Valerie Taylor: An Underwater Life

The first great white shark I saw was like a freight train coming out of the mist… it was magnificent.

Valerie Taylor

Exhibition now open!

Dive into the remarkable world of an Australian marine pioneer

Valerie Taylor AM has recorded the marine environment and shared her knowledge with the public for over 60 years, staunchly advocating for better protection of the ocean, its animals and their habitats.

Celebrated globally, Valerie has become one of the most iconic underwater storytellers, shark researchers and conservationists and paved the way for future generations of divers, filmmakers and environmentalists.

This exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the life of Valerie Taylor. Through objects and images from the museum's collection, Valerie Taylor: An Underwater Life showcases the work of Valerie and her husband Ron and their significant contributions to marine conservation, diving and underwater filming.

Highlights of the exhibition include Valerie and Ron Taylor’s cameras and underwater housings, Valerie’s iconic blue fins and dive suit, and the stainless-steel chainmail suit she wore to get up close and personal with sharks, movie posters from over four decades working in Hollywood, from Jaws to The Island of Dr Moreau, and over 500 images from our collection of animals, people, places now under threat.

Valerie Taylor is a changemaker, and like her, many others are making a positive change for the ocean and its inhabitants. The exhibition also includes a wall of Ocean Changemakers, recognising innovators working across industry, community, start-ups, policy and science to create a brighter future for all of us.

Visit

This exhibition is open now. Visit for Free at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

The three most important things you need to do to get results are: take the pictures, get the story right, and contact the media.

Valerie Taylor

Valerie and Ron on a boat — ANMS1456[144]
*© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

Valerie Diving — ANMS1457[103]
*© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

Valerie and Seal — ANMS1457[315]
*© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

Valerie Taylor and Fish — ANMS1462[155]
*© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

Valerie on a beach holding a camera — ANMS1469[627]
*© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

Thanks

The museum wishes to acknowledge the generous support of Valerie Taylor, AM.

All images in the exhibition are Australian National Maritime Museum Collection, donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor. © Ron and Valerie Taylor

Diver and the reef — *© Ron and Valerie Taylor*

About Valerie

Valerie May Taylor, AM was born in Sydney, Australia on 9 November 1935. When she was 12 years old, she contracted polio. She credits her recovery—and subsequent thirst for adventure—to the stories she read whilst bedridden. Her favourite books were Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

A natural in the water, Valerie soon learned to snorkel and catch fish for her father to eat. Her mother always told her that she could do whatever she put her mind to, so she did. In the early 1960s, Valerie met spearfishing champion and aspiring underwater filmmaker Ron Taylor.

Ron and Valerie Taylor took the underwater world by storm. Before long they began filming and producing for television, print media and Hollywood. Together, they were pioneers: as divers, creators, communicators and innovators of underwater filming techniques and equipment housings – and as ocean advocates.

Throughout her life, Valerie would follow her own path. In the process she become one of the most visible underwater storytellers, shark whisperers and conservationists in the world. She is an Australian icon. The objects and images in this exhibition share just a few moments from her extraordinary story. We hope it inspires you to be a changemaker in your own way, too.