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SANBI tribute to diver Peter Timm
20 June 2014
Peter Timm was an experienced CMAS diving instructor and a pioneer of deep mixed gas diving at Sodwana Bay and in wider Southern Africa. Peter started trimix diving in 1991 and started Triton Dive Lodge in 1994.
The deep water close to shore led Peter to Sodwana to pursue technical diving and exploration, first in Wright Canyon and later in other canyons and deep reef habitats in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Practice, safety and building the deep water knowledge base were key elements in the trimix experience for Peter and the South African divers he has built up the sport with.
The latter element was of most importance to Peter, who never dived for the record or the t-shirt but rather to contribute to the big picture, marine science and the exploration of ocean biodiversity. Peter has undertaken many expeditions into the coelacanth habitat at Sodwana and beyond, with more than 300 dives beyond 100 m, 49 in 2013.
Fondly remembered
He collected the first biological specimens from the submarine canyons in 1998, discovered the coelacanths in 2000 and provided many new species records for the Park in the last 15 years. Peter has always shared his experience and knowledge, kept good records, photographed many individual coelacanths and other species including several algae, invertebrates and fish that are new to science.
Peter’s links with science also extend into shallow water where he has facilitated research on seaweed biodiversity, sponges, coral bleaching and monitoring, benthic macrofauna, echinoderm biodiversity, sea turtle research, fish surveys and even oceanography. To date Peter has seen 50 coelacanths, eyeball-to-eyeball and in their own element. South African marine science has benefited from the passion and abilities of this exceptional person.
Kerry Sink, SANBI’s Marine Programme Manager has worked with Peter for 14 years. “He delivered extraordinary support services for marine research and had a reputation for innovation, dedication and working beyond expectation” she said.
“Peter could fix most things and loved to help, to learn new things and to take things forward. He had incredible skills, energy, insight and humour. He was a dive instructor, skipper, electrician, pilot, builder, photographer, conservationist, leader, friend, brother, partner and father“. Kerry never left a field trip facilitated by Peter and his staff without the full set of required data!
An inspiration to many in the field
In 2013, 75 years after the original coelacanth discovery in East London, Peter received an award for his exceptional contribution to marine science. In March 2014, Peter led a mixed gas diving expedition to document fish and other deep sea biodiversity in the canyons and deep reefs in KwaZulu-Natal.
Many of his observations and records – including coelacanths were loaded onto i-Spot – SANBI’s citizen science platform. Peter attended the launch of the SeaKeys project later that month– a new collaborative research project that includes public participation in marine science.
His many discoveries have helped to inspire others to contribute to marine research through observations and photographs. He will be missed by many in the South African and international research arena.
- According to reports, Peter died on Wednesday, 18 June 2014 after aborting a dive at 60m. He was one of three divers who had been working to recover a piece of equipment that had fallen off a research vessel Aliwal Shoal in KwaZulu-Natal.
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