By thejohnharding ( June 29, 2009 at 9:46 am) · Filed under Dive Charter Captains, Fathom magazine (1971-1973), Fun, Sharks, The Coral Sea, UW Photography, Video & Movie, Your Own Peril, chesterfield reef, dr richard ibara, French territory of the pacific, grey reef whaler, john michael harding senior, live volute thatcheri, roy bisson, territorial shark behavior, the coral sea
Captain Wally Muller navigated using a sextant, the era pre GPS
Divers, John M Harding (senior) and Roy Bisson (on right)
This was the longest voyage undertaken by the famous charter boat in 1971. Newly launched the boat was 79′ in length and had accommodation for 16 divers (later reduced to 12), plus a crew of four.
The lure for such a voyage was shell collecting, a search for the rare volute thatcheri. Half the charter cost was paid by shell collectors. I was sponsored by a tabloid newspaper to write and photograph five stories that could be serialized over one week.
Text written especially for divers would be published in Fathom No.6 issue. Art director and diver, Roy Bisson being on the voyage.
From San Francisco the late Dewey Bergman (Sea and Sea Travel) was scouting on this voyage for what would become regular parties of American divers and underwater cameramen. The world was about to discover diving Australian style. The future voyages would not involve so much traveling time.
Marion Reef was the new inshore destination, still in The Coral Sea and today almost unvisited due to fuel cost considerations.
The Chesterfield Reef trip was our most memorable. Near perfect weather and a good crew of professional divers. For further information, including names of shipwrecks at Chesterfield Reef, see Wikipedia.org
Roy Bisson swim fins (flippers) were filmed simultaneously by my movie camera and another by Richard Ibara. This was Chesterfield Reef at it’s best. Grey Reef sharks were territorial with these displays as they probably had not encountered divers before.
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By thejohnharding ( December 19, 2007 at 4:26 pm) · Filed under Ben Cropp Explorer, Marine Science, The Coral Sea, ashmore reef queensland, ben cropp, the coral sea
**Surf zone near shipwreck site \\The Sun\\, in The Coral Sea**
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By JohnH ( June 9, 2006 at 10:04 am) · Filed under Australian Legends, Great Barrier Reef, Hero of the Sea, The Coral Sea, the coral sea, wally muller
We often mention the former charter boat Coralita and her captain, (the late) Wally King of the Coral Sea Muller. Our stories are far from being complete as more pictures are being found regularly. (See more in ARCHIVES).
Pictured here with second wife Denise who was the chef aboard having acquired those skills working on a Barrier Reef island resort.
Coralita was sold and much later lost for some years following an accident. She has been restored and now operates under a new name, Bell Cay. The boat went aground within The Swain Reefs on 11 August 2010.
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By thejohnharding ( March 25, 2005 at 4:07 pm) · Filed under Australian Legends, Fish Pictures, Seafood, The Coral Sea, spear fishing, the coral sea
A freediving holiday aboard the famous **\\Coralita\\** to the very remote Chesterfield Islets and Reefs (in The Coral Sea) was the most enjoyable times my late Dad enjoyed, he recently told me. Here he admires a healthy coral trout which we dined on that evening, thanks to **Capt. Wally Muller.**
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