What is Club Aquarius?

Have you ever wanted to meet with divers of differing experience levels some who enjoy discussing their latest vacation or photographic safari? Would you like to hear about new destinations from people who have been there or about new equipment from the users and company personnel?

Club Aquarius International is a group of diving enthusiasts who want to be able to maximize their dive time year round, meet new divers and always keep up to date on the latest diving travel, education and equipment.

Oceanic Ventures, Inc. sponsors a local chapter and provides its members with local activities and additional benefits at the facility including member only special discounts.

What are this year’s events?

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26 January 2012March 2011 – Too Deep to See, the Development of Deep Water Technology with Andrew Trent

Andrew Trent is the Vice President of Oceaneering International, Inc., Deep Water Engineering Services unit. Oceaneering is a Houston based global provider of deepwater diving, ROV, and engineering services with offices around the world. Their clients are the whose who of offshore oil drilling and production companies including Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon and British Petroleum.

A native of Canada, Andrew began diving in the early 1970’s, prowling the wrecks around southern Ontario. His early adventures thrust him into a career in the offshore diving business, where he worked extensively with saturation and one-atmospheric diving systems. When he was not puttering on his sailboat, he could be found working in the oil patches of the North Sea, Gulf of Mexico or the US and Canadian Arctic.

His feet are firmly planted on the ground now, and he continues to wreck and cave dive from his Houston home. Always interested in cutting edge diving technology, he uses his rebreather most days, and his camera is rarely out of reach.

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23 February 2012 - From the Highlands to the Islands – A tasting Event with Andrew Hyman and David Morris

Oceanic Ventures is proud to welcome Andrew Hyman of Whyte and MacKay for a special event of mystery and adventure.  Come with us as we experience the unique flavors of some of Scotland’s whiskies while learning more about the regions and people who produce them.  Andrew will be leading the group on a tasting adventure featuring whisky from several parts of Scotland.  You will be tasting spirits that have been hidden away for 12 to 18 years, produced in stills that have been in operation for more than 100 years.

Andrew Hymam is the South Texas Market Manager for Whyte and MacKay Americas, the owner of some of Scotland’s finest distilleries.  David is a sales and marketing representative for Glazier’s, the largest wholesale distributor of liquor in Texas with over ten years of experience in the hospitality industry.  David is a native of the United States Virgin Islands which gives him a unique viewpoint on the sugar and rum industry.  He is also an avid snorkeler, diver and unpaid spokesman for the US Virgin Islands.

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31 March 2012 – Rebreather Diving, Innovation, Exploration and Discovery – an Evening with Leon Scamahorn

Rebreathers have opened up new horizons and have allowed divers to go to new depths and have lead to new discoveries.  Come meet Leon Scamahorn as he describes his passion for diving and his quest to build the finest rebreather in the world.

Leon Scamahorn is a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer with a passion for diving.  He is one of the founders and is currently the CEO of Inner Space Systems, Inc., the builder of the Megalodon and Pathfinder rebreahers. 

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26 April 2012 - A View of My World as a Traveler and Diver, in Photographs with Ann Keibler

Ann has been traveling almost all of her life.  Her Father loved to travel and he took the family on camping outings to all of the National parks in the Western United States and a number of state parks as well.  One of the reasons she started diving was to travel more.  Little did she know that she would travel the globe with lots of her “close warm personal friends” and meet people froom all walks of like.  Her personality is infections and she attracts people, especially children, where ever she ventures.  The cool thing is that she is also a photographer and she has captured lots of these encounters on film and digital files.  Come visit with Ann as she introduces you to her World…

Ann is a Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor and diver  with SSI and an Instructor Certifier and Trainer with both NASDS and SSI.  She is originally from Arizona and received her Masters of Business Administration from Arizona State University.  She has been involved in Scuba instruction since 1990 and outdoor education since 1975.  Her diving career has taken her from the Caribbean to the Pacific, the Middle East and the Far East.  Ann loves to tell people that she specializes in chickens.  If you want to be a diver, she will get you there!__________________________________________________________________________

24 May 2012 - TBA (something special is in the works)

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David with his wife Marissa

28 June 2012 - Sugar & Rum – Plantations, Pirates, Explorers and the Spirit in the Caribbean with David Morris

The Caribbean produced more than gold for the European powers, it created an entire new industry and the “fuel” that kept the sailing ships operating. David will introduce you to many of the players in the Caribbean and the development of a new wealth based on sugar and rum throughout the islands. 

