Eric Keibler is in the News

January 25, 2012 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

Eric Keibler and Oceanic Ventures made the newspaper in Grand Cayman this morning!

The Cayman Compass publised Eric’s photograph and a note about the upcoming Rebreather Scuba Diving Event in Houston on March 29-April 1, 2012.

See the post here.

We hope everyone in the Houston area will join us for a unique evnt which featuers rebreather trials in the pool, presentations by Leon Scamahorn, CEO of Inner Space Systems and dinner with Leon on Saturday evening.

Form more information, please email Eric.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Charity, Photography, Presentations, Rebreather, Scuba Diving Activities, Social Activities Tagged With: charity, Dive Travel, Megalodon, Pathfinder, photography, Rebreather

Dive Diva Trip October 2012

January 25, 2012 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

The Dive Divas in Costa Rica

Dive Diva/Rock Beauty Semi-Annual Weekend Adventure to Cozumel Mexico El Presidente Intercontinental Hotel

October 19-23, 2012

Join us for a weekend of fun, sun, diving, spa, touring, beverages with beach umbrellas, snorkeling, and rest……. Friday thru Tuesday. The dive staff at SCUBA Du will offer valet dive service and beautiful fast boats so that we can be back in time for lunch and umbrella drinks on the beach. Or spend the afternoon in town shopping for Holiday gifts for friends and co-workers. One afternoon Ann will organize a trip to tour the Mayan Ruins and a visit to the beaches on the East side of the island. The spa has offered our group a 15% discount on all services booked in advance for our group. Night dives and night snorkeling available.

Package includes: RT Air from Houston to Cozumel via Continental Airlines, 5 days/ 4 nights El Presidente Intercontinental Resort Hotel, 3 days of two tank boat diving, plus a boat dive the day of arrival, air taxes on base fare, welcome cocktail, American breakfast buffet, transfers to the hotel, beach cylinders, weights, water on board, hotel taxes/resort fee, trip brochure and packet, trip shirt, and travel leader….Ann.
Fare: $1595 per person for Club Aquarius Members ($1545 dfc and club). $500 deposit due January 1. Final payment due on April 1, 2012. Trip insurance recommended, diving insurance required.
Not Included: Nitrox, extra boat diving, tips for the local staff, marine park fee, shopping, increases in air taxes, tours and entrance to the Mayan ruins. Space is Limited.

Dive Mom. Sign Me Up; I want to go diving!

Club Aquarius is an International Diving Club. Oceanic Ventures sponsors a local chapter. Membership is $75 pp family for a year and $65 for individuals.

Membership benefits include travel discounts, discounts on classes, monthly equipment specials, meetings, door prizes, a card and a gift.

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Price and availability subject to change until booked. Trip insurance is recommended as all deposits are non-refundable unless the trip runs full and replacement found.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Scuba Diving Activities, Social Activities, Travel Tagged With: Cozumel, Dive Diva, Dive Travel, diving, Mexico, Travel, underwater photography

Diving Rebreather Event Planned for Houston

January 19, 2012 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

Press Release

Oceanic Ventures and InnerSpace Systems are hosting a weekend of rebreather events March 29 – April 3, 2012. The program will include lectures, pool demos of a new recreational rebreather, the Pathfinder, and a benefit dinner with keynote speaker Leon Scamahorn, CEO and founder of InnerSpace Systems.

The rebreather demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The benefit dinner will include a raffle, door prizes, and photo program of rebreather diving around the world. All proceeds of the event will benefit Oceanic Ventures Foundation. The focus of the event will be to help the Bonaventure Boys’ home in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman has been the leading destination for rebreather divers with the first rebreather only event, Zero Gravity in 2000 and was later replaced by Inner Space with Dive Tech, which is celebrating its ninth year in 2012.

Eric Keibler, Managing Director and Director of Education for Oceanic Ventures says, ‘rebreathers are the latest trend in diving enabling divers to discover the underwater world in relative silence without disturbing the fish. This allows you to get closer to the fish and other creatures. Photographers find them to be a wonderful tool and a enjoyable way to go diving.” According to Ann Keibler, President of Oceanic Ventures, “this is a fun event that will allow divers to experience what it is like to dive silently underwater with no bubbles while helping out children.”

