Asian Diver and Scuba Diver No.6/2014 Volume 135 | Page 9

A HISTORICAL AFFAIR These enlightening limited edition coffee table books offer an exhaustive depiction of the diving world, coupled with stunning artwork and photography. [◀] [▴] Members of The Reefcombers of Ceylon (L–R): Tony Buxton, one of Rodney Jonklaas’s companions, who also explored the wrecks off the coast of Ceylon and filmed the magic of the sea; Turab Jafferjee, an outstanding spearfisherman who helped introduce the sport of spearfishing to Ceylon; Rodney Jonklaas, an authority on marine life and the assistant superintendent of Dehiwala Zoo, Colombo, in the days when the zoo was one of the best in the world Extreme left: Tissa Ariyaratne was a pioneer Reefcomber, as well as a member of the Kinross Swimming and Life Saving Club. A cultured individual, he was a senior bank officer, connoisseur of Western classical music, a fine diver, and a spearfisherman. There are suggestions that Tissa was the first to take underwater photographs in Sri Lankan waters when he constructed a housing for his Kodak camera in 1948 1938 The legendary Vicky Athukorala, who started diving this year, is considered the father of Sri Lankan freediving. He blazed a trail for the country’s other underwater legends, such as Langston Pereira and Tissa Ariyaratne. Get both books for US$65 ORDER NOW AT www.uw3some.com/shop Usual price US$95 7 *Prices do not include cost of postage For more info contact [email protected] 1949 P.K. Bandhusena was a pioneer Sri Lankan commercial diver who joined the Colombo Port Commission in 1949. During the construction of Colombo harbour’s South West Breakwater, his hand got wedged between two gigantic concrete blocks, pinning him to the bottom. He used his diving knife to cut off his own finger, thereby permitting him to surface. Bandhusena epitomises the toughness and courage common to the pioneer divers of Sri Lanka. English Edition 1955 Trevor Ferdinands, famed freediver and scuba diver, made his first finning attempts around 1955. 1992-1993 Between December 1992 and February 1993, Oswald Forbes dived to 91 metres 16 miles off Galle to attach a lifting cable to the anchor of a wave rider buoy to bring it to the surface for its five-year maintenance. Oswald’s equipment was one of the first standard scuba units using compressed air. Sources: Rex I. De Silva, Jewels: A Secret History (Author: Victoria Finlay) Brought to you by Historical Diving Society (Asia) in association with Asian Geographic Society A non-profit, scientific and educational society dedicated to the promotion and conservation of Asia’s environment, culture, history and wildlife.