Posted on 21 January 202621 January 2026 by Alex Gibson — Leave a comment

NOGI Award for Howard Rosenstein

Huge congratulations to our author, Howard Rosenstein, on being announced as a recipient of the 2026 NOGI Award for Distinguished Service — one of the most prestigious honours in the diving world — alongside his fellow 2026 inductees: Jonathan Bird, Christina Zenato, Richie Kohler, and Simon Mitchell.

From pioneering Red Sea exploration to his lifelong advocacy for the industry, Howard’s impact is undeniable, as the judges acknowledged in their reasoning for the award:

“Howard Rosenstein is considered a pioneer in the field of Diving Tourism and education in three geographical regions: the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Indian Ocean. He played an essential role in opening the Red Sea and Seychelles for scuba travelers, underwater photographers, media and scientists. His Mediterranean Diving Center, Red Sea Divers and Fantasea Cruises operated continuously for 27 years… never ceasing operations through wars, terrorism and even the changing of National sovereignty from Israel to Egypt.

Howard was acutely involved in nature conservation efforts in the Red Sea and pleaded the case for continued diving tourism activity and nature conservation to the joint Israeli and Egyptian Government Bilateral committees.

He was instrumental in organizing the effort to have the area of Ras Mohamed declared Egypt’s very first Nature Reserve, working together with notables in the diving industry, media and diplomatic community to keep the area’s coral reefs protected and open for diving tourism.

Additionally, he has been active in procedures for Diving Safety, Inventions and Product Development, including the ProEar diving mask.
Realizing that digital photography offered many great opportunities for the underwater photographer, he founded Fantasea Line in 2002, with his son, Nadav. Fantasea grew into an international company with the goal of creating affordable quality housings and accessories for photographers. His team designs, tests, manufactures and distributes their products worldwide.

Howard was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2009 and authored his memoir Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving: A Pioneers Journey in 2024.”

To understand the “Distinguished Service” that led to this award, you can read about his remarkable journey in Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving.

Posted on 4 November 202513 November 2025 by Alex Gibson — Leave a comment

From the Red Sea to Hollywood

Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving and Howard Rosenstein in Hollywood

PRESS RELEASE

Hollywood Producers Option Rights to Book, Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving

LOS ANGELES, CA / BOURNEMOUTH, UK – 4 November 2025 – A trio of US-based producers, including George Linder, known for his work on the Running Man franchise, have secured the rights to develop a motion picture or television project based on the compelling non-fiction book, Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving, written by Howard Rosenstein and published by Dived Up Publications.

The deal grants producers Linder, Ziad Batal and John Ptak the rights to create a documentary that will explore the book’s narrative — Rosenstein’s remarkable first-hand account of pioneering the earliest discoveries and expeditions in the Red Sea. It details how he built an industry from scratch, attracted adventurous (and sometimes famous) guests drawn to pristine coral reefs, and navigated the complex political machinations in an area still technically at war to secure environmental protections for one of Earth’s most important ecosystems.

The Book and the Vision

Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving: A Pioneer’s Journey, details the extraordinary true story of how modern scuba diving bloomed in the region, starting from a makeshift base in a WWI train carriage on the edge of the desert.

“This is a powerful, untold story of exploration and risk at the limits of underwater discovery,” said George Linder, Producer. “The historical depth and sheer adventure make it perfect for the screen. We look forward to translating this remarkable work into a visually stunning film.”

About the Author

Howard Rosenstein is a true pioneer – a one-off who was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2009. In this memoir, he shares the more surprising as well as his favourite stories from the early part of his long diving career.

Dived Up Publications

Based in Bournemouth, United Kingdom, Dived Up Publications specializes in books relating to underwater exploration and maritime history.

The Producers

George Linder, Ziad Batal and John Ptak are Los Angeles-based producers, bringing a wealth of experience in high-impact motion picture and television production.

The book

Praise for Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving.

Notes for editors

Media contact: Alex Gibson. Review copies available on request.

Posted on 9 September 20259 September 2025 by Alex Gibson — Leave a comment

Peter Lemon

It is with sadness that we pay tribute to Peter Lemon, who passed away in May 2025, at the age of 83. I knew Peter for only a relatively short time, working together to distribute his self-published book only since 2022.

Peter was a dedicated firefighter for 37 years, but discovered a second calling through his passion for the underwater world. His love for diving was ignited by his first visit to the Maltese Islands in 1983, where he explored the warm, clear waters and found a relaxed, friendly way of life that changed the course of his own.

Peter’s fascination with his underwater adventures led him to create sketches after each dive in his logbook, a practise that his buddy, Chris, suggested would be worthy of a book. This suggestion launched his career as an author. With the support of his wife, Sue, and a lump sum from his retirement from the Fire Service, he self-published his A Guide to Shore Diving the Maltese Islands, in 2002. This was followed by Scuba Diving Malta Gozo Comino, which has run to five editions, each time honed and augmented with new sites and discoveries.

