Welcome to Len's Not-So-Expert guide to freediving, actually more of place to let the world marvel at my vacation pictures. Obviously I'm Len, my travel partner is Eilene. We both are originally from that mecca of all that is civilized, the great state of Delaware. As of March 2002 we have relocated to sunny Ft. Lauderdale Florida. I won't bore you with any details but if you have any questions feel free to contact me. I will be happy to provide you with any misinformation that you may need.
I apologize in advance for the long download times on some of the more graphics intensive pages. At some point I hope to redesign the pages with thumbnails and other such goodies, until then I just hope you have a really fast connection or a few magazines to keep you occupied.
All the photographs you will see here were taken with little more than a snorkel, a mask, and a camera. For the most part the underwater images were taken with a Sea & Sea Reefmaster, other cameras used were a Canon Sureshot and various single use underwater cameras. Topside I use a variety of equipment, I am not a big tech guy, if it gets the image I'm happy. If you would like specific info just drop me a line. All the images are made from 35mm negatives or the occasional slide (and a lot of help from good ole Photoshop). While I consider myself an accomplished photographer, I in no way claim to be an accomplished underwater photographer. I have too much respect for true nature and underwater photographers to even think of myself in those terms. I consider this my photographic recreation, a total 180 from the work I usually do. Nor am I a marine biologist, so if I misidentify any creatures please let me know.
All the images contained herein are the property of Leonard White blah blah blah..... If you want to use any of the photos just let me know and give me a little credit. A note to you Photoshop people, if I see my head on the body of a naked Backstreet Boy you're going to get hurt.
Just my opinion.....I can't really say that I'm anti-scuba diving but I definitely have some thoughts on the subject. First of all let me give out a big F-U to all the elitist scuba people out there, you know who you are. We've all seen your shiny equipment and heard all your fantastic stories. We're impressed, now shut the f*%#! up. I don't think I've ever met a scuba diver who wasn't an expert, well except for a couple of the wives that I've met that are always in the background, tired and pissed from lugging equipment and being constantly berated by their spouse for their inability to keep up or for their total lack of enthusiasm toward the percentage of nitrox it takes to keep a balding guy going through a mid-life crisis from boiling his blood. Next time you're sitting in the hotel restaurant eating breakfast, look for the table with a group of guys and there wives or girlfriends and listen in on their conversation. One guy is talking about his 250 ft. wreck dive that went awry at no fault of his own, another is talking about the time a reef shark bit him in the ass but miraculously it only tore his suit, another tells about the whale shark that swam right up to his mask at the precise moment that all his dive buddies weren't looking....you get my meaning.
Just try to tell a certified diver that you only snorkel or that you're into freediving, with religious fervor they'll proceed to tell you how much better scuba is, that there is so much more to it, etc., etc. Now how would they like it if I went up to them and said, "I see you have a girl friend, damn shes ugly!, you should get out there and find yourself a pretty one like mine." They just automatically assume that what they do is superior. While I can see all the benefits of tanks, hoses, and air, I can guarantee that I have a lot more in water time. I've always said, whatever I lack in depth I make up for in stamina.
Of course not all hot shot certified divers fall into the assclown category. There are plenty out there that will offer you good advice without the arrogant attitude. But here's a little advice: When your milling around the dive resort grounds trying to plan your day of snorkeling, at all cost avoid the Cozumel t-shirt wearing--speedo sporting--shiny dive watch displaying--bad haircut having--I'm a dive god--bonehead!
End of rant.