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Biographies

Captain Gene Ritter
Commercial diver and president of his company Research Divers. Gene holds a 100 ton USCG Master License, and  has been diving in New York Harbor for over 37 years.  He has discovered many historic underwater sites of New York’s past. Gene is passionate about history as well as diving; he has been featured in prime time newscasts for his underwater discoveries.  He has appeared in numerous articles, the New York Times,  NY Post, Daily News,  in trade magazines, also  net work news such as ABC, NBC, CBS,  NY1,  just to name a few.  Just Google his name, “Gene Ritter Diving.”  Among Gene’s many underwater discoveries are the sunken remnants of Fort Lafayette—a Civil War Fort under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.  Most recently he discovered over two thousand anti- aircraft live shells possibly lost by the US Navy in 1954.  He found a lost submarine built to explore the ill-fated Andrea Doria,  he also discovered the famous Coney Island Dreamland Bell in the waters of Coney Island.  On many occasions, over the years, Gene has brought hundreds of historic artifacts into schools, community events, and other venues.  In 1998, former Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden awarded Gene with his first citation for his Outstanding Contributions to the Preservation of Brooklyn’s History.  




  Captain Bob Hayes 
Retired NYPD Deputy Inspector and former Commanding Officer of the NYPD SCUBA Team with 50 years experience as a diver and 38 years of Dive boat Experience. He is a PADI Master Instructor and has been a SCUBA instructor for 35 years. He is a former 1st lieutenant, US Army Corps of Engineers, Jan/1966 to Nov/1968. I have extensive training and experience in the use of military explosives. I also possess a USCG masters license for 100 gross tons and 100 miles since 1980. He has  a total of 50 years of diving experience.  Captain Bob currently runs dive charters off his vessel Dive Boat Karen II.

             Adam Matthew Grohman was born and raised in Pomona, New Jersey. He received his Associates in Science and Associates in Arts from Atlantic Cape Community College and then went to Long Island University at C.W. Post and completed his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts degree in Film. He completed his Master’s in Arts in American History from American Military University and is currently in the final stages of completing his second Master’s in Arts in Military Studies with a concentration in Naval Warfare. By vocation he is the Director of Student Conduct & Community Education and the Coordinator of Veterans and Military Affairs at Long Island University at C.W. Post. He is also a boatswain’s mate in the United States Coast Guard Reserve and has served in Cape May, New Jersey, San Diego, California, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a member of aUSCG Port Security Unit Detachment, and most recently, Jones Beach, New York.  By avocation, Grohman is a PADI Dive Master and has successfully researched hundreds of shipwrecks and maritime incidents in the New York and Long Island region. He co-founded the Underwater Historical Research Society (http://www.uhrs.org/) in 2004 and has published ten volumes that cover a wide range of maritime history including shipwrecks, submarines, diving equipment utilized by the UDTs, maritime disasters, diving guides, and general aspects of maritime history. In addition to providing lectures to various community groups, historical societies, and other groups, Grohman and his team of researchers actively assist other historians in their quest for information regarding maritime history through their Portholes into the Past program. His columns, “In Our Waters” – focusing on interesting aspects of regional maritime history - and “Sentinels and Saviors of the Seas” – which highlights the rich history of the United States Coast Guard - are featured monthly inLong Island Boating World Magazine. Grohman and his team’s efforts have been highlighted by various media outlets and his published research has appeared in local, national, and international publications. Adam, Kendall, and their two sons Aidan and Liam live in Long Island, New York.

Captain Mike Carew 
Retired Police Officer Captain Michael Carew has been a certified diver since 1973. During his Southampton College years, Mike worked as a salvage diver, doing underwater repairs and working on charter boats. He became a New York City Police Officer in 1982. The following year, he was assigned to the SCUBA Team, Harbor Patrol Unit. While on this team, Mike made many rescues and recoveries. During one rescue, Mike saved a commercial diver, who was trapped under a 60-ton concrete slab/pile.
On another rescue, his heroic efforts gained national attention in 1986, when he saved a three-year-old girl, who was trapped underwater in a car for an hour. Because he saved the child, Mike appeared on TV and newspapers, and was recognized as a national hero. Mike was there to respond to the aircraft disasters at La Guardia Airport in 1989, rescuing passengers out of the churning waters of Hell Gate.Mike has been a Master Diving Instructor since 1987.

In 1988, he was promoted to Detective Specialist. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100 Gross Ton Captain's License. Currently, he is the owner of Captain Mikes Dive Shop on City Island, where he has a full dive- training facility, and operates dive boat charters.

 

Lou Siegel is currently an adjunct professor at both Dowling College in the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences and at S.U.N.Y. Farmingdale in the Biology Department.  His teaching load includes such courses as Biology, Physical and Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology. In June of 2003 he retired from 36 years as a teacher and Science Chairperson on the high school level. During this time he was: an early author and teacher of the New York City Marine Biology curriculum which was offered at the experimental John Dewey High School in Brooklyn; Chairperson of the Department of Science and Oceanography at Beach Channel High School in Queens; and Chairperson of the Science and Technology Department at Oceanside High School on Long Island. At each site Lou not only met students during the school year but also more often than not, organized and taught summer ecology and marine science courses. Lou was a founder, past president and active board member in the 30 year old New York State Marine Education Association. He has chaired several of their annual student and teacher conferences and is currently web master of the http://nysmea.orgweb page. Lou edited "Learning in the Estuary," a compilation of lesson plans, in 2002.   Lou has long been involved in pre- and in-service teacher education. Most recently, his course Shipboard Marine Science has been taken by a large cross-section of teachers and environmental educators.  Research projects have included studies of marsh grass, (Spartina alterniflora) and the horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus.) Lou's interests include photography, sailing, and kayaking and he has reportedly been seen fishing for striped bass.B.S. Biology, Hunter College, C.U.N.Y. M.S. Marine Science, C.W. Post, L.I.U. P.D. Educational Administration, C.W. Post, L.I.U.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beth J.P. Ritter 
A  writer, and Resident Artist of Cultural Research Divers. A graduate of Parsons School of Design, she's illustrated many children's educational publications and greeting cards over the years. Her articles, written mostly about personal experiences, convey her unique viewpoints of life. 
She enjoyed many opportunities to impart her love for all living things-- often expressed through art. "My Dad taught me early on that all animals are beautiful; none of them are ugly." These days, she's found a passion for drawing underwater artifacts and vintage diving equipment. She loves drawing the historic artifacts, with all their details and imperfections". While drawing them, she feels more connected to their histories.  As for drawing the vintage diving equipment? "That's just fun."

                         

                       

  

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