And while this new wealth developed so did the refinement of the spirits produced in the new world.  Taste the differences that set various rums apart and how distillers achieve their own special blends. 

David is a sales and marketing representative for Glazier’s, the largest wholesale distributor of liquor in Texas with over ten years of experience in the hospitality industry.  David is a native of the United States Virgin Islands which gives him a unique viewpoint on the sugar and rum industry.  He is also an avid snorkler, diver and unpaid spokesman for the US Virgin Islands.

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Stephen Brennan Dancing in Fiji

26 July 2012 – Dehydration & Diving, Exploring the Myths and Facts. What every diver should know. – with Stephen Brennan, M.D.

Scuba Steve presents a lively and entertaining look at Dehydration as it applies to divers. His speaking style is down to earth, educational and above all entertaining!

A graduate of Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Steve is a Nephrologist and heads a practice of like minded physicians and is currently Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He completed his residency at Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago and his Nephrology fellowship at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis. Dr. Brennan has numerous articles on various aspects of kidney function and disease and is board certified in both internal medicine and nephrology.

Scuba was a late in life discovery for Steve and his family; but you would never know it in talking to him. He has been diving all around the world, including two trips to Truk Lagoon. His passion for diving is infectious and he attempts to bring everyone he knows into diving and cannot believe it when they don’t dive in with him.

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23 August 2012 - Perfect Focus – Underwater Photography to Capture Your Imagination with Ed Erwin

Ed Erwin is so enthusiastic about photography, he still has his Brownie Instamatic given to him by his parents when he was a child. Ed’s travel stories and photographs have appeared in the Houston Chronicle – Texas Magazine, The Wyoming Outdoorsman, Colorado Outdoors and New Mexico Wildlife. When Ed travels, his 6oo mm F4 lens always draws attention, but people are really fascinated when he uses his Sea & Sea DX-2G underwater camera – on land. The Wide Angle and Macro Len attachments to the 2G have opened two new areas to explore in photography.

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David Snyder on Megalodon Rebreather

27 September 2012 - Hidden History – Wrecks, The Time Capsules of Days Past with David Snyder

David Snyder has always loved diving wrecks.  While he had been wreck diving for years, his journey into technical diving started innocently with a trip to Bikini Atoll in the Pacific.  Diving there, he and his wife Martha decided they did not know enough to be doing those types of dives so they continued their education through open circuit Trimix diving.  Of course, David’s hobby soon got out of control and he moved on to rebreathers and becoming an instructor.  He is now both an Open Circuit Trimix Instructor and a Closed Circuit Rebreather Instructor.  His loves of wrecks has taken him all over the world to some very unusual spots. 

David is a former banking officer who retired early and chose to occupy his spare time teaching Scuba.  He has his MBA in Finance.  He is also an avid underwater photographer traveling extensively throughout the South Pacific and the Caribbean.  

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25 October 2012 - Beyond the Discovery Channel, The Exciting Underwater World that You Can Visit with Eric Keibler

You watch those underwater shows on the Discovery Channel and A&E with amazement.  Watching these episodes can make anyone want to be an explorer.  This is your opportunity to go diving with Eric as he entertains you with a lively presentation and some incriduble photographs.  As Eric likes to say, “you can be a star in your own adventure; you just have to get out and go diving!“

Eric is a Platinum Pro 5000 Instructor with SSI and an Instructor Trainer, Trainer  with IANTD, NASDS and SSI.  He is a native Texan and received his Bachelors in Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Tech University.  He has been involved in Scuba instruction since 1988.  His diving experience has taken him from the Caribbean to the far reaches of the earth including Bikini Atoll, Truk Lagoon and Thailand.  Eric is a published author, professional photographer and serves as a member of the International Board of Advisers for IANTD and is a founding board member of the for the United States Deep Diving Foundation. 

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8 November 2012 - Nature and Art, The Influences of Culture on Artwork and Handicrafts with

Growing up as Navajo, , was influenced by hundreds of years of tradition and culture.  As they began exploring their culture through their art, these traditions influence their art even as they adapt them to new forms of experession.  You can see this same influence in the art of other peoples around the world.

Join us as we welcome, , who will talk about the influences of the Navajo tradition on their art and their lives.  They will have artwork to show and you have the opportunity to purchase some truly outstanding pieces of art and having it signed by the artists themselves.

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