Started spearfishing around 1956
Started SCUBA diving around 1958
Some activities as a commercial diver (from 1968 to 1984).
Qualified for Colombo Port Commission Commercial Divers’ Licence in 1968.
Chief diver:
Mobile Marine Engineering Company, Colombo 1968 – 1974.
Manager
Underwater Division: Premier Engineers, Colombo 1974 – 1986.
Removal of marine fouling from 44 cargo vessels including the Supertanker M/t. “San Juan Vanguard” (165,000 tons) - the largest vessel to dock in Colombo Harbour at the time - using Hydraulic underwater hull-cleaning equipment.
Stern tube
sealing of several vessels in the Port of Colombo
Repaired the
damaged underwater section of the hull of M/v “Pulawy” (20,000 tons) preventing
it from sinking in Colombo Harbour.
Underwater
repairs to Japanese HOKO fishing company’s fleet of vessels in the Maldives in
the 1970s.
Used oxy-arc
underwater cutting equipment in salvaging cargo of mining equipment from the
“Wombat” sunk off Nilweli Point.
Refloated
trawler “Maple Leaf” sunk in Colombo Harbour.
Recovered
main anchor of M/v. “Drachenfels” (30,000 tons) lost in silt in Colombo Harbour.
Underwater
sealing of the scour gate and main outlet at Hasalaka tank (reservoir).
Underwater
sealing of main outlet of Maduru Oya reservoir.
Annual removal
of underwater obstructions from the main intakes at Kelanitissa power plant
(1970s).
Search for and
Recovery of drowned corpses.
Underwater
search and recovery operations.
Training of
individuals for commercial diving operations.
Numerous other diving and salvage operations.
Sport Diving
Honorary
Secretary and Spearfishing Captain of the “Reefcombers of Ceylon” diving club
in the 1960s and '70s.
Began
underwater photography in November
1967.
Spearfishing
Captain of Kinross Swimming & Life Saving Club 1974.
Largest fish
speared 115 lb Ray.
In 1970s held Reefcombers’ SCUBA depth record at 240 feet in Trincomalee submarine canyon.
Scientific activities
Researched sharks and marine life since 1968. Documented 22 species of sharks which were previously not recorded from Sri Lanka.
Conducted 13 year landmark study on seabird migration.
Author of 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers, book chapters and other publications on Sri Lankan marine life.
Author of
THE SHARKS OF SRI LANKA 2015.
Currently writing a “History of Diving in Sri Lanka”
Other:
Logged an estimated 8,000 - 10,000 dives on both commercial operations and sport diving from 1956 to 2020.
Listed in ‘Who’s
who of Sri Lanka’ (volume II).
Other
Interests and activities:
Observational astronomer. Former (volunteer) lunar occultations observer for the United States Naval
Observatory (USNO) Station reference SXT94. Current observer/photographer of solar activity.
Fellow of the Linnean Socirty of London (FLS).
Member of the Institute of Biology Sri Lanka, (MIBiol)
Holder of advanced Black-belt degree
in Shotokan Karate and holder of Master Instructor’s certification (SHIHAN) in martial arts.
Comments
· “I have known Rex I De Silva for over two decades and admire his work and accomplishments in underwater exploration, wildlife and astronomy”. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, Chancellor University of Moratuwa. 29 September 2001.
· “Mr. Rex De Silva, ‘Renaissance Man’, Naturalist, Environmentalist, Deep Sea Diver, Birder, Martial Arts expert and Scholar is as unusual as they come”. Vidya Jyoti Ashley de Vos, President of the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (1999-2000). 8th October 2001.
· “[Rex De Silva] is a person with an excellent knowledge of the ocean, land and sky”. Professor Sarath Kotagama, University of Colombo.
Awards
Abacus Institute: Honorary Diploma for “Outstanding contributions in the field of Environmental Protection”.
Marine
Conservation Conference 2013: Award for an outstanding contribution “For years
of devotion to the marine environment and its study, especially the sharks of
Sri Lanka”.
Rotary Vocational Service Award: “For exemplary service and dedication in shark research and marine biology in Sri Lanka”.
Declared an INTERNATIONAL LEGEND OF DIVING by the Legends of Diving Organisation (USA) in 2006.
