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Valerie Taylor: An Adventurous Life: The remarkable story of the trailblazing ocean conservationist, photographer and shark expert
At 83 years old, Valerie Taylor has lived a big, bold adventurous life.
Born in Australia, Valerie spent a great deal of her childhood in New Zealand. A talented artist, she dropped out of school when she contracted polio and was saved by Sister Elizabeth Kenny's treatment plan; it was two years before she could walk unaided. When Valerie was fifteen, she found work as an animator and moved back to Australia with her family. All the while she thrived on being close to the ocean, and was a keen spear fisher.
In the 1950s, she met Ron Taylor and then her real adventures started. Together they sailed all over the world, photographing and filming their travels for magazines, TV and movies, and making many documentaries. Valerie and Ron became interested in conservation, and focused on sharks in particular. They did all the shark work on Jaws, and James Cameron decided he wanted to become a filmmaker because of Valerie and her husband.
Valerie is working with the brilliant Ben Mckelvey to share her story of falling in love with the ocean and with her husband, Ron. From trainee animator to Spielberg, from JAWS to BLUE LAGOON, this is the remarkable story of an incredible woman.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
25 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Taylor
11 books2 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Valerie Taylor is an Australian underwater diver and shark expert.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Valerie Taylor is an Australian underwater diver and shark expert.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 19, 2020
This was an amazing book, basically it is just what the subtitle says - a story of a most adventurous life groundbreaking marine filming and diving a truly extraordinary life experience from someone who seems to have enjoyed it to the fullest. The vibrant enthusiasm for life and experience that this amazing woman expresses leaps out of the pages to carry you along on the exciting ride.
Written in the first person, it starts with Valerie's early family years, first in Australia and then in New Zealand during the war. Her early life was in many ways fascinating enough, and included a description of polio that was harrowing. After returning to Australia she did a variety on interesting things, many of them unusual for a woman in the 50's -60's she was an illustrator, an actor and a spear fisher. Even then she describes the longing she always felt for adventure and the out of doors, a longing that developed while reading adventure books while struck immobile with polio.
The book really takes off when she gets together with Ron Taylor and they start living the adventurous life that they are best known for. Diving, before there was real scuba gear, making their own wetsuits, because there was no neoprene industry. Diving the Great Barrier Reef and hundreds of other sites around the world, before the world had heard of them. Developing underwater cameras, flashes, film gear...
It is all thrilling and amazing for a diver and marine biologist to read about but Valerie has such a matter of fact, practical way of telling it that I am certain this book will be entirely accessible to anyone wanting to read it.
Then we reach the sharks. I did not even know that most people mostly associate Ron and Valerie with sharks, but it makes sense when you think about it. The first trialed cage diving with great whites in South Australia, they trialed chain mesh shark protection and worked on Spielberg's famous shark movie Jaws. The level of understanding that Valerie has for these beautiful ancient animals is extensive, and she was instrumental in initiation environmental protections for sharks as well as other marine animals. This book talks a lot about the work they did with sharks on any number of different filming trips and it is exciting and awe inspiring. It made me want to ditch my life and start diving around the globe at once.
There is a strong environmental message, but it is not belabored. Valerie merely state, with painful clarity that it makes her very sad that most people reading this book with never know and never see the beauty the oceans had when she first started diving. That the huge populations of fish and other animals have been decimated by human actions and will probably never return... It is sad, but she does not dwell on it overmuch.
Towards the end, there is a brief description about how the shark diving at Bequa lagoon in Fiji came about, and that was especially interesting to me as I have dived that shark dive and know a couple of the people mentioned in the book. It was really interesting to hear how that dive first developed from a single one or two wary sharks to the dozens of large bull sharks that you can see on that dive these days.
All in all this was a wonderful adventurous autobiography, one that is as exciting as any fiction and has the beautiful advantage of being told by an amazingly humble woman, how many can look back on their life and their marriage and say they loved every moment of it and hold few regrets?
Written in the first person, it starts with Valerie's early family years, first in Australia and then in New Zealand during the war. Her early life was in many ways fascinating enough, and included a description of polio that was harrowing. After returning to Australia she did a variety on interesting things, many of them unusual for a woman in the 50's -60's she was an illustrator, an actor and a spear fisher. Even then she describes the longing she always felt for adventure and the out of doors, a longing that developed while reading adventure books while struck immobile with polio.
The book really takes off when she gets together with Ron Taylor and they start living the adventurous life that they are best known for. Diving, before there was real scuba gear, making their own wetsuits, because there was no neoprene industry. Diving the Great Barrier Reef and hundreds of other sites around the world, before the world had heard of them. Developing underwater cameras, flashes, film gear...
