Tales of ship wrecks, WWII ruins, and more…

Chris Leonard, writer

Biography

Chris Leonard spent ten years in Papua New Guinea, from the 1970s to the early 1980s in Bougainville, and in Rabaul, East New Britain, where he scuba-dived and hiked. These islands saw intensive and protracted fighting during WWII and evidence of the past is never far away. Whether diving in the deep blue or trekking through the bush, with the permission of villagers, Chris researched and documented the artifacts, ships, and relics he came across.

Chris has written some short stories about those experiences. We hope you enjoy them.

Saltwater Tales

by Chris Leonard

Featured
Relics from the Hatsuyuki
Relics from the Hatsuyuki

These are works of art and are very special. Much angst went into retrieving them because, unlike merchant shipping where portholes are bolted on, these have 14 rivets to the hull.

In search of the Hatsuyuki
In search of the Hatsuyuki

A story about a shipwreck dive in south Bougainville in 1975.

My good friend Ray Leddick and I left Kieta before daylight to travel more than 100 km down the east coast of Bougainville Island in my 13-foot ‘tinny’. Our destination was the south coast of Bougainville, very close to the Solomon Islands border …

Turtle Tales
Turtle Tales

Coochiemudlo Island is fortunate to have a dedicated and trained crew who act as first responders to rescue and deal with injured or dead turtles on and around our island.

Slave Trade ‘bracelet money’ found on our local beach
Slave Trade ‘bracelet money’ found on our local beach

Found at low tide by Chris Leonard: a Manilla that was used as a form of currency to trade slaves. But how did it end up on a beach on Coochiemudlo Island?