEST [link]

A BIG SHIPWRECK SITE ....... from above water

Freedom III anchored near wreck of the Quetta

This very large ship is now laying on her side in shallow water.

Depth to the top of the hull is about 12 meters, depth to 'the sand' only 23 meters from the surface.

When the prevailing strong current runs over the ship, the surface water boils.

An hour or so after this picture was taken there was small surf and a 'roaring' sound coming from a line of breaking waves 100 meters long - on an otherwise calm day.

Consequently the window for diving between the tides isn't too flexible.








Copyright2007 on 26.12.07 @ 11:35 PM AEST [from above water">link]

QUETTA...... The Queensland answer to Titanic

The surface is 40 feet to the left of picture

Picture has been rotated to give a correct perspective of the interior, as when she was afloat.

Some of the Slatey Bream (shown below) are in near center, while Ben Cropp is barely seen filming from the exterior of the ship.

Collectible port holes have been removed long ago, pre 1983.

Contents of the ship now protected by legislation.

The cabin or stateroom ceiling here has lost the covering. Water visibility not too good about ten meters.






Copyright2007 on 26.12.07 @ 11:27 PM AEST [The Queensland answer to Titanic">link]

FISH WATCHING FOR DANGER

Slatey Bream aka Moke aka Sweetlip

Within the shipwreck Quetta are many thousands of these large fish. An amazing sight.



Copyright2007 on 26.12.07 @ 11:17 PM AEST [link]

CORAL FISH ..... Northern Great Barrier Reef

Copyright2007 on 26.12.07 @ 11:13 PM AEST [Northern Great Barrier Reef">link]

SPEAR FISHING ...... Ben Cropp and barramundi

(top)Ben swims amongst branches of a dead tree looking for a 'barra

(below) Ben with a couple of very nice wild Barramundi for dinner

Location approx: 13.18 South 143.48 East






Copyright2007 on 24.12.07 @ 06:11 PM AEST [Ben Cropp and barramundi">link]

BATHURST BAY & CROCODILE TRACKS

The Freedom dinghy positioned near when a croc came ashore

The first bay inside Princess Charlotte Bay (North Queensland) can be reached via a 4X4 track.

Further up the beach are a few well spaced-apart tents and even a caravan. It's a rugged road that a handful seem prepared to suffer. Much easier to get there by boat.

Sleeping in a tent maybe not such a good idea anymore.

A couple of years ago a large crocodile dragged a guy from a tent by his legs.

The croc was shot and everyone survived, including the grand-mother who jumped on the croc's back (which made it release it's victim as it grabbed her arm instead).


The above crocodile tracks were made on a nearby offshore sand cay - indicating they don't mind leaving the coast for a swim at sea either.



Copyright2007 on 24.12.07 @ 06:06 PM AEST [link]

WILD MUD CRAB DINNER

Trina and Ben caught these crabs

Location near: 12.17 South 143.09 East





Copyright2007 on 24.12.07 @ 05:53 PM AEST [link]

SMALL SAND CAY ..... underwater surrounding reef

Nothing too spectacular (by remote Great Barrier Reef standards).

Although probably a 10/10 reef in some parts of the world today, we've been a bit spoiled in Australia.

I'd rate it a 5/10 reef to what is possible under ideal conditions. The corals here were in trouble. The large brain corals especially.



Copyright2007 on 22.12.07 @ 08:31 PM AEST [underwater surrounding reef">link]

FOR CORAL REEF AT SAND CAY......Lat/Longitude:11.92S 143.69E

Copyright2007 on 22.12.07 @ 08:24 PM AEST [Lat/Longitude:11.92S 143.69E">link]

THE BEN CROPP BOAT ... and dinghy at Barrier Reef sand cay

The underwater corals here were quite interesting too. In the spectacular category yet also in decline. You wonder why.

The red dinghy has an aluminium hull. The outboard works hard and starts every time, although inclined to flood (at first start every morning) if choke is on and more than three pulls are given. Otherwise it's a marvelous brand.

