<strong>Underwater trailblazer:</strong> Pioneering Australian diver Valerie Taylor has developed such a strong understanding of sharks that she was pictured magazine with her arm in the mouth of an apex predator while wearing a chain mail suit in 1982.
Underwater trailblazer: Pioneering Australian diver Valerie Taylor has developed such a strong understanding of sharks that she was pictured magazine with her arm in the mouth of an apex predator while wearing a chain mail suit in 1982.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Hunting past: </strong>Taylor began spearfishing while she was in her 20s, but gave it up to focus on capturing marine life on camera with her husband Ron Taylor, who she married in 1963.
Hunting past: Taylor began spearfishing while she was in her 20s, but gave it up to focus on capturing marine life on camera with her husband Ron Taylor, who she married in 1963.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Shark tales</strong>: Taylor's fascinating life is the subject of a new documentary from National Geographic Films,"Playing With Sharks."
Shark tales: Taylor's fascinating life is the subject of a new documentary from National Geographic Films,"Playing With Sharks."
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Swimsuit factor:</strong> "We [Ron and I] learned that if I swam around with the sharks in a bikini, it would sell better than if there was no person in the picture," Taylor tells CNN Travel.
Swimsuit factor: "We [Ron and I] learned that if I swam around with the sharks in a bikini, it would sell better than if there was no person in the picture," Taylor tells CNN Travel.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Seeking sharks: </strong>"Every weekend, we'd be out on the water, trying to find sharks and film them. They [theaters and news channels weren't interested in other marine animals. They were just interested in sharks. "
Seeking sharks: "Every weekend, we'd be out on the water, trying to find sharks and film them. They [theaters and news channels weren't interested in other marine animals. They were just interested in sharks. "
Ron & Valerie Taylor
The couple filmed hours and hours of underwater footage over the years, including Taylor befriending a moray eel in 1970.
The couple filmed hours and hours of underwater footage over the years, including Taylor befriending a moray eel in 1970.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Hollywood offer: </strong>They got their big when they were asked to film live shark footage for the movie "Jaws," based on the novel by author Peter Benchley. Here Valerie and Ron Taylor are pictured in front of a shark cage with Benchley and cinematographer Stan Waterman.
Hollywood offer: They got their big when they were asked to film live shark footage for the movie "Jaws," based on the novel by author Peter Benchley. Here Valerie and Ron Taylor are pictured in front of a shark cage with Benchley and cinematographer Stan Waterman.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>No brainer:</strong> "The best way to make money in those days, and probably even now still, was working for Hollywood," Taylor says of saying "yes" to working on "Jaws".
No brainer: "The best way to make money in those days, and probably even now still, was working for Hollywood," Taylor says of saying "yes" to working on "Jaws".
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Camera action</strong>: Valerie and Ron Taylor, seen on the set of "Jaws" with director Steven Spielberg and actor Roy Scheider in 1974, also appeared in the film as extras.
Camera action: Valerie and Ron Taylor, seen on the set of "Jaws" with director Steven Spielberg and actor Roy Scheider in 1974, also appeared in the film as extras.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>"Jaws" mania: </strong>She admits to being taken aback when they realized the impact the movie had on the public's perception of sharks.
"Jaws" mania: She admits to being taken aback when they realized the impact the movie had on the public's perception of sharks.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Fear factor: </strong>"We did all sorts of talk shows, telling people not to be afraid," says Taylor."But it seems the average person likes to have a monster out there."
Fear factor: "We did all sorts of talk shows, telling people not to be afraid," says Taylor."But it seems the average person likes to have a monster out there."
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Screen queen:</strong> Taylor is still astounded that she and her husband managed to make a living while traveling the world, diving to the depths of the ocean and capturing it all on film.
Screen queen: Taylor is still astounded that she and her husband managed to make a living while traveling the world, diving to the depths of the ocean and capturing it all on film.
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Life of adventure:</strong> "I've had the best life of anybody I know," says Taylor. "It's been different to what my parents thought I'd have. But I think I'm one of the luckiest people in the world."
Life of adventure: "I've had the best life of anybody I know," says Taylor. "It's been different to what my parents thought I'd have. But I think I'm one of the luckiest people in the world."
Ron & Valerie Taylor
<strong>Dedicated to diving:</strong> "I would have stopped, probably [if I'd had children], but Ron needed me," she says. "He needed someone on camera, and I was the subject of his documentaries all through our lives."
Dedicated to diving: "I would have stopped, probably [if I'd had children], but Ron needed me," she says. "He needed someone on camera, and I was the subject of his documentaries all through our lives."
Ron & Valerie Taylor