OceanicDreams

Living without a stomach for almost three years now.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:48:00 PST

March 2009 - I can't believe I had such "muckis"!!

It has been quite an ordeal; and yet, I am alive.

Many people around us, acquaintances, good friends, my sister Erica, have died of cancer during the last three years. So, I should be grateful for still going, though not as strong as I used to.

I have lost a lot of weight, and it seems impossible to regain it. Digesting without a stomach is a problem; my diet is quite balanced and very healthy (carbs, protein, vegetables, fruit, grains, pasta) - not only that: Instead of just drinking whole milk, I add 50% of cream, sometimes I even drink pure cream: Yummie!! But all this doesn't help.

I wasn't able to put on even 100 g since I kissed my stomach good-bye. If I eat something that is not right at any given moment, I have to "return" it in order not to endure the pain in my guts.

January 2012 - these ain't no "muckis" anymore; they are a joke... :-)

This three year long experience made me realize that the stomach is probably the most important organ - or so it feels not having one. (OK, some will say: The heart and the brain are more important. I agree with the heart part - but the brain? Look around, and you'll see how many humans can happily do without it... :-).

Anyway, some essential nutrients can only be absorbed by the stomach, and as the German pun goes: "Man ist, was man isst." (= You are what you eat.). So now I am what I am able to absorb.

However, as I said - no complaints; others fare much worse.

Even though I am rather weak, I can still free-dive with my beloved sharks, and I am, so far, strong enough to lift my little Wolfie without overexerting myself. These are good enough reasons for me to celebrate life.

Thus, here is 'To Life!'; 'L'Chayim!', "Auf das Leben!"

Andy Brandy Casagrande IV.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:43:00 PST

No, I am not going to bitch about ABC 4 this time.... :-)

Quite the contrary.

What I have seen today in Mike Neumann's blog, a sample of ABC4's talent as a wildlife cinematographer, simply left me breathless. It ranks among the very best I have ever seen. Just incredible!!

Does a pro like ABC4 have to sell his outstanding talent to Shark Week and the like? Definitely not!

What he should do instead is produce a film about sharks, aim as high as he can, make absolutely no compromises, and get back with the most outstanding shark documentary ever done. From what I have seen in the clip above he could do it. ABC4 does not need the hype and the shark pornography to market his art.

Andy - you can see how easy it is to convince an old not so 'glorious basterd' that he is still educable and also capable of changing what to some might look like a high opinion of himself... :-) :-)

And now the not so good of 2011...

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 10:32:00 PST

... as seen by Mike Neumann.

Mike is a good friend of mine, so are some people he has mentioned in part two of his review of 2011, and who certainly won't like Mike's incisive observations. In those specific cases I cannot but be impartial.

Apart from that, Mike and I do not always agree on everything - how could we?

What I fully share with Mike, however, is his almost visceral aversion against BS. Thus, when we see something we don't like for BS reasons, we open our mouths rather than keep silent in order to be "Messrs. Nice Guys".

We are not "politically correct", and as far as I am concerned, I despise this new form of diplomacy which is often aimed at converting plain, smelly BS into some sort of odorless bull crap.

Some will say (I know who they will be.... :-): "Why do these guys feel they have to pick on other shark defenders? Why can't they just be tolerant and focus on the 'larger' issues?" Simple - because as in all other human activities, including organzations with common interests such as movie star fan clubs, there are always diverging opinions that should be questioned, debated, criticized.

A critical mind cannot be equated with being negative or destructive which is something I hear once in a while from some of the hypocritical shark "conservationists" out there.

In extreme cases I get reprimanded in the most subtle of ways.

As, for instance, by a youngster who found it appropriate to call me "a seemingly bored mother fucker" who should get a life rather than bad-mouthing other people who DO THINGS, like his newly found friend, shark pornographer extraordinaire ABC4, and other such professional and ad honorem "Shark Angels"... :-)

Anyway, enjoy Mike's blog. In literary terms it is an award winning piece of writing, as are all his postings. I would rank Mike, along with his choice of Patric Douglas, as the best 2011 shark blog writer, by far.

http://fijisharkdiving.blogspot.com/2011/12/part-two-bad-and-ugly.html

The Good of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:22:00 PST

Be sure to read Mike's latest post recapping the good things / people of 2011 as related to the shark world - you might be surprised. Learn who is the most improved NGO, impressive individual shark advocate, and more. Part two will likely bring some flair - the BAD of 2011.

Complete post

Who says land wolves and ocean tigers cannot live together peacefully?

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 13:33:00 PST

They can, and it's so easy - here is the proof:

Photo: Isabel Muscat (Bahamas, 2011)

As in all good relationships, love, humility, and respect are the essentials to achieve such wonderful harmony.

