The faces of Rubicon Diving

Rubicon Diving has a group of well qualified, enthusiastic and professional staff who are able to provide local dive guiding as well as training to all levels of diver from novice through to those who wish to use technical and rebreather systems up to instructor level.

As well as our permanent members of staff, we also have a number of divemaster and instructor candidates in training who ensure that the permanent members of staff are always up to date with current training standards.

The quality and excellence of our staff is shown by the fact that we are recognised by a wide range of training agencies as one of the leading centres for diver training both in Europe and the world as a whole. Rubicon Diving is recognised by PADI as a five star Instructor Development Centre, running regular IDC courses four times a year and by ANDI as the only Instructor Training Centre in Spain.

Dive Center Owners

Chris Massaad
Chris is the owner of Rubicon Diving and a very experienced diver with many thousands of dives. Chris is recognised by a number of training agencies as a technical instructor and an instructor trainer. Chris is also qualified to train people on six different rebreather systems up to explorer level (100 metres plus). Chris speaks several languages fluently including; German, Spanish, English, French and Arabic.

Natasha Maksymenko
Tashi is Chris's wife and co-owner of Rubicon Diving and an IDC staff instructor and TEC instructor in her own right. Tashi's speciality is underwater photography and videography. Many of Tashi's photographs and videos are showcased on the dive centre's website and photo gallery. Tashi provides instruction on our the specialist underwater photography courses and speaks Spanish, German, English and French Fluently.

Permanent Staff

Richard Timmis
Rich is the Dive Centre's senior instructor and is a qualified PADI IDC Staff Instructor and PADI, TDI and ANDI Tri-Mix instructor, Rich also teaches a number of the PADI speciality courses. Originally from the UK, Rich moved to Lanzarote in 2008 and has been working as an instructor at Rubicon Diving for the past three years.

Christopher Massaad
Cookie is currently a PADI assistant Instructor and is training to become a fully qualified instructor. Cookie is also a fully qualified physiotherapist, so you know where to go when you have any aches and pains! Cookie also speaks fluent German, French, Spanish and English.

Jeff Grainger
Jeff is Rubicon Diving's Finance and Business Manager and a PADI assistant Instructor. Jeff moved to Lanzarote in October 2010 after a career as a University lecturer in the UK. Jeff is proof that you are never too old to take up diving, having made his first dive when 50 and qualifying as an assistant instructor just after his 55th birthday.

Gianni Altobello
Italian Born Gianni is Rubicon Diving's chief dive guide and a PADI Assistant Instructor. Gianni has lived on the island for 7 years and has worked at Rubicon Diving for the past 2 years. Gianni has an unrivalled knowledge of the island's dive sites and an uncanny ability to spot fish that other guides miss. Diving with Gianni as your guide is an experience you will be certain to remember.

Diana Yanez
Diana is the latest recruit to the Rubicon Diving having qualified as a PADI Open Water Instructor in early 2011. Diana is a keen scuba diver and is currently pursuing her interest in technical diving and hopes to qualify as technical instructor in the near future.

Lizzie Fernyhough
Our temporarily 'dry' instructor is currently based in the UK and answering your emails at reservations@rubicondiving. com. She is totally gorgeous in every way.

Roxanne
Roxanne is the hardest working member of Rubicon Diving's staff as she can be found in the dive shop every day from 8 am to 6 pm. As well being Rubicon diving's mascot she is a PAWDI qualified instructor with specialities in Search and Recovery (bones in particular), Peak Performance Barking, Rescue Diving (Doggy Paddle only) and Begging for Cakes!! Come and say hello to Roxanne (bring cake!).