Note: Freedom III and dinghy is about to be advertised as for sale. The Ben Cropp adventure boat, to be replaced next March 2008 by something larger that will be a full time floating home.



Copyright2007 on 22.12.07 @ 07:25 PM AEST [and dinghy at Barrier Reef sand cay">link]

HICKS ISLAND WELCOME ...... weekender

An nice and interesting piece of island art at the Jeff McCloy island.

Who is Jeff McCloy?

Use a Google search with additional keywords real estate, MV Seafaris.









Copyright2007 on 22.12.07 @ 12:27 AM AEST [ weekender">link]

CAPE YORK ISLAND ...... Bush Tucker?

(top) Doubtful bush tucker
(below) Uninhabited, near Hicks Is.

The island looked like a potential paradise.

Apparently others thought the same and once considered it for some kind of reality TV show.

Big crocodile tracks on the beach may have deterred that plan.



Copyright2007 on 20.12.07 @ 09:38 PM AEST [Bush Tucker?">link]

ASHMORE REEF ....... en route to Murray Island

Surf zone near shipwreck site The Sun, in The Coral Sea



Copyright2007 on 19.12.07 @ 04:26 PM AEST [en route to Murray Island">link]

FILMING DUGONG ...... Underwater photo collage

Ben's pole camera (far left), and my 35mm underwater stills



Copyright2007 on 17.12.07 @ 05:08 PM AEST [Underwater photo collage">link]

AMMO SHIPWRECK SITE..... Cape York, Queensland

Lead slugs (left) and Ben video records the ancient barrow

Nasty hollow point and heavy caliber lead slugs. From the era when bullet casings were cardboard.

The heavy wheels belong to a smelting barrow - probably something connected with gold mining. It's a mystery whether these belong to an actual wreck nearby or were jettisoned overboard to lighten the load of a ship stranded.





Copyright2007 on 16.12.07 @ 10:23 PM AEST [Cape York, Queensland">link]

WHAT KILLS CORAL REEFS?..... Rare white sand beach

The Queensland coast, inshore from Night Island

OVERVIEW OF THE QUEENSLAND COAST

If you were to travel north from Brisbane by boat, most of the coast would be muddy water.

Run-off from the many rivers talking silt into the sea, which of course isn't too good for any coral reef.

Years ago someone said Cairns originally had a white sand beach. This long lost beach might still exist somewhere deep under meters of mud which now comprise the disappointing (to visitors) low tide view at The Esplanade.

The mud came from sugar cane farms which began in the area maybe 100 years ago.

As one travels to the far north of Queensland, where there are no towns, cities or farms, the coast today is largely unspoiled. White sand beaches exist - even with mangrove tree's growing on them.

Something I thought would have been impossible on the coast.

There is no doubt that farming has effected the health of inshore coral reefs. Killing the reef in most examples.

Further offshore reefs at Low Isles (offshore from Port Douglas) are not too healthy either as it gets the monsoonal run-off.

(P.S. I'll post underwater dying coral reef picture examples from Low Isles during the New Year).




Copyright2007 on 15.12.07 @ 08:01 PM AEST [Rare white sand beach">link]

SURREAL SUNSET ...... Princess Charlotte Bay region

Bush fires on the mainland created this effect



Copyright2007 on 15.12.07 @ 01:21 AM AEST [Princess Charlotte Bay region">link]

SHIPWRECK ANCHORS ...... Ancient twin anchors in surf

Fatima shipwreck, Great Detached Reef

There isn't a great deal to see on this part of the reef apart from twin anchors in the surf and their heavy iron chain now firmly cemented onto the coral.

Heavy surf has washed the original wreckage remnants across to reef top, into the sandy lagoon.

Filmmaker, Ben Cropp (pictured) has long been fascinated by these anchors and makes a stop whenever in the region.