Once again (it can't hurt.... :-): Have a wonderful and harmonious 2012!!!

2012

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:53:00 PST

Despite all the fears and gloomy predictions of difficult times that lie ahead of us, let us keep up the hope that the new year will be an acceptable one, at the very least.

Shark lovers: I wish you and me to have safe and enjoyable close encounters of our special kind during 2012, and may the god of sharks protect his creatures from ruthless finners, senseless nets, and those "celebrity" psychopaths who hate and exploit them.

Bahamian and Florida tiger sharks: Protected, at last!

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

Click to enlarge

The passion for sharks: Can it be in the genes?

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:55:00 PST

Most definitely not.

On the other hand, when you look at my five months old grandson Wolfgang Alexander you might think that the love of sharks runs indeed in the family... :-)

Whatever, when it comes to love, that most mysterious of all deep emotions, what do we really know?...

It is my gorgeous Woelfchen who rekindled the flame of an old, worn-out heart I thought was extinguished a loooooong time ago.

Woelfchen - you are a magician!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

What? More of the same?

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:58:00 PST

Yes, I know.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

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And yet, somehow I like these two tiger shark images quite a bit.

One shows, again, how incredibly attentive tiger sharks look at you. This is what made a profound impression on me when I saw them for the first time in my life back in March 2007, at Tiger Beach. I looked into their dark eyes, and I immediately felt what the French call "le coup de foudre" (= love at first sight).

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach 2011)

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The other image is full of that indescribable, captivating ambiente when you dive with sharks at dusk (shark attack "experts" say that is the time of the day you should avoid swimming in the ocean.... What do they know?...).

That's all, folks, I haven't got anything else to say, today..... :-)

Pretty woman walking down the street ...

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:37:00 PST

... of my life.

I was madly in love with that 26 year old pretty girl I married in December 1975.

Now, at 62, Karin is a beautiful woman, and I love her. She loves me, too - "nicht immer und trotz alledem" (= not always and in spite of everything) :-)

Am I not a lucky man??

Tiger Beach trip November 2011.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:16:00 PST

As you can see, Felix doesn't even need a mask to enjoy Tiger Beach!

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

Click to enlarge

For some reason, the pics in my blog "Tiger Beach revisited" could not be enlarged.

Click here - should work now.

Enjoy.

Shark researcher David Shiffman needs our support.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:43:00 PST

PhD Student David Shiffman of the University of Miami has been named a finalist in the 2011 blogging scholarship.

Should David win, it will provide him with $10,000 towards his doctoral dissertation research, focusing on the ecological importance of sharks to coral reefs. He will also use the money to support his lab's citizen science program, which has taken over 1,000 high school students and teachers into the field to learn about sharks and participate in an active research program.

If you are for sharks, which I am sure you are, please vote for David and his important research project. David is a very dedicated young scientist, and a passionate shark conservationist. He deserves to be supported.

All you have to do is vote for him no later than November 30, plain and simple. Here is the link.

Thank you.

This image is a "hammer".

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:24:00 PST

Click to enlarge

If we Germans find something truly amazing we say: "Das ist ein Hammer!"

Rob Allen took this photograph in Malpelo Island (Colombia). Although he is not a 'real' professional photographer, he is a true photographer extraordinaire. Here is Rob's website - have a look, and enjoy his work.

Rob is a fantastic guy, a very good and dependable comrade (he was a captain in the British Army). He is what I am not: Organized, disciplined, always determined to reach set goals.

I am happy and privileged to have met Rob almost four years ago where we both feel at home: Diving with tiger sharks.

Tiger Beach revisited.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:48:00 PST

It is always an emotional climax to go back to that magic place. I see the same individuals, and at times I feel they recognize me as well (you should know that sharks have a memory that goes back at least one year).

"Emma" with lots of tiger babies in her tummy!

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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I was especially pleased to see a pregnant "Emma", and "Smiley", an incredibly gentle tiger lady whose lower has been almost destroyed by recreational fishermen.

"Smiley" looks 'ugly' now, but to us who know her, she is the most beautiful tiger lady, full of grace, coupled with a strong personality, not unlike the legendary "Scarface" of the Fiji Islands.

"Smiley" - may she live a long shark life.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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The weather was not that great during the two weeks I was in the Bahamas but the underwater adventures we had when the visibility was good, and the people who joined us this time, more than compensated for the bad luck not to have had the usually excellent diving conditions at "the" beach.

