Bronson Hartley, May 6th 1920 - December 3rd 2007. "Days Gone BY"

THE TRIBUNE
PAGE 8, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2007
LOCAL NEWS
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frotll the depths
This week, In Days Gone By; looks back at
the life of Bronson Hartley, who died in Florida
on December 3 at age 87.
Born in 1920 in New York, Bronson was the
son of a doctor who served in World War 1.
Age the of 10, Bronson moved with his mother and brother Bob to Bermuda. He graduated
from the American School of Paris, 1939.
As a young man, Bronson worked five years
with Dr William Beebe, the famous ichthyologist
and underwater explorer, who was known for his
half-mile dive in the Bathysphere in the 1930s.
In 1942, Bronson enlisted in the US military in
Bermuda, running air sea rescue boats. He
received the Soldier's Metal for heroism not
involving actual conflict, by direction of President Truman. The metal was given for swimming
late at night in high seas, at the end of an airstrip
to rescue bomber crash victims.
In 1948, in Bermuda, Bronson, with the help of
his wife Martica, started the,first helmet diving
tourist operation and made one of the first 35mm
colour undersea movies, called 'Main Street
Undersea".
It was Bronson's invention of the underwater
casing that made the movie possible to film. Bronson and Martica had two sons, Christopher and
Gregory.
In 1958, they converted a US military Liberty
launch to an ocean going motor sailor and arrived
in Nassau, Bahamas.
This was a perfect time, as Bahamian tourism
had been affected by the bad publicity of the
General Strike and therefore needed a boost.
Hartley's Undersea Walk was a star attraction
and numerous articles were written in the local
and international publications, one being Life
Magazine.
The Hartleys opened the count.ry's first aquarium, which was located on East Street in Nassau.
Operating helmet diving in Bermuda and Nassau; Bronson continued the businesses in 1960s
with his second wife, Harriet.
Bronson now had two step daughters, Bonnie
and Connie, who he loved dearly.
'
Over the years Bronson, had personally taken
more than 125,000 tourists for a helmet walk
,undersea.
Guests not only enjoyed a marine biology
course but were able to watch Bronson interact
with is trained fish: Harry the grouper, Helen
the angelfish, Themtore the hogfish, and George
the grunt.
Bronson Hartley was a man of many talents
being an undersea photographer, movie maker
and an accomplished water colour artist.
He was proud that both his sons, Christopher
and Gregory, followed in his footsteps operating the Undersea Walk in Bermuda and Nassau.
"Bronson's big smile and wonderful spirit will
be missed and always," said his fam.ily.
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Bronson and Harriet (2nd wife) at Nassau Yacht Haven 1962. Standing in front the Tropic
Rover, largest catamaran which was in the movie "Thunderball"
The Carioca Nassau bound from Bermuda 1958 Christmas card.
-.----------------------- THE TRIBUNE
LOCA
Bronson with George the Grunt
SATURDAY, DECEMBE,R 8,2007, PAGE 9
EWS
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Sons Christophel
and Gr"gury
in 19bO
1963: the opening of Nassau's first Aquarium