Copyright2007 on 15.12.07 @ 01:14 AM AEST [Ancient twin anchors in surf">link]

THE CROPP CAT ...... lives on seafood

Ben Cropp's cat, Tiger.

CAT THEORY

It's no secret that some people prefer a dog to a cat. A few people actually dislike cats. These people don't wish to understand a very simple point.

Cats can vary in their disposition just as easily as humans vary. Some people are best avoided just as some cats would be a bit too wild.

It depends upon how both have been treated in life.

Humans can come good with a bit of care.

I think it's a lot harder for a maltreated cat to ever change.

A cat that has been gently cared for since a kitten, will be completely different to a cat that is having a hard time in life, with rough handling.

Until you see the difference first-hand you may not know what makes a good cat.


The Robert De Niro character in Hollywood's Meet the Parents had a good summary of cat versus dog.

(Words to the effect while speaking to 'Greg'), You need to earn respect from a cat whereas a dog submits easily.

How true.

Comment from Lisa Simpson II
On what grounds is this assumption made?
Maybe dogs have faster assessment skills!
Maybe cats process quickly for their ability level?
Maybe they find different things important for survival?
We're from Venus and Mars. Where are they from? How would we know?







Copyright2007 on 14.12.07 @ 02:43 AM AEST [lives on seafood">link]

TIME ASHORE ...... Far northern Queensland

Trina with "Tuffy"

All pictures during a Freedom III expedition with cinematographer Ben Cropp, assistant Trina Fleischmann, myself and Ben's sons, Dean and Adam Cropp.

Usually about four weeks is required to cover the distances involved and then return to home at Port Douglas, north of Cairns, Queensland.





Copyright2007 on 13.12.07 @ 06:50 PM AEST [Far northern Queensland">link]

SHALLOW WATER CORALS ..... healthy example

Great Detached Reef



Copyright2007 on 13.12.07 @ 06:42 PM AEST [healthy example">link]

CORALS IN TROUBLE ...... Collage shows mysterious scars

A noted Queensland scientist was unable to explain the cause or injury/damage to these hemispherical corals at Great Detached Reef.

Water depth about eight meters.



Copyright2007 on 13.12.07 @ 06:39 PM AEST [Collage shows mysterious scars">link]

LAGOON UNDERWATER SCENE ...... stag horn coral 'forest'

Great Detached Reef, lagoon side shallows. Stag horn corals and schooling fish.






Copyright2007 on 13.12.07 @ 06:35 PM AEST [stag horn coral 'forest'">link]

HEALTHY CORALS EXAMPLE ...... Snorkel diver near surface

Trina F. - Northern G.B.R. in 2005

Special effects applied here. A section enlarged from an original 35mm film frame.

One of the 'gutters' on the leeward side of Great Detached Reef. Heavy surf breaks across the reef on the weather side. The surf and resulting strong currents forms gutters on the lagoon side of the reef where this picture was made.

The gutters eventually smooth away as water depth increases to about 8 meters, and a sandy lagoon floor begins.

Most tourist divers are shown spots in the sandy lagoons where coral colonies aka bommies are located.

Diving on the weather-side of reefs presents problems for dive guides with strong currents, deep water and difficult anchorages. Yet this is where all true adventures exists, plus the hazards.


Copyright2007 on 13.12.07 @ 06:32 PM AEST [Snorkel diver near surface">link]

TROPIC LOBSTER ...... Northern Great Barrier Reef

Main picture shows the colorful detail surrounding the tropical lobster's eyes.

The last thing a victim might see.

How puzzling for any small creature moments from being a dinner.

This was aboard Ben Cropp's Freedom III during a 4-week long voyage north from Port Douglas.



Copyright2007 on 12.12.07 @ 03:40 PM AEST [Northern Great Barrier Reef">link]

MUTUAL OF OMAHA'S WILD KINGDOM..... in Australia

Tom Allen (top - right) of Gainesville, Florida was a regular assistant in this famous American TV show that ran for decades.