I felt privileged to be around experienced shark divers and novices who were, as I could see and hear, as enthusiastic to mix with the shark crowd as 'yours truly':

Caro and Michel Lonfat, Isabel Muscat, Isabel Singer ("Bitsy" - not at all bitchy!! :-), my old young friend David Salama, Carsten and Ute, both from Frankfurt, grumpy but good-hearted Roy Kerr, Jupp, as always, this old aristocrat of genuine Westfalian stock who is an idealistic yet down-to-earth shark warrior, Rob Allen and his buddy Andrew, both very British in the very best sense of this qualification, professional photographer Will Allen (not related to Rob), Felix, who turned 35 during the trip but did not want me to announce it, Engracia Katsoufis with her contagious laughter, filmmaker David Ulloa, a talented horse and human whisperer, and, last not least, Robert Terpstra always so busy preparing his camera housing for the next dive that he sometimes missed the best part of the action... :-)

OK, enough said - I know that some of you, dear readers, want to see a few new pix. Here they are:

Murky waters can be great for moody images.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander

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"Smiley" - again.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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Caribbean Reef Sharks - gregarious and curious.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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Isabel Muscat checking her camera to see whether she got a good shot of "Smiley".

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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Caribbean Reef Shark: Some consider it the quintessential shark.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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They ARE simply beautiful, aren't they?

Photos: Wolfgang Leander (2011)

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My next shark dive trip? It's still a secret but you'll know in due course....

Back from Tiger Beach - and already looking forward to my next trip....

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:55:00 PST

What can I do? There is nothing I like better than diving and interacting with the local sharks. I am totally addicted to it, and I don't want to be cured, ever!!

This reef shark could sense that I wasn't dangerous to her.

Photo: Michel Lonfat

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David: Fantastically composed shot! Thank you!

Photo: David Ulloa

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I just love this tiger girl, and she seems to like me, too!

Photo: Isabel Muscat

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Felix - way more elegant than his old man (no wonder being half his age... :-)

Photo: David Ulloa

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Michel Lonfat

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:40:00 PST

Pike - By Michel Lonfat

There is something for everyone - when it comes to photographers they usually have a preferred subject. Up until recently I have never met anyone that focuses on Pike - that was until I met Michel.

Michel Lonfat is Swiss (French) and has been photographing Pike fish with a passion - and when he is not doing that he is exploring lakes in the Alps area, sometime hiking long distances with his gear to get there.

On our Tiger Beach trip - Michel was usually the first one in the water, this time capturing larger fish / sharks, and always ready to go. He captured some great shots and I think has been converted to a shark diver. I know that his wife Caroline has definitely become a shark diver.

Take a look at Michel's site - he is also actively involved in the Festi Sub.

Ranting Bill Maher and the Wisdom of a Nobel Laureate.

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:32:00 PST

I never heard of the guy before which, of course, doesn't mean anything. Yesterday I read about him in the latest "Newsweek" issue - and I immediately thought: "Man, this Bill Maher is some cool dude". Fiftyish, 100% politically incorrect, smokes marijuana publicly, born to an Irish-Catholic father and a Jewish mother, a strong sense for social justice, very self-assured.

Dig this:

On Religion

"Plain fact is, religion must die for mankind to live. The hour is getting late to be able to indulge in having key decisions made by religious people. By irrationalists. By those who would steer the ship of state not by a compass, but the equivalent of reading the entrails of a chicken."

On the Tea Party

"Now I want you teabaggers out there to understand one thing. While you idolize the Foundung Fathers and dress up like them and smell like them, I think it's pretty clear that the Founding Fathers would've hated your guts."

Since I had a long flight back home yesterday, I also bought the "TIME" magazine where I found another wise guy talking straight: Dr. Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist who won a Nobel in economics. In an interview he was asked on why people don't make rational choices.

One of the questions:

"What about experts? Shouldn't we trust their instincts?"

Kahneman's answer: "There are domains in which expertise is not possible. Stock picking is a good example. And in long-term political strategic forecasting, it's been shown that experts are just not better than a dice-throwing monkey."

As long as we have people like Maher and Kahneman, not everything is lost....

You all have a good week!

Wolfgang

Florida approves shark protections

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:29:00 PST

Some great news:

"Florida wildlife managers approved a ground-breaking shark protection measure on Wednesday that will make it illegal for anglers fishing state waters to keep tiger sharks or three species of hammerheads." - Miami Herald - complete article here.

Congratulations to Samantha Whitcraft and Neil Hammerschlag. I know there were many others involved and it was a group effort (I just read Facebook and saw their posts ;) ). And a shout out to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Sex and Shark Infested Waters

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:04:00 PST

If this does not spike ratings I do not know what does.

NatGeo's Shark Attack Experiment features blond women wearing very little freediving in shark infested waters...what sort of experiment is this??? The only good thing I saw in the video was a new baiting system that has been implemented in SA after much resistance and public outcry.

