Howard Rosenstein’s story set for the big screen

Mark Evans
on November 4, 2025
at 11:23 am

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.

Table of contents

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 World War One 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 book

Mark Evans

Rork Media’s Editorial Director Mark Evans has been in the diving industry for 26 years, and has been diving since he was just 12 years old. Some 40 years later and he is still addicted to the underwater world.