DIVE LOG JUNE 2025 issue 412

stayed for an hour, but the water was too cold for a longer demonstration and he thought the fellows working the motor air pump might get tired.” During the next decade, Merv Taylor became the resident keeper of the Gellibrand Pile Light, a short distance off shore from Williamstown, in the port of Melbourne. The very large wooden pile lighthouse, was a famous landmark until it burnt down in the 1970s. Merv lived on the light house during the 1940s with his wife and two children, who commuted to school each day by boat. During his time on the lighthouse, Merv constructed a more robust diving hel met and was back to his old tricks in the waters below the pilings of the lighthouse. The “Mintie” tin version had been replaced by a small oil-drum version, with the same lead weight system back and front, and a large rectangular win dow in front. Only a couple of poor-quality images survive and are presented with this report. Merv’s diving attire con sisted of a dark pair of dungarees, a dark woollen pull-over and the oil-drum helmet. About 20M of air piping, fed by a small motor pump gave him a wide range. During each dive, Merv attached a thin rope around his waist, which allowed his wife to tender for him and read his signals from below. The rope also allowed him to pull himself up, off the bottom. A reporter from the ‘Port of Melbourne Quarterly’ magazine described Merv’s underwater escapades in 1948 thus: “… in the helmet, he goes down 25 and 30ft (7-9M) below the surface of the Gellibrand Pile Light. He walks along the bot tom as you or I would walk along the city streets. Some times he stays down for half an hour, or forty minutes.” Using a small spear, Merv usually managed to get a feed of fish under the lighthouse and was able to return home to enjoy a fresh fish meal in his residence above. If you would like more information about diving pioneers, contact the Historical Diving Society Australia-Pacific by email at: info@historicaldivingsociety.com.au or visit our website www.historicaldivingsociety.com.au or Facebook https://m.facebook.com/groups/120950924589540/

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DIVE LOG Australasia #412 - June‘25

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