Captain and 2nd owner of the world famous charter boat Coralita, was Alby Ziebell. He purchased the vessel from legendary pioneer Wally Muller and ran international dive trips from 1985 to 1991, a professional operation specialising with The Coral Sea destinations.
Initially the home port was Yeppoon, Queensland. Alby soon realised that the northern city of Cairns had more potential and an international airport so the family moved there. Wife Irene, children Ian and Rickki. Among his more significant underwater discoveries were schooling hammerhead sharks at Osprey Reef.
Previously in Tasmania, while working as a professional abalone diver he found a small bottom-dwelling hand fish he later collected and studied. A previously unknown species it's now called Zeibell's Hand Fish.
Also an accomplished uw photographer his beautiful pictures were in demand especially by high quality publishers
Alby died while returning from a fishing safari to remote country north of Cairns. After quitting dive tours he had turned his skills toward tackle fishing. Like everything this was mastered and Alby became a recognised authority in that field as well, with many friends and admirers. Alby had a regular radio spot, ran marlin fishing expeditions and boat charters and enjoyed the ecological enjoyment of catch and release fishing.
He began exploring The Coral Sea aboard his new vessel and soon turned it into the best international boat of it's kind, catering to leading divers. He was able to concentrate his extra time on underwater photography and was soon achieving the very top quality results from macro to very wide angle, including the first schooling hammerhead sharks at Osprey Reef.
Coralita was not so fortunate. The first mishap occurred when a giant US warship accidentally squashed the tied-up vessel against Cairns wharf while attempting a difficult turn around. After months of repairs Coralita later caught fire on her first voyage, electrical wiring short-circuiting at sea. But worse was yet to come.
Just days before departure for months of pre-paid dive charter work in New Guinea, a mysterious explosion in the sealed engine room sent Coralita to the bottom of Cairns Harbour in seconds. Alby was cleared of involvement in the accident - although waterfront rumours always blame any maritime accident on the owners desiring an insurance payout. Construction for a newer and bigger vessel were 90% complete but another financial disaster occurred when the builder was declared bankrupt and everything was lost in the legal mine-field which followed.
 |
Alby then turned his talents to angling and soon became a recognised authority and with a weekly radio slot and many fishing friends. Anglers comprised 95% of the vast crowd who attended his funeral. Alby died from heart complications while returning from a fishing trip up the coast with his mates.
 |
| Pictures taken from aboard Tropic Rover (Great Keppel Island area) and Coralita (The Cod Hole). |
 |
| Giant clam on northern Great Barrier Reef, Crown of Thorns starfish in Fitzroy Lagoon (Capricorn and Bunker Group) aboard Tropic Rover. |
 |
| The Coral Sea locations Bougainville Reef and Osprey Reef aboard Coralita with Captain Alby Ziebell |
.JPG)
