75. TERRITORIAL SHARK DISPLAY (Avon Isles, 1971)

Roy Bisson swim flippers record a hasty retreat.

Grey Reef shark (at the time commonly referred to as a Coral Sea Whaler shark by Ron Taylor and I) made repeated charges at us while being filmed by two cameras. 

Shark could have bitten except we concluded the intention was for us to leave the area.  Shark was defending reef territory.  

Most likely explanation was we were first free divers at Avon Isles (commonly referred to by myself is other publications as the Chesterfield Reefs (for simplicity in the 10-pages newspaper series documenting this voyage). 

TSMV Coralita had untaken this expedition to French Territory in The Coral Sea.  Months later Taylor's Innerspace TV series episode titled  Ruby Thatcheri detailed this expedition. as a search for a valueable and therefore rare sea shell known to exist in the region. 

                                       Volute thatcheri (centre)
 

Sea Frontiers magazine (publication of The International Oceanographic Foundation, Miami, USA) published the details in an article by myself.

Despite being injured by a non-lethal defensive spear attack by ny father JM Harding, the small shark persisted with territorial rushes or charges - filmed in 16mm.

Freediving with this shark were  R.Ibara Ph.D;  R.Bisson (Fathom magazine);  JM Harding (senior);  A.Murayama and myself.

TSMV Coralita.  79 feet. Twin engines. Four crew, 16 guests - later reduced to maximum 12 guests.  Launched in 1969.  Pioneered international guests for 10-day live-aboard scuba expeditions to The Coral Sea.  Bay Travel, See and Sea, La Mer Diving Expeditions and others including Fathom magazine (Australia).

Gannet has not seen many human visitors.

As the editor Fathom magazine

Ron and Val examine 35mm footage.

Captain-owner of TSMV Coralita, WG Muller in 1971