The Bonaventure Boys’ Home is a not for profit government funded Foundation that is a part of The CAYS Foundation (Children and Youth Services) in Grand Cayman. The Boy’s Home serves at risks boys and families that need help to achieve their full potential. Jennifer Leach-Tippetts, Bonaventure Boys’ Home Facility Manager commented “We appreciate donations to help fund extra programmes and supplies for our resident and we greatly appreciate any donations Oceanic Venture Foundation is able to give to The Bonaventure Boys’ Home. The monies raised will be used to purchase recreational equipment, resident outings, summer camp fees, clothing and shoes, rewards for incentive programmes and/or bedroom furniture for parents’ homes in preparation for transition.

Eric and his wife Ann have developed Oceanic Ventures into the premiere dive operation in Texas. As the first full service IANTD Technical Training Facility in Texas, Oceanic Ventures was the first Nitrox training facility, and the first Nitrox and Trimix blending facility in the area. Oceanic Ventures remains the only IANTD Platinum Technical Training Facility in Texas and was awarded a Diamond Facility award from IANTD. It is also an SSI Platinum Instructor Training Facility, a SDI/TDI Professional Development Center, and a PSAI Training Facility. Oceanic Ventures is the only facility in the area with rebreather instructors on staff. The Company’s staff remains the most qualified instructional staff in the industry with most of its instructors and dive coordinators having advanced certifications in Rebreather Diving, Cavern, Cave, Wreck, Technical and Trimix Training.

InnerSpace Systems Corp. (ISC) is a United States based company located in Centralia Washington. It was founded in 1999 and is known internationally as a top competitor in the manufacturing and development is of highly innovative customized closed circuit rebreathing systems. ISC is comprised of dedicated real world experienced engineering and support personnel. InnerSpace Systems Corporation is able to conduct rapid engineering and prototyping of new ideas and quickly turn them into a final product that can meet customer specifications and regulatory requirements. The Company manufactures a full line of diving rebreathers for both technical and recreational divers. Their newest model, the Pathfinder, is designed for recreational divers.

Filed Under: Presentations, Scuba Diving Activities, Scuba Diving Equipment, Social Activities Tagged With: Megalodon, Pathfinder, presentation, Rebreather, Technical Diving, Technical Diving.Rebreather Diving, underwater photography

Al’s Pick – In-Store Special for January

January 19, 2012 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

We have often wondered what goes on in the store at night while everyone else is away. Well, in the past, All appears to have finished off the beer and watched some movies on NetFlix. However, Ann gave him a new task which has kept him busier…find an item in the store and then promote for the month. The best part is, Club Aquarius members get special pricing on Al’s Picks!

This month Al found a new Oceanic Ventures Logo Wear Vest. As you can see from the photo with Alex, these are stylish vests and they are warm too!

These are so cool looking, the staff all have one and they know you will want one too.

Al’s Pick of the month… reg. 59.95

Club Member pricing now 49.95 or for the family 39.95 for 3 or more.

Get your now, supplies are limited!

Filed Under: Scuba Diving Equipment Tagged With: Al's Pick, equipment specials

Holiday Hours

December 24, 2011 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

Wondering when to come by the facility during the holidays? The holiday hours are posted on the door but to keep you from having to look at the door, here are the holiday hours:

Christmas Eve (December 24) 9:00 to 3:00
Christmas Day (December 25) Closed
St Stephens Day (December 26) Closed
New Years Eve (December 31) Closed
New Year Day (January 1) Closed
First Monday (January 2) Open as usual

If you need us at other times, send us an email message and someone will get back to you.

Nollaig Shona Duit!

Filed Under: Sales and Fun Tagged With: Holiday Hours

Diving Rebreather Event Planned in Houston March 29 – April 3

December 19, 2011 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

PRESS RELEASE: Oceanic Ventures and InnerSpace Systems are hosting a weekend of rebreather events March 29 – April 3, 2012. The program will include lectures, pool demos of a new recreational rebreather, the Pathfinder, and a benefit dinner with keynote speaker Leon Scamerhorn, CEO and founder of InnerSpace Systems.

The rebreather demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The benefit dinner will include a raffle, door prizes, and photo program of rebreather diving around the world. All proceeds of the event will benefit Oceanic Ventures Foundation. The focus of the event will be to help the Bonaventure Boys home in Grand Cayman. Grand Cayman has been the leading destination for rebreather divers with the first rebreather only event, Zero Gravity in 2000 and was later replaced by Inner Space with Dive Tech, which is celebrating its ninth year in 2012. There will be also be a silent auction and giveaways during the event.

