Shark guard in the 1978/9 visit.  In both this and the earlier two Joint Services expeditions, shark guards led each dive.  Given the density of sharks at that time, this was a necessary way to go about diving.  The 'bang-sticks' had a 0.303 round in the tip, but although sharks were sometimes prodded, the safety catches were always on.  By the time of the 1996 visit, sharks were very much fewer, both here and throughout the Indian Ocean.  Which was just as well as that visit was not a military one, so had somewhat less access to exploding gagets.  We did have a broken chair leg in case of emergency, however.