Lower picture shows John Reynolds a local Australian guest invited to participate in the film. John was a founding director of Marineland on the Gold Coast, an original pioneer diver in the same area with friend Ben Cropp.

We were in The Swain Reefs, searching for sea snakes, our eventual destination, Saumarez Reef in The Coral Sea for sharks.

Underwater cameraman - director was Ralph Nelson. I was picking up additional shots of everyone as a second cameraman.

Ron Isbell's original charter boat, Sea Hunt is about to be boarded. It was a successful trip. John C Fairfax came along to help with things too.






Copyright2007 on 11.12.07 @ 09:56 PM AEST [in Australia">link]

UNDERWATER MODELS ....... Christine and Jocelyn

We were anchored in Fitzroy Lagoon for the night with Captain Ron Isbell aboard Tropic Rover.

While the Captain prepared dinner we slipped into the water behind the charter boat. Visibility wasn't exceptional.

Earlier that day I'd photographed the girls at Lamont Reef with beautiful corals and small fish.

Both wore colorful Lycra suits then.

Those pictures have been widely published and today are archived at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority photo library.





Copyright2007 on 11.12.07 @ 03:55 AM AEST [Christine and Jocelyn">link]

FEEDING DOLPIN UNDERWATER

Christine Danaher - Queensland



Copyright2007 on 11.12.07 @ 03:46 AM AEST [link]

HONEY ....... Top model - Byron Bay

Honey did a 'screen test' and looked fantastic as my new underwater model.

This came to a sudden end when a shark killed a young surfer at Byron Bay while we were filming underwater nearby. She lost all interest in being any part of the underwater world after that.




Copyright2007 on 10.12.07 @ 06:19 AM AEST [Top model - Byron Bay">link]

DOUG SMITH ...... Charter boat skipper - who vanished

Doug had a dive shop at Kingscliffe and then Tweed Heads in northern New SOuth Wales when I first knew him.

This picture was Doug at Cairns a few years later. He'd bought a charter boat and was doing well with dive trips.

Spearfishing alone one afternoon out from Cairns, he failed to return. They found his lead belt, maybe with shark teeth marks and his speargun - nothing else.

COMMENT
Doug Smith had a bad habit of spear fishing on scuba and carrying the catch inside his wetsuit. (Peter Bristow, charter boat skipper).







Copyright2007 on 10.12.07 @ 06:09 AM AEST [Charter boat skipper - who vanished">link]

SNAPPER ROCKS ...... big surf day

This is one hundred meters north of the New South Wales/Queensland border. Getting out is not the easy part. Got to admire the courage of the kids. Divers have it easy.



Copyright2007 on 09.12.07 @ 08:08 PM AEST [big surf day">link]

THE GIRL FROM TAIPEI ....... Cairns to Uluru, road trip

Christina Tsai - television journalist



Copyright2007 on 08.12.07 @ 12:24 AM AEST [Cairns to Uluru, road trip">link]

GIRLS IN AUSTRALIA

Copyright2007 on 08.12.07 @ 12:20 AM AEST [link]

JUANITA AND THE STONE FISH ..... another Amity Point Hazard

Copyright2007 on 06.12.07 @ 11:49 PM AEST [another Amity Point Hazard">link]

AMITY POINT ....... A swim along the rocks

1. Amity Point is on the north west corner of North Stradbroke Island, near Brisbane, Queensland.
2. A bull shark (or several sharks) killed a swimmer near where these pictures were taken.
3. The rock wall is man-made to help slow erosion of this great sand island, a bit like Fraser Is.
4. These shots were taken along the wall - popular with scuba learners when the sea is rough elsewhere.
5. The lion fish/butterfly cod (lower picture) is a relation to the stone fish shown with Juanita (below)
6. It's not much of a dive site , yet better than nothing.