Eric Keibler, Managing Director and Director of Education for Oceanic Ventures says, “rebreathers are the latest trend in diving enabling divers to discover the underwater world in relative silence without disturbing the fish. This allows you to get closer to the fish and other creatures. Photographers find them to be a wonderful tool and a enjoyable way to go diving.” According to Ann Keibler, President of Oceanic Ventures, “this is a fun event that will allow divers to experience what it is like to dive silently underwater with no bubbles while helping out children.”

Details of the event will be announced soon. You can contact Ann for more details.

Filed Under: Charity, Rebreather, Rebreathers, Scuba Diving Activities, Scuba Diving Equipment, Social Activities Tagged With: auction, party, presentation, Rebreather, Technical Diving, Technical Diving.Rebreather Diving, underwater photography

Christmas, Lights and Moisturizer

November 29, 2011 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

With the passing of the Thanksgiving holiday, the Christmas & holiday season swings into high gear. Holidayparties start occupying weekends and many weeknights, there are office luncheons, and times to overdose on holiday treats all coming up over the next three weeks.

At the store, we bowed to pressure and Alex put up the Christmas decorations two weeks ago and even found Al’s Santa Hat. Dive Mom has already been wrapping packages (remember we have free gift wrapping) and Alex has been shipping gifts out to divers not in town. People have been shopping (but there is still a number of you who have not been by or called to complete your Holiday Wish list). The gift card and specials drawing box is beginning to fill with names but the odds of winning the $500.00 gift certificate are still favorable.

As the weather gets colder and you turn on your heaters, you may find your lips and skin drying out more. Since we are used to the humidity here inHouston, we notice this drying action more. So, it is important to sooth your skin and lips to put back moisture and protect your skin. If you are at a loss about what to use, we have some wonderful products fromFijithat put back essential moisture as well as reminding you about those wonderful days in the sun.

In between your shopping trips and wrapping (for those items you did not get from the dive store), this is the time to finish putting up your Christmas lights. To give you a little inspiration, I found a video to help you plan your lighting. Let me know what you think!

Filed Under: Scuba Diving Equipment Tagged With: Christmas, Pure Fiji, Santa Claus

Thanksgiving, Jazz and Antiques

November 28, 2011 By Eric Keibler Leave a Comment

: Cat & Jessica, bartenders at the Phoenix Jazz Club in Kansas City

“It was a champion day today when I got up and I’m carrying it with me all day!” I heard this comment from a gentleman while we were touring the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. Yes, Ann and I took a non diving vacation, all be it a short one for the Thanksgiving holiday. We spent the Holiday visiting my brother, Jason Keibler, inKansas City and exploring some of the sites around town. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is fascinating with photographs, films and stories from league players and promoters. In the center is a baseball diamond with large bronze statues of some of the greats in the game at their positions on the field, much like an all-star team.

Another stop was the American Jazz Museum (which happens to be next to theBaseballMuseum). Here you find recordings, instruments and costumes from great players including one of my favorites, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. While many of the listening stations did not work, the museum was interesting and tracked the changes in American Jazz.

Jason then continued on the Jazz theme by recommending drinks and live entertainment at the Phoenix Jazz Club on 8^thstreet. While we listened to Lonnie McFadden and later to Dave Stephens, the Makers Mark Manhattans, gin and vodka martinis were served expertly prepared by Jessica and Cat who constantly mixed libations for a bar full of Jazz enthusiasts. Jessica also manages the club so she was often called by name to the stage for comments and banter with the musicians, especially Dave Stevens.

We had only intended to stay for a few drinks and then move on to another dinner location, however, we were having such a good time listening to the music and talking to others in the bar and among ourselves that we decided to stay. Of course Cat told us we really had to stay to listen to Dave because he put on “a really fun show;” so bowing to pressure we had dinner there and finished the evening at the bar. If you are ever inKansas City, you really have to drop in for some cold beverages and some cool Jazz. Be sure to tell Jessica that Ann and Eric, the scuba people fromHouston, sent you. You will not be disappointed.

A trip toKansas Citywould not be complete without a visit to Kincaid Antiques. Cindy always has some unique items in her store and some sale squirreled away in her basement. It is a treat to visit with her and look at some wonderful pieces of history. Of course, no one left empty handed.

Ann and I are back are inHoustonnow; and, I have to return to my diet. Luckily, we left all of the extra stuffing, mashed potatoes, pecan pie, etc. at Jason’s house. So, even if I was tempted, the food is not here. Instead or craving more food, it is time to help people complete their Christmas and Chanukah wish lists (hint, hint). So, if you need help with your holiday shopping – Dive Mom is back!