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Howard Rosenstein wasn't just opening the first dive school in Sharm El-Sheikh; he was cracking open a hidden world in Sinai. This true story dives headfirst into those ground-breaking times, where celebrated guests, uncharted dives and historical discoveries became the extraordinary routine. Part of the story is about protecting Ras Mohammed (an important marine reserve) from various threats. There are also stories with conservationists including 'Shark Lady' Dr Eugenie Clark, and the visits of various film crews to document the marine life of the area. The book is an important piece of social and environmental history: when Howard Rosenstein arrived in Sharm El-Sheik it was a new frontier – there was hardly anything there – but it is virtually unrecognisable (on land) today.
It's a tale of grit, where resourcefulness and connections fuelled Howard's pioneering spirit. From Roman coins glinting on the seabed to the dark, unmapped depths, his dives unveiled sunken treasures and secrets of the past. But these weren't just underwater adventures – they were tightrope walks between nations still at war. He braved floods, assisted grounded ships, and even the depths of Mount Sinai itself. Howard's journey wasn't a solitary one. He rubbed shoulders with underwater legends, bestselling authors, true photography greats, and even world leaders. He navigated murky shipwrecks, charmed amorous sharks, and found himself a player in the delicate dance of peace negotiations.
Through his dive centres, first in the Mediterranean and then exploding onto the Sinai scene, Howard became a pioneer of recreational diving. He shared the magic of the underwater world with a generation, igniting a passion that would forever burn, his only desire that it would never end. But peace, like the tide, comes with a change. Illustrated throughout with 200 images by the author and others including renowned underwater photographer David Doubilet.
- Foreword by Sylvia Earle
- Foreword by David Doubilet
- Introduction
- A Glimmer Down Below
- Diving Through the Millennia
- Call it Chutzpah!
- First Forays into Sinai
- Finding the Farouk
- Making a Home in Sinai
- The Boxcar on the Beach
- War Comes to Sinai
- Exploring with National Geographic
- Nudes in the Red Sea
- Diving Mount Sinai
- Our Dream Base
- Disaster Strikes
- The Red Sea on the Big Screen
- My Friend, the Ambassador
- A Shipwreck to Call Our Own
- God's Other World
- Finding Fortune in Misfortune
- Battling a Flood of Biblical Proportions
- Birth of Diving Diplomacy
- Hans Hass
- Heading to Cairo
- Begin, Sadat and the Maestro
- A Seat at the Table
- A Sneak Run Over the Border
- The Troops Arrive
- The Flag is Lowered for the Last Time
- Epilogue
Howard Rosenstein is a one-off who was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2009. In this memoir, he shares some of the more surprising as well as his favourite stories from the early part of his long diving career.
Foreword writer Sylvia Earle is a marine biologist, oceanographer, National Geographic Explorer and founder of Mission Blue.
Foreword writer David Doubilet is a renowned underwater photographer.
'Once in a great while a book comes along that combines masterful storytelling, riveting adventure, charismatic characters, and meaningful messages that will continue to haunt you long after the last page is turned. For me, Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving is that book.'-- Sylvia Earle, Oceanographer, Founder of Mission Blue (from the Foreword).
'A rollicking fun tale... Scuba divers worldwide are indebted to them'-- Kathy Sullivan, history-making astronaut and oceanographer.
'A fascinating story. Howard's diving life took him from ancient history, to being among the first to see sharks mate in the wild, to world politics as his pioneering efforts helped make the wonders of the Red Sea available to divers from around the world.'-- Marty Snyderman, underwater photographer, author and photojournalist.
'Howard Rosenstein had a dream that he made a reality - he built, and they came.'-- David Doubilet (from the Foreword).
'A captivating voyage through the exotic wonders of the Middle East, above in the Sinai desert and beneath the cobalt blue waters of the fabled Red Sea. His ability to traverse cultures and disciplines while remaining true to his vision is inspiring. This book records one man's adventures pioneering scuba diving during high politics in the Middle East and is a testament to the transformative power of curiosity, determination, love for the ocean and the desert, and respect for the world around us. I urge you to pick up a copy and embark on this thrilling journey'-- Amos Nachoum, award wining nature photographer and diving travel pioneer, BigAnimals.com
