The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-02-25
Local Diver Tells Of Underwater Work In Disney Movie
Cast Consists
OF Marine Life
Together With
Human Beings


Eddie Ciesinski, Key West
diver who has been in Mas
sau for two months helping
film a Walt Disney picture,
today sent photos and a let
ter to The Citizen.
CieskinSh, who lives at so4 ST.
monitor St, has been working with
TIL Gabbani. underwater photo
grapher. Both men also worked
on the filming of Twelve Mile Reef,
part Of which was made here.
The photos which cissinski
sent were taken by IedF. {. A.
Hooper, who does underwater re-
search for Tho Navy. Ledr. Hoop
or was in Key West for about Q
month shortly before last Christ.
mas.
In his letter, CieSinSk wrote:
Twenty Thousand Leagues Un-
der the Sea. from the book of the
same name by Jules Verne, is a
live action feature length picture
by Walt Disney Productions, star
ring Kirk Douglas, James Mason
and Peter LORE. II is now being
filmed in Nassau for some of the
underwater scenes.
The director Of This picture Is
Richard Flsiseher, well known
for his work. The underwater
photography Is by Till Gsbbsni.
the underwater eamersman re.
sponsibls for the great under.
water scenes IN HE pictures,
Frogmsn and Under The II Mile
Reef. Till will be remembered in
Key West by many Of the people
no met while working on II Mile
Reef.
This picture Is the most fantasia
attempt to capture the beauty of
the world below the sea that a
human mind could ever conceive.
At least ne+third of the picture
will be Photographed underwater.
The crystal clear waters of the
Bahamas have never known such
weirdnesS and masSed conglomera-
ton of eerie creatures and strange
lOokig equipment.
The picture when finished viii
place before the public the biggest
underwater scenes ever attempted.
At times, as many as thirty.five
divers, swimmers and aqualungers
were required in the water at the
same time.
Safety was the first considers.
tion Of the operation. Lifssuards
both underwater and on Top were
constantly on the alert for any
sign Of trouble. A portable de.
compression chamber and q res
Useitator were also ready u any
time for . possible mishap.
Freddie Zendar, well known Hod-
lywood underwater specialist and
a former Master Diver of the U. S.
Navy must be given credit for the
detailed diving operations.
Walt DiSney'S artists created the
requirements for a special, self
contained diving suit which could
be worn by the crew of J. Verne's
famous submarine, Nautilus" II
was Zendan's background and ex-
perience that made tins suit pos
sible.
Diving operations were 50 OK.
tensiVs that an average Ct 10000
cubic feet Of congresses air was
used daily. II may be an interest.
ing point at his time 10 note that
single Aqua Lung rank con.
tains only 70 cubic feet Of com.
pressed air.
This consumption required the
use of two special air compressors. .
which were shipped 10 Nassau
from the States and installed with
much difficulty to supply all AIR
needs. 1t took $50 large go Gu. #.
tanks always on reserve. Even the
underwater cameras breathe, each
having a miniature aqualtmg as
Iprt of the equipment. The regua-
tor on the camera produces 8
pounds inside pressure at any
depth.
The totaI crew consisted Of %
humans. 5000 srovpers, 1000 angel
fish, 500 Holsters, u large STING
rays, IS large turtles, 100 star.
fish, and 900 eonehs. The last
for food purposes.
A converted Let and an Lem
were used as the main camera
and personnel boats, plus four
other smaller craft. PhotographersI
and writer's from Life, Look, Pas
cant, This Week, and the news.
paper syndicateS were sent to Mas.
iSau to cover this underwater ex.
trAvagan1a.