Copyright2007 on 06.12.07 @ 02:34 AM AEST [A swim along the rocks">link]

STONE FISH ...... Juanita Fenn at Amity Point, Qld.

An open mouth of this well camouflaged and very dangerous fish was the giveaway.

These fish have grooves running along either side of their spines. Poison comes from a sack at the base, Dr Anne Cameron (University of Queensland) once told me.

They do not have hollow spines as per hyperemic syringes, which is a common mistaken belief.

Juanita Fenn is the daughter of John Fenn - a well-known commercial diver who has worked around the world on oil rigs.



Copyright2007 on 06.12.07 @ 02:12 AM AEST [Juanita Fenn at Amity Point, Qld.">link]

BIG BLUE GROPER ...... at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales

Being fed a sea urchin by Christine Danaher - now a no-no trick


Copyright2007 on 03.12.07 @ 04:35 PM AEST [at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales">link]

CLEAR, WARM WATER ...... Coral Reef lagoon, northern GBR

Self portrait with spider shell, No.3 Ribbon Reef 1988





Copyright2007 on 02.12.07 @ 05:30 PM AEST [Coral Reef lagoon, northern GBR">link]

BOB'S SAUMAREZ WRASSE ...... in color

Bob Grounds photographed by Ron Taylor

Fathom issue number one went on sale in January 1971. The third issue had this stunning (first time published) cover picture from the expedition to Saumarez Reef in 1965.

Why is Saumarez and the other Coral Sea Reef's so unique?

The visibility is twice as clear as anything commonly experienced on the Great Barrier Reef.

The warm deep ocean is a purple blue color as you pass above it.

As for the Maori Wrasse - these great fish are now protected on the Great Barrier Reef and hopefully not on the agenda for blue water spearing trips currently visiting Wreck and Flinders in The Coral Sea.








fathom on 01.12.07 @ 05:09 PM AEST [in color">link]

AUST SKINDIVERS MAG ...... Our Saumarez Reef report

January 1965 issue. Caption for cover:"Bob Grounds of NSW could hardly believe his eyes and no wonder, for this giant wrasse could be a world record as well as a new Australian record. (The photos were taken at night by Ron Taylor due to the shark menace during the day on which it was speared).

During 1950's to 1970, the original Australian Skindivers Magazine - (a voice of the national spear fishing association) published the evolution of underwater adventures.

Originally called USFA - it was a grand era. (Underwater Skin divers and Fisherman's Association). Later renamed AUF, (Australian Underwater Federation).

The scuba division was always small. The AUF was largely a spear fishing association apart from swimming pool stunts called underwater hockey.

Fish 'photography competitions' sought to add an alternative to spearing fish.

Blue water pelagic fish hunting was years into the future.

in 1965 the mood at meetings seemed similar to that of a trade union.

The actual spear fishing competitions failed to change their basic theme fast enough to keep up with the conservation movement.

Membership dwindled while retail shop scuba diving instruction became increasingly popular with the intro of PADI - Professional Association of Diving Instructors (the original overseas title).

The spearing clubs politics proved a stepping stone for at least one diver - Marshall Perron the future Treasurer and later Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.






fathom on 01.12.07 @ 03:55 PM AEST [Our Saumarez Reef report">link]

ADVENTURE ....... Dive trip to Saumarez Reef (October, 1964)

Top L-R Zangari, Taylor, Harding, Muller with live ammunition and steel helmets on FPB
Photo by Bob Grounds

Centre Would you go 250 miles offshore in a fishing boat like Wally Muller's Riversong.

Bottom Ron Zangari alongside the stern gun on Francis Preston Blair at Saumarez Reef.



Copyright2007 on 01.12.07 @ 12:54 AM AEST [Dive trip to Saumarez Reef (October, 1964)">link]

WHALER SHARK PORTRAIT ........ a.k.a. Bull shark

Copyright2007 on 01.12.07 @ 12:33 AM AEST [a.k.a. Bull shark">link]