News

Kansas dive instructor catches thieves trying to sell his student’s gear

Published

11 years ago

September 29, 2013

It was a scuba lesson like no other. Wichita based dive instructor Marc German was finishing up his last training session when he got a call from one of his students visiting from Idaho, who said his scuba gear had been stolen.

“Someone had cut the straps and netting and stole his scuba gear and quite a bit of other stuff off the back of his trailer,” said German.

The thieves got away with more than $10,000 worth of his belongings so the student filed a police report and still came to class.

“While he was doing his finals and taking his test, we got a phone call at the shop.”

It was an unexpected sales offer.

The voice on the other end told German, “Hey, I have one of those harness things that you know those divers wear as well as a hose with the adapter so that you can breathe out of it.”

That was German’s first clue that this person had no idea what they were talking about.

“So, he’s telling me different brands and different things, and he said, ‘I have two blue tubs full of stuff.’ I recognized right away that it was John Paul’s stuff because I had dived with the guy for two weeks. So, I said, ‘Yea, bring it in, let’s take a look at it.”

German immediately alerted Wichita police who hid nearby.

An hour later, Wichita police say 36-year-old Chad Nichols and 29-year-old Matthew Ramagli walked into the shop with the stolen equipment.

Police arrested them on the spot.

“They weren’t very surprised. They were upset, but they didn’t act all that surprised,” said German. “I just can’t believe anybody would be dumb enough to steal scuba gear and then take it to the only scuba shop in the immediate area and try to sell it.”

Wichita police are still working to find all the stolen goods. The case has been turned over to district attorney’s office.

Source: www.ksn.com

Gear Reviews

Gear Review: Hollis ST Elite System (Watch Video)

Published

1 day ago

March 24, 2025

Team Scubaverse

In a video produced exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman reviews the Hollis ST Elite System.

For more information about Hollis products, visit hollis.com.

Sea & Sea is the home of Hollis and other leading diving brands in the UK.

News

Relive the Red Sea’s Golden Age: New Paperback Edition of Treasures, Shipwrecks, and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2025

Team Scubaverse

by Howard Rosenstein

With Forewords by Sylvia Earle and David Doubilet

Experience the Red Sea’s golden age of diving through the eyes of its pioneering figure, Howard Rosenstein. The new paperback edition of his acclaimed memoir, Treasures, Shipwrecks and the Dawn of Red Sea Diving, is a visual feast, showcasing over 200 stunning images above and below water by legendary photographer David Doubilet, the author and others.

Journey from a makeshift diving school in a train carriage to the forefront of global dive tourism. Rosenstein’s narrative weaves together thrilling underwater adventures, historical discoveries (from Roman coins to unmapped reefs), and encounters with a fascinating cast of characters, including underwater legends and world leaders.

This enhanced paperback release offers a deeper dive into Rosenstein’s story, featuring additional images, refined text, and minor corrections. Witness how his passion for the underwater world not only shaped a generation of divers but also subtly influenced the delicate peace process of the region. This is a story of adventure, discovery, and the enduring allure of the Red Sea.

You don’t need to be a diver to get lost in these pages—there’s something here for anyone who loves a good adventure, a slice of history, or a peek into someone else’s amazing life.

‘Unbelievable stories that are most wonderful because they are true.’
Sylvia Earle

‘Endlessly entertaining… A vivid memoir packed with characters and anecdotes.’
SCUBA magazine

About the author

Howard Rosenstein is 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 favorite stories from the early part of his long diving career.

The book

Review copies on request – please contact Alex Gibson: alex@divedup.com

Release date 11 March 2025
RRP GBP £25 | Paperback | ISBN 978-1-909455-54-2
216 pages | Revised 1st Edition | 234 x 156 mm
Available from Divedup.com, online and from retailers.
Dive Trade: Nautilus UK
Book Trade: Gardners Books.

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

‘Unbelievable stories that are most wonderful because they are true’ – Sylvia Earle

‘A page-turning memoir filled with stories of finding treasures, shipwrecks, and discovering exotic coral reefs teeming with marine life.’ – Explorers Journal, Explorers Club of America

‘Endlessly entertaining… A vivid memoir packed with characters and anecdotes.’ – SCUBA magazine

‘A very satisfying read.’ – DIVE magazine

‘A rollicking fun tale.’ – Kathy Sullivan, history-making astronaut and oceanographer

‘This is a fascinating story and one well told.’ – Divernet

‘Howard Rosenstein had a dream that he made a reality – he built, and they came.’ – David Doubilet

‘A fascinating story that, if it was not the real-life of Howard Rosenstein, it would make a first-class adventure novel.’ – Dan Orr, Diving Industry Consultant

‘A gripping tale.’ – Undercurrent

‘An upbeat tale of success with surprising twists along the way… will enlighten and entertain.’ – Jewish Book Council

‘A captivating voyage… I urge you to pick up a copy and embark on this thrilling journey’ – Amos Nachoum, award-winning nature photographer and diving travel pioneer