So next time you are in baited, shark infested waters, with the "largest blacktip reefs sharks responsible for 60% of Florida's (sic!) shark attacks" rest assured that you can wear a bikini and be safe...hell, you might even want to dive completely naked with sharks - now that would be real shark porn!

Will Allen

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:54:00 PST

Will with Zombie Boy - FYI,Will is the one on the left

A week before coming out to the Bahamas, Will was photographing the human canvas above for an ad shoot. I think I would rather come face-to-face with a Tiger shark than Zombie Boy, but as they say, never judge a book by it's cover.

Will Allen is a photographer / videographer based in Montreal, Canada. He has a diverse portfolio ranging from beautiful women to beautiful sharks. Productions have taken him all over the world, and he has been able to work on various IMAX movies including Rescue and Tahiti.

When I first met Will I thought he was going to be "that guy" - there is always "that guy" on a boat. Was wrong, see first parahraph, second sentence - never judge...Turns out Will is a solid guy, unassuming, calm and funny. Characteristics that are always refreshing and welcome in the shark world, in fact, would be nice to have more of. No need for spotlight - his work and actions speak for themselves.

Will filming me - Photo by David Ulloa, Nov 2011

I know there are some good photos coming from the Bahamas trip - very much looking forward to them.

In the meantime, visit his site www.willallenphoto.com

If you happen to be in Montreal - you will have to stop by his pub: www.burgundylion.com and have one of the many English beers and catch a football game...a real football game.

When words do not mean anything...

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 16:36:00 PST

...and actions do.

Mike has just written another great post on how we just cannot get enough sensationalism when it comes to sharks:

"How about unadulterated Shark Porn instead. Once again, the life history of Sharks is being reduced to one dimension only: teeth, killing and attacks on humans. This has nothing to do with conservation, this is once again only about the adrenaline, the questionable fame of a Nat Geo production and yes, above all, the money!"

Enjoy the complete blog post.

Just Embarrassing to be...

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 08:40:00 PST

...human.

Thanks for find Shark Diver...

Media Blues...

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:05:00 PDT

Excellent post over on the Shark Diver blog about poor messaging execution. While people's thoughts and intentions are often in the right place - their tactics are off (and in some cases even have a negative impact on what they are trying to accomplish).

"Conservation messaging needs to be done without the "stupid pet tricks with wildlife...We can do better than we are with smarter messaging that actually translates into conservation gold."

And there have been several fails:

"This is on par with, if not as moronic as, recent media hits that were meant to convey important conservation messages such as:

1. Playing a guitar underwater while crooning to white sharks in a protected Bio Sphere Reserve. The message was, "white sharks are not dangerous." Since that video there have been 6 fatal white shark attacks and 11 non fatal predatory events on surfers and divers worldwide.

2. Holding up pizza box lids with lip stick on them to convey complex messaging about shark nets in South Africa. Since that media image over 2000+ sharks have been killed in shark nets all over the world."

Enjoy the complete post.

Best PR for sharks....

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:52:00 PDT

.... is to get serious and environmentally engaged journalists interested in the plight of these endangered creatures. Professional writers are the ones who can make a difference by informing and educating their readers.

They need good PR professionals, badly!

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (Tiger Beach / Bahamas, 2010)

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Here we have a good example how this can be done: Juliet Eilperin, "Washington Post" reporter, took a bunch of journalists on a shark tagging tour with Neil Hammerschlag of the University of Miami.

Read this one account of the trip, put together by Todd Woody, a "Forbes" editor.

Good job - excellent, far-reaching multiplier effect!

And dig this: A very well researched new book on sharks written by Juliet Eilperin. Highly readable, highly recommended!

Costa Rica did what?

noreply@blogger.com (Felix Leander) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:32:00 PDT

Costa Rica, usually known for it's forward thinking when it comes to the environment, seems to be one of the most backward countries when it comes to protecting sharks. And what happens when the shark populations in their own waters dwindle...you find Costarican fishermen in Colombian waters killing sharks off Malpelo...and apparently this is not the first time either. Galapagos and Cocos Island are not off-limits either.

For those who know Spanish - please read the following post and watch the video below...

Please sign this petition!

noreply@blogger.com (Wolfgang Leander) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:17:00 PDT

This shark's fins are at risk of ending up in a bowl of soup in Hong Kong.

Photo: Wolfgang Leander (South Africa 2008)

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Alex Hofford*) has posted this in a shark forum today. We simply pass it on to you requesting you to sign the petition and distribute it as widely as you can.

Thank you!

Felix and Wolf

*) Get to know Alex: Great guy, great photographer, committed environmentalist, British to the bone!