Having a dive off Port Douglas on a shipwreck found by a prawn trawler when it’s net became snagged. The mysterious object was a very old steel ship sitting in 24 meters of water. Prawn nets had smashed the masts off. The wreck was not considered newsworthy
From left, John Harding. Peter West, Dale Chapman and boat owner, Ben Cropp.
Peter West is one of the very few people who viewed the last video footage of Steve Irwin (The Croc Hunter). Peter would have seen Steve ripping the stingray barb from his chest as recorded by the underwater camera. Otherwise the scene has been viewed by very few people and will never been commercialized.
Dale Chapman has an extensive underwater career, especially with cultured pearl diving and farming.
Ben Cropp is an underwater explorer and shipwreck hunter, amongst other talents. He has produced more than 100 documentaries for TV release. (I’ve appeared in several of the more recent – as an assistant and deckhand aboard Freedom III).
When grey nurse sharks became scare off Australia’s east coast, filming the sharks in aquariums became the next best thing. A USA TV special featuring pop stars required some shark shots, filmed by a diver inside the tank. It was a new approach at the time. My assistant Jocelyn met the star of the show. Can you tell who it is? The Rhinestone Cowboy himself.
We dived inside this fishing vessel. The masts were visible above water. Located in a treacherous area of the southern Coral Sea and Tasman Sea boundary. Further south is Lord Howe Island.
