79. WILD KINGDOM (TV Series USA and the world 1960s and beyond)

Very large Tiger shark, late afternoon, pursuaded Ralph Nelson to cancel our night dive - but only at the last minute with everyone suited up and ready for the dive.

This post in not complete. (Under construction)

Wild Kingdom was a long-running television series shown in many countries including Australia.  The team of three or four Americans would invite one or two local experts to join their proposed expedition.   These pictures are from the first of two expeditions myself (John Harding) was involved with.  My purpose was to pick up 16mm film shots which could be used as cut-a-ways.  It was a dual expedition - shark filming in The Coral Sea at Saumarez Reef.  Sea Snakes closer to shore in the remote Swain Reefs east of Gladstone.

Gold Coast diver and a co-owner of a former Gold Coast oceanarium,John Reynolds. John Reynolds was the Wild Kingdom Australian contact for these productions.  John chartered a local Gold Coast vessel for the risky travel a long distance travel offshore.  In 1971 weather forecasting was primitive and GPS was still a few years from being available.

A squall upon our arrival at Saumarez Reef was not a good sign.

The WWII Liberty ship 'USS Francis Preston Blair' was still sufficiently intact to allow us to explore the top deck.  Today the wreck has disintegrated into a pile of rusty metal.

Tom Allen was the young sidekick assistant for the host, Marlin Perkins.  Tom's resume at SSI Pro5000 is impressive.  UDT Navy Diver, stand-in on the Sea Hunt underwater series and son of Ross Allen who had an animal theme park in Florida.

I remember early travel footage in cinemas featuring Ross Allen 'wrestling' a huge python underwater in crystal conditions.  Dramatic footage in the 1950s.

Wild Kingdom's Sea Snake documentary (1971) 'Voyage to the Coral Sea'

Wild Kingdom's Coral Sea Night Dive documentary.

Both films feature John Reynolds (below) a Director of Marineland, Southport  Qld. (later taken over by Sea World).

A chance meeting with Sea Hunt in The Swain Reefs.  John Reynolds about to hop aboard and say hello to skipper Ron Isbell, an old friend from their spear fishing days.   Sea Hunt was to be chartered by WK for future expeditions.

Wild Kingdom brought a flimsy shark cage to Saumarez Reef.  Quite useless.

Olive sea snake in The Swain Reefs.  Dangerous species.

Deep night diving at Saumarez Reef, despite the presence of a large Tiger shark yet to be seen.

Stokesi sea snake - a large species.  Dangerous but sluggish too.

Dr. Marlin Perkins (centre)

John Reynolds (Marineland Australia) up front in the dinghy. 
Cameraman Ralph J. Nelson II (far right)