Wolfgang Leander - Oceanic Dreams

I first came into contact with Wolf over the internet - he had seen my pics on Flickr and was keen to come over to South Africa to dive with the Tiger Sharks on Aliwal Shoal. We mailed back and forth, and about a year later we met for the first time, appropriately in the water.


Wolfgang Leander on Aliwal Shoal, April 2007.

The ten days we spent thereafter together on Aliwal Shoal diving with Blue Wilderness and the tigers and blacktips of Shark Park must rate as one of my most memorable photographic expeditions to date. We had great viz, loads of tigers, and a great crew and company. Since then Wolf and I have become great friends, and although he will be embarrassed to know it, a real inspiration to me. At 66 he is not the youngest freediver I know, but his passion and ability to dive is easily that of a twenty year old.

Wolf and I, team self portrait, Aliwal Shoal, April 2007. 

Wolf is ironically based in Bolivia, far from the sea he loves, but with the help of the Internet he actively and aggressively pursues his shark conservation efforts - his most recent focus has been on Alibaba.com, who’s policy to sell shark fins online has enraged many of the shark conservation organisations around the world.

My favourite image of Wolf is the one below - although many dislike the image because it portrays a man apparently hitting a shark, for me it has a special value as this was the last dive that Wolf felt the need to dive with his shark ‘wand’.

Wolf blessing one of his tiger girls, Aliwal Shoal, April 2007 

You can see Wolf’s work online here, or alternatively check out his blog, which he runs with his son Felix, here