It is all thrilling and amazing for a diver and marine biologist to read about but Valerie has such a matter of fact, practical way of telling it that I am certain this book will be entirely accessible to anyone wanting to read it.
Then we reach the sharks. I did not even know that most people mostly associate Ron and Valerie with sharks, but it makes sense when you think about it. The first trialed cage diving with great whites in South Australia, they trialed chain mesh shark protection and worked on Spielberg's famous shark movie Jaws. The level of understanding that Valerie has for these beautiful ancient animals is extensive, and she was instrumental in initiation environmental protections for sharks as well as other marine animals. This book talks a lot about the work they did with sharks on any number of different filming trips and it is exciting and awe inspiring. It made me want to ditch my life and start diving around the globe at once.
There is a strong environmental message, but it is not belabored. Valerie merely state, with painful clarity that it makes her very sad that most people reading this book with never know and never see the beauty the oceans had when she first started diving. That the huge populations of fish and other animals have been decimated by human actions and will probably never return... It is sad, but she does not dwell on it overmuch.
Towards the end, there is a brief description about how the shark diving at Bequa lagoon in Fiji came about, and that was especially interesting to me as I have dived that shark dive and know a couple of the people mentioned in the book. It was really interesting to hear how that dive first developed from a single one or two wary sharks to the dozens of large bull sharks that you can see on that dive these days.
All in all this was a wonderful adventurous autobiography, one that is as exciting as any fiction and has the beautiful advantage of being told by an amazingly humble woman, how many can look back on their life and their marriage and say they loved every moment of it and hold few regrets?
January 28, 2020
I’m shocked to find that so few people have read or reviewed this book! What an inspiring story from cover to cover filled with adventure, kindness and a zest for life! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about wonderful people doing wonderful things, it brought me so much joy to read!
July 2, 2021
Valerie Taylor has certainly led a very adventurous life and has a real passion for the ocean and the life it supports. While I have watched some of her and Ron’s films, I did not know much about her personal life, so this book enlightened me. The story behind the filming of Jaws was interesting as the movie had such an impact on how sharks were viewed and subsequently treated.
February 7, 2021
After reading this book I can confirm, Valarie has led an adventurous life and the title of the book is appropriate.
I’m thankful for Valerie taking the time to share their story. I think it’s an important story, because compared with the history of humanity there is a relatively narrow window of decades from the time of technology that allowed exploration of the ocean to now, when it’s clear life in the ocean is in decline and nothing like it was just decades ago. And Valerie and Ron’s adventurous life was at the peak of this time, witnessing this changes first hand to remind us what was and how things should be.
As an occasional recreational diver I’ve been fortunate to experience a mere fraction of this adventurous life, enough to appreciate just how amazing and varied the underwater experiences are at least. However I think this book should appeal to anyone interested enough (to be reading this at least) for the behind the scenes experiences while underwater filming for documentaries, TV series and movies.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a news article on the forthcoming movie about Valerie and Ron’s story the day I finished reading this, and look forward to seeing it.
Any easy 5/5 for me, for the book and the adventurous path in life to produce it.
I’m thankful for Valerie taking the time to share their story. I think it’s an important story, because compared with the history of humanity there is a relatively narrow window of decades from the time of technology that allowed exploration of the ocean to now, when it’s clear life in the ocean is in decline and nothing like it was just decades ago. And Valerie and Ron’s adventurous life was at the peak of this time, witnessing this changes first hand to remind us what was and how things should be.
As an occasional recreational diver I’ve been fortunate to experience a mere fraction of this adventurous life, enough to appreciate just how amazing and varied the underwater experiences are at least. However I think this book should appeal to anyone interested enough (to be reading this at least) for the behind the scenes experiences while underwater filming for documentaries, TV series and movies.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see a news article on the forthcoming movie about Valerie and Ron’s story the day I finished reading this, and look forward to seeing it.
Any easy 5/5 for me, for the book and the adventurous path in life to produce it.
August 15, 2023
I can't believe I had never heard of Valerie and Ron Taylor before reading this. Valerie is an incredible woman, brave, stoic and a passionate advocate for the environment (though in her epilogue there was a hint of her not believing climate change is created by humans and there is no acknowledgment of the impact of climate change on coral reefs which is a major omission!). This memoir is difficult reading at times because of thr incredibly selfish behaviour of some humans and their attitude towards other species. Made me despair (not for the first time) about humanity. But there is also a lot of magic in this book and the message that one person can make a difference and get species and areas protected.