Peter’s dedication was evident in the meticulous detail of his work. He spent countless hours hand-drawing each dive site, adding depths, routes, and aerial photographs. He was also a passionate photographer, and the books were filled with his own underwater shots and others generously donated by visiting photographers. Each time we met, Peter was at pains to point out how much assistance others had given to ensure that the fifth and final edition of his book was as good as it could possibly be. He was immensely grateful and humbled by it.

The final edition of his guide was a particularly challenging journey. In recent years, Peter’s health had declined, ending his 40-year diving career. In January 2024, he was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, an illness with treatment but no cure, which made completing the book even harder.

Peter’s legacy is one of passion, generosity, and love for the Maltese Islands. He dedicated his final book to his wife, Sue. Peter is survived by Sue, his son, and five grandchildren, many of whom shared in his passion for diving and who enjoyed the experience with him. He will be remembered not only for his contributions to the world of diving but also for the warmth and friendship he extended to all who knew him.

Posted on 12 November 202427 January 2025 by Alex Gibson — Leave a comment

Video: The Diver and the Cook

The Diver and the Cook by Lasse Spang Olsen - promo image

A ship lost. No survivors. A grim recovery mission begins, pushing a team of commercial divers well beyond their comfort zone. Braving treacherous conditions, Nico van Heerden combs the cramped, debris-strewn, zero-visibility Jascon 4 shipwreck searching for signs of the unfortunate crew.

Then, in a startling twist, Nico feels a tap on his shoulder while exploring a small, isolated compartment. Could someone have survived underwater for over sixty hours?

A nerve-shredding, touching account, following years of work by documentary-maker Lasse Spang Olsen, which includes images from the actual rescue, interviews and reconstructions. The result is an incredible true tale of a seemingly impossible underwater rescue.

Find out more

Posted on 1 October 20241 October 2024 by Alex Gibson — Leave a comment

Dived Up Publications Partners with Nautilus for Book Distribution

Bournemouth, UK – 1 October 2024 – Dived Up Publications, a leading publisher of dive-related books, is delighted to announce a new partnership with Nautilus Group Ltd for the distribution of its entire book catalogue. This strategic alliance will enhance the availability of Dived Up’s titles to dive shops, retailers and diving enthusiasts worldwide.

Nautilus UK Ltd, renowned for its expertise in the marine and diving industry, will assume responsibility for the distribution, sales and marketing of Dived Up Publications’ books to the dive trade. This collaboration will enable Dived Up to focus on creating exceptional content while leveraging the strong Nautilus distribution network and industry knowledge.

“We are thrilled to partner with Nautilus,” said Alex Gibson, Editor-in-Chief at Dived Up Publications. “Their deep understanding of the diving market and their established distribution channels make them the ideal partner to expand the reach of our range of diving-related books.”

Brett Thorpe, owner at Nautilus, added, “We are excited to welcome Dived Up Publications to our portfolio. Their high-quality dive books are a perfect complement to our existing range of products. In a world of digital media, it’s refreshing to be able to offer high quality physical media which will still be with us in 50 years. We look forward to working closely with Dived Up to ensure their books reach a wider audience.”

Browse our shop for more details about our full range of diving books.

About Dived Up Publications

Dived Up Publications is your mandatory stop for in-depth diving knowledge. We’re passionate independent publishers crafting specialist books with expert authors for underwater enthusiasts of all levels. Our mission is to transcend introductory manuals and provide serious and casual divers alike with beautifully designed, meticulously researched resources. Our diverse collection encompasses dive location guides, underwater photography and videography, diving equipment, captivating biographies, maritime history, marine life identification resources, and a range of logbooks. We also champion niche titles from other independent publishers, ensuring a wealth of unique voices reaches your bookshelf.

Recently Released Titles Include:

Coral Triangle Cameos - photo of actual book - ISBN 9781909455573

printed hard cover and jacket product photos 9781909455535

Coral Triangle Cameos: Biodiversity and the small majority by Alan Powderham;
Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving by Howard Rosenstein; and
Diving Gozo & Comino (2^nd Edition) by Richard Salter

Dived Up Publications website: www.DivedUp.com
Facebook @DivedUpPublications / Insta @diveduppubs / X @DivedUp / TikTok @divedup

About Nautilus UK Ltd

Nautilus was born out of necessity and has grown through knowledge and experience to allow smaller, as well as larger, retailers to sell premium products and be able to provide their customers with access to quality high end diving equipment. The brands we support are chosen carefully for their product innovation, reliability, range and reputation. After sales is just as important as the pre-sales to us and our dealers and offering this support is imperative in the chain of services we offer.

Nautilus UK website: https://nautilus.uk/
Facebook @nautilus.uk / Insta @nautilusuk