STAFF
Brian "Busty" Busteed 
Busty learned to dive on Norfolk Island in 1983, continuing to explore its pristine reefs for seven years. On Norfolk, Busty completed his courses up to dive master. In 1990, he left for Sydney where he undertook the PADI instructor course.
In November 1990, Busty began diving and instructing on Lord Howe Island, and in 1995 established Howea Divers Pty Ltd.
In 1998, Busty discovered the diving at Ball's Pyramid, and located several Ballina Angelfish (Chaetodontoplus Ballinae) which were thought to be extinct.
He has been on Lord Howe Island Marine Park Advisory Committee (LHIMPAC) since its inception, and has been instumental in bringing the Maritime Archaeologist from NSW Heritage office in 2004. Over the years, he has hosted and guided many top researchers and professionals, including Dr. Peter Harrison from Southern Cross University in Sydney.
Today, Busty has logged over 5000 dives. He has dived Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island extensively, and has travelled and dived at the Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, Sydney, Middleton Reef, Vanauatu, Isle of Pines and Fiji. He has achieved his Master Scuba Diver Trainer certification, and continues to teach and guide tourists, experienced divers and professionals around the pristine reefs of Lord Howe Island.
Busty's favourite dive site: The Aquarium - Ball's Pyramid
Peter Busteed
Peter learnt to dive at Norfolk Island in 1987, and finished his Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver and Divemaster during his stay there. In addition to diving Norfolk Island, Peter has dived Lord Howe Island extensively, Isle of Pines, Fiji and Malta.
Peter took over Islander Cruises in 1994, and developed the North Bay snorkeling tour of the wreck of "The Favourite." Today Peter has expanded his services and runs daily North Bay and snorkeling tours around the island, in addition to sunset cruises and custom excursions. He also organises full day BBQ's at North Bay with Ian Hutton, cooking your food while you snorkel the wreck, fish, lie on the beach in the sun, or explore Old Gultch and the Herring Pools.
Peter's favourite dive/snorkel site : Erscott's Hole
Todd Thimios
Todd is originally from Brisbane and Cairns, but found paradise and decided to stay. He completed his dive courses including Padi Instructor in Queensland, but has also lived, worked and dived throughout the islands of Vanauatu, Borneo and throughout Indonesia.
He has spent three years instructing on Lord Howe Island, and has logged over 1000 dives in his diving career; needless to say, he loves getting wet. He is a certified Coxswain and often takes the helm of our dive boat, "The Blue Groper."
Todd's favourite dive site: The Aquarium - Ball's Pyramid
Mel completed her Padi Open Water diver course with the Manly Dive Centre in Sydney. In between uni (She has two degrees and is a trained vetrinarian!), she pursued her diver training straight through to Divemaster with Busty on Lord Howe Island.
She loves the amazing variety of fish, hard and soft corals found around the island, and is a knowledgeable underwater naturalist. Having worked hard over the last few years, she decided to take a break from her hectic schedule to continue diving and helping out around the boatshed.
She has previously dived the Great Barrier Reef, Murion Islands, Guttermouth (WA) and Southwest Rocks (NSW). She's an avid diver and has logged over 100 dives. Mel has a great knowlege of island life, endemic marine species and dive sites around Lord Howe.
Mel's favourite dive site: Malabar
Ryan is currently on a Working-Holiday from Canada after completing an honours degree in Media Studies and Public Relations from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto, Ontario. He took his PADI Open Water course with Busty in September 2006 while working on the island at a resort and quickly fell in love with diving, the island's unique marine life, and the friendly island atmosphere. He left the island for three months, diving the Whitsunday Islands, Magnetic Island including the famous "Yongala" wreck off Townsville, and the Outer Great Barrier Reef off Port Douglas before returning to Lord Howe Island to work for Busty.
Ryan recently finished his Rescue Diver training with Busty and Todd, and is currently working on his Divemaster certification. He continues to log dives and study the island's marine life.
In addition, Ryan is playing the role of webmaster, programming and maintaining the new Howea Divers website. He also keeps a concise blog of his time on the island, including details of all the unique marine flora and fauna he encounters on his dives.
Ryan's favourite dive site: The Arch
Heather Patterson
Heather is a marine biologist specialising in reef fish ecology. She received her PhD from James Cook University and worked on reef fish on the Great Barrier Reef before heading to Lord Howe Island in 2003 as part of her post-doctoral research project through the University of Melbourne.
She has returned for roughly three months a year for the last three years, most revently as the Lord Howe Island Marine Park Manager. During her time on the island she has logged over 350 dives and has become good friends with Busty and Peter. She is currently working on her Rescue Diver training with Busty and Todd, and often helps out around the boatshed.
Heather's favourite dive site: No Name Rock
Dave Holden
Dave first came to Lord Howe Island in 2004 to help out in the boatshed. He is a certified dive master, and has logged many dives around LHI and throughout Australia.
He returned for six weeks in Summer 2007 but has recently returned to Sydney to pursue other endeavors.
Dave's favourite dive site: Treasure Trove - Ball's Pyramid
Vicky Busteed
Peter's wife has been an Open Water Diver since 1988. Her first dive holiday was on Lord Howe Island in 1989.
Vicky's baking skills are second to none, and her homemade chocolate cake has been a hit with Islander Cruises clients over the years.
Vic's favourite dive site: Comet's Hole
Brooke Busteed
Brooke learnt to dive last April and has logged over 23 dives to date.
She has dived all of the lagoon's dive sites as well as the outer reef, Malabar and Admiralty Islands.
Brooke's favourite dive site: Malabar
Noah Busteed
Noah has completed six Bubblemaker scuba dives at Ned's beach and in the lagoon, and can't wait until he's 10 to get his Open Water certification.
Noah is our first mate on the dive and snorkel boats. He is also the youngest person to have witnessed the coral spawning phenomenon at North Bay during January '07.
Noah's favourite dive site: Ned's beach