February 4, 2021
What a remarkable lady! Obviously this is about her life but what I also found so interesting was how she took you on a journey through history about marine life, conservation, media and even photography which is an interest of mine so all topics together made this truly a wonderful read. It did take me a while to read only because it was my “in between reads” book and was easy to pick back up at anytime and get back into.
February 26, 2021
I have long admired Valerie Taylor.
I was about six years old when I saw her and Ron Taylor’s award winning documentary, Inner Space. My parents taped the documentary and it was always a favourite of mine and my brothers. It was this documentary that initially informed me as a future conservationist, and general left wing being. Without Val I would never have studied political science, and be in the position I am today, in which I get to educate not only my children, but many of the next generation.
To have the opportunity to learn about her life, in lively and fantastic prose was a true honour.
I was about six years old when I saw her and Ron Taylor’s award winning documentary, Inner Space. My parents taped the documentary and it was always a favourite of mine and my brothers. It was this documentary that initially informed me as a future conservationist, and general left wing being. Without Val I would never have studied political science, and be in the position I am today, in which I get to educate not only my children, but many of the next generation.
To have the opportunity to learn about her life, in lively and fantastic prose was a true honour.
February 19, 2023
amazing hard working person…interesting life
Interesting to hear the perspectives of a talented woman growing up in a field dominated by men, and the respect she earned from her passion and views. She was hardy to say the least and fearless, brought a healthy respect, interest and admiration for apex sharks, and to see the demise of our planet through her eyes…is sad too.
I throughly enjoyed her adventures having dived many of these locations myself and appreciated seeing the beauty but also was saddened by seeing their destruction. Look forward to a movie on the lives of the Taylors and their contributions.
Interesting to hear the perspectives of a talented woman growing up in a field dominated by men, and the respect she earned from her passion and views. She was hardy to say the least and fearless, brought a healthy respect, interest and admiration for apex sharks, and to see the demise of our planet through her eyes…is sad too.
I throughly enjoyed her adventures having dived many of these locations myself and appreciated seeing the beauty but also was saddened by seeing their destruction. Look forward to a movie on the lives of the Taylors and their contributions.
Read
April 3, 2020skippy actress goes for a swim, meets the least emotionally available bloke ever, films jaws, hoardes a skeleton from PNG, saves some sharks, purposefully gets bitten by others and teaches me the cool phrase ‘memento mori’. This book serrated-edge rules.
December 12, 2020
As someone who remembers watching Ron & Valerie’s documentaries as a kid in the 70’s I couldn’t pass up a chance to get a signed copy of this. I absolutely loved reading Valerie’s story and was a little sad to finish it. Such an inspiration!
May 10, 2021
This took me so long to read but I’m glad I read it!
Her life was unbelievable and it makes me wonder how she did all this and didn’t get exhausted.. I was exhausted just reading about her life.
Hopefully we all have a love like Valerie and Ron did
Her life was unbelievable and it makes me wonder how she did all this and didn’t get exhausted.. I was exhausted just reading about her life.
Hopefully we all have a love like Valerie and Ron did
March 24, 2022
There are very few books that I will say have made an impact on me like this book has. Her story is absolutely amazing, and I aspire to be a person like her when I "grow up".
If you love the ocean at all, this is a MUST read !
If you love the ocean at all, this is a MUST read !
December 18, 2025
Electrifying. Valerie is an incredible pioneer and her storytelling is probably the best in the country. Without being too depressing she also delivers an important warning to Australians to cherish the gift of the ocean. Best Australian biography I’ve ever read
June 9, 2020
Incredible life, inspiring read.
September 25, 2022
Loved reading all about Val Taylor's adventures - what an amazing life she had.
October 21, 2023
Fascinating read. She really did have a very adventurous life!
April 23, 2024
Such a wonderful story of a truly beautifully adventurous life
October 25, 2025
Valerie’s book is awesome
I enjoyed reading Valerie’s book the story of her and Ron’s life on film and oceanic conservation
I highly recommend this book to anyone to read
I enjoyed reading Valerie’s book the story of her and Ron’s life on film and oceanic conservation
I highly recommend this book to anyone to read
December 1, 2025
An adventurous life and a great read. Highly recommend.
November 9, 2019
Valerie’s lust for life and adventure is infectious!
Her life has been incredibly full of wonders and joys!
I am inspired to ensure I seek out adventure as much as Valerie did in her youth
Her life has been incredibly full of wonders and joys!
I am inspired to ensure I seek out adventure as much as Valerie did in her youth
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews