Saturday, March 31, 2007

Majesty in Motion

David White was kind enough to provide the link to his video of the Tiger sharks at Tiger Beach.

To watch the video click here.

The cinematography is absolutely stunning and it is in HD. At the very end you will see a Wolf swimming with the Tigers.

Enjoy

Friday, March 30, 2007

Playing with Whites

Amazing video of a free diver interacting with white sharks. Notice his body languages when the sharks approach a bit more aggressively. I think this is Mike Rutzen.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Hooked on Tigers

Tiger Beach (Bahamas)
Photo: Wolfgang Leander
Click on image to enlarge


I free-dived 52 years ago for the first time in my life in southern France, and to this day I can still fully relive the overwhelming sensation of being able to enter into another world, Cousteau's silent blue world, and weightlessly swim in it....


Free-diving with tiger sharks for the first time in my life, only two weeks ago in the Bahamas, left me as breathless as back then, in 1955...


To swim with tigers spoiled me completely - all other sharks I have seen and swam with, even large ones, pale in comparison.

No other sharks have a stronger expression of character than tiger sharks: The square head, the blunt front, the comparatively large mouth, often tightly shut - and those inquisitive, intelligently looking black eyes...

I have not dived with sharks more gentle than the tigers of the undersea world.

I feel reborn as I am hooked on tiger sharks, never to be released again from the spell of an animal that is almost as old as God himself...




Depressing Article

Fox news report on new shark study:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,262486,00.html

We are on the right track huh???

Seal Petition



Seems like us humans cannot get enough of killing animals for ridiculous fetishes. I guess I should not talk too much - I am not a vegetarian. Regardless, please sign this petition to stop the killing of baby seal in Canada.

SIGN PETITION

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Wolf and Tiger make a cute couple


The Tiger (one of the smaller ones) was getting acquainted with my dad. Seems like a gentle giant. Thanks to Mark Tarczynski for sending in this picture.

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Little Surfer Dude

In Juptier, FL a 5th grader was bitten in the foot / calf area three times. Seems like he stepped on the shark by mistake. All his toes and calf are still intact and he seems to have taken all this lightly...says it's kinda cool to have the scar and that he will be back in the water shortly. Good attitude.

Read article here

Dad joins son

Felix put me on his blog - don't know whether that was a smart idea. Sometimes I babble a lot - well, Felix will have to take the responsibility for that..... :-)

Wolfgang

Wolf

I just wanted to introduce a new author to this blog - my old man, the Wolf. I am sure he will have some interesting posts to add...

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Dad back from Tiger Beach


Well - the old man made it back in one piece from Tiger Beach (thank you Jonathan for the picture). He has about 800 slides to go through - it will be a while until I can post any pictures.

Here is what he had to say:

"Hello, friends:

I just got back from a shark diving trip to the Bahamas where I could, for the first time in my life, free-dive with REAL tiger sharks sized between 7 and 12 ft.

I really don't know what to tell you. The experience was so overwhelming that I cannot adequately describe what I felt.

Let me just say this: I wish people who are scared of sharks, hate sharks or love to fish them could face tiger sharks in THEIR habitat just once. A humble glance into the dark eyes of these majestic creatures would probably change their lives forever as they would sense in awe that to save the oceans they would have to protect the very shark that is looking at them.

Wolfgang"

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Los Tiburones de La Guaira


I am currently in Caracas, Venezuela for work and boy is my heart heavy. It has been almost 20 years since I was last here, so many good memories. It is amazing how sometimes things change very little and spark vivid recollections of the past. Tomorrow, time permitting, I will try to visit my old neighborhood and see if I can take some pictures.

On another note, my dad made it back from Tiger Beach in one piece. I will ask him to write a few words about his experience to post here and of course, once the pictures are ready they will be uploaded.

PS - take a look at the site of this baseball team (title of blog)

http://www.tiburonesdelaguaira.com.ve/index.php

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Dolphins Murdered

I honestly do not even know where to begin this post. Below is the link to a video about Japanese fisherman killing dolphins to sell the meat as "whale meat". I have also included the link to a petition to stop this sort of barbarity.

Warning - the video is very graphic



A petition can be signed here: www.petitiononline.com/golfinho

Very Very depressing

Saturday, March 10, 2007

DC Digital


I just got back from DC - yesterday actually. Was there for work - real work. While the days were 8-5 (not too long) they were intense and really challenged our brain cells - squeezed the creative juice out of us. A lot was accomplished and I think everyone left satisfied and on track to a new beginning.

The people were diverse - from Asia, Europe, US, and Latin America (Miami ;) ). Shout out to our new captain (not sure if you are ever read my blog, comment if you do) as well as to "mom-to-be."

On a separate note, my father just left to Tiger Beach (Bahamas) to photograph, what else, Tiger Sharks. Will share his experiences and photos as soon as I get my hands on them.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Vamos Mexico

The Mexican government has passed several new laws that ban shark finning and protects White, Whale, and Basking sharks, and Manta Rays. Remains to be seen if the laws can be enforced - nevertheless it is a positive move by the Mexicans...

http://www.pr.com/press-release/31775

Smart Shark...

What happens when you try to spearfish a tiger shark and miss...there is a slight chance he/she may come after you. Apparently in New Zealand some kid got "attacked" by a tiger shark after HE ATTACKED the shark. Headline should have read: "Human attacks and provokes Tiger Shark"

Read article here

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Ningaloo Whale Sharks under threat

Another petition - this one is in reference to whale sharks being under threat do to a salt mine in the Nigaloo reef area.

http://www.haltthesalt.org.au/hts_submission/hts_submission.php

Just take about 10 secs of your time.

Thanks