Oceanic Ventures Inc. Houston's Premier Scuba and Dive Shop

Need a reason to take that Trimix Course?

Eric Keibler — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:51:15 +0000

300ft down.. perfect reason for me to get hypoxic & expedition trimix certified. Such were the words of one of our clients, John Mittendorf. What was John talking about you ask? Well it seems a group of Swedish treasure hunters discovered a perfectly round object at the bottom of the Sea of Bethena off the coast of Sweden. According to the team, it is unusual because it is perfectly round and appears to have a “drag” clearing leading up to it.

Of course there are other reasons to take a Trimix course. Imagine being able to swim with huge sponges reaching out and up from the depths along the walls in Grand Cayman. Visit a turn of the century sailing ship in the Dry Tortugas or a WW II submarine from the United States and another from Germany; these await deep divers in the Dry Tortugas. There are some incredible sites waiting for Trimix divers around the world including, caves, wrecks and walls. Dave and I have been fortunate to have visited a number of them over the past few years and we are always looking for some other adventurous souls to join us.

John, may be right. This might just be the reason to continue his rebreather training to include Hypoxic and Expedition Trimix. Of course you will also need some practice in a dry suit.

Here is what CNN reported about the find:

From the Highlands to the Islands – A Tasting Event

Eric Keibler — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:53:27 +0000

Recently, David Morris and I were sipping on a special glass of uisge beatha, which was a recreation of the spirits carried by Shakelton on his Antarctic expedition when we both had an idea. Wouldn’t it be fun to do a Scotch whisky tasting? We did a bourbon tasting last year so it seemed only natural to shift our attention to Scotland. So, David being the resourceful person that he is came up with a plan and voila we had an event.

With a little more thinking, refinement and an ambassador or two, we have assembled a really fine event that will be a real treat for our Club Aquarius members and our guests. On February 23, we will be hosting Andrew Hyman, from Whyte and MacKay, who will be leading us on a tour of Scotland through our palettes. He has promised to bring us a selection of Whisky from The Dalmore Distillery and the Jura Distillery. To make this event even more special, we will be in the Whisky Bar of the Royal Oak Bar and Grille which is located at 3100 Westheimer. As Ann would say, this bar is decorated in old world stuffy so it is an appropriate location for our event.

If you are in the area or plan on being here, please join us for this special event. In order to bring enough whisky and hors d’oeuvres, we need to know you are coming. Please email us and let us know you will be joining us on 23 February 2012 at 7:00.

RSVP

Open Water Side Mount Scuba Diving

Eric Keibler — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:47:49 +0000

: Photograph by Pete Nawrocky

If you look through the various diving publications or look at current diving trends on the internet, you will find references to side mount diving. Have you ever wondered why? In order to help answer that question we should first talk about what side mount diving is.

Like the name implies, in side mount diving, you mount the cylinders on your side instead of on your back. This is accomplished using some clips on the bottles and the d-rings on your buoyancy control device, BCD. You can see a diver in side mount gear in the photo above.

So now that you have a basic understanding of what it is, you may still be wondering why? Side mount divers have a variety of resons fro switching to this method of diving. Of course technical divers have been doing this style of diviing for a long time in order to squeeze into tighter spaces; but recreational divers are discovering new reasons to try it.

One reason given by these divers is the fact that you can carry the bottles to the water or better yet to the boat’s dive platform one at a time and then enter the water with no cylinder. This allows you to reduce the strain on your back especially when you get to hand the bottles back up to the crew and climb out of the water with no cylinders on at all.

Another reason is simply a gas supply issue. This is especially desirable if you are a heavy breather. By carrying two bottles, you have a larger gas supply and can remain underwater longer. Yes, guys, this means you can stay down as long as your wife. An additional benefit is that by changing the placement of the cylinders, side mount divers trim out better or obtain a better, horizontal posture underwater.

You may be asking that if it is simply a matter of moving the bottles, why should I take a course to learn how to do it? That is a good question to ask. One of the things you will learn in class is how to configure your equipment to best carry the bottles. Another thing is the scheme of changing second stages as you swim underwater. In another lesson, you will learn how to deal with the bottles and the beginning and end of your dive so you don’t drop them to the bottom (a really bad thing especially when you are over a wall).

So, to put it simply, there is a lot of interest in lightinig the equipment load exiting or entering the boats for all of us. Side Mount divers also love the extra gas available! If you have not tried it, you should take a course and get started…it is a lot of fun.

To find out more about Open Water Side Mount diving, send Eric an email or leave a comment.

The next Open Water Side Mount Course is scheduled to begin 28 February 2012. Other classes are available. Email us for more information.

Andrew Trent Speaks at Club Aquarius

Eric Keibler — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:04:54 +0000

: Drew Trent and Ann Keibler

What a fun presentation Drew Trent, Vice President of Oceaneering’s Engineered Solutions Group, made at our Club Meeting last evening. It was a full house at the Black Labrador with no vacant seats available. For those of you who were not there, Drew spoke about a variety of topics including what his group does and their particiation in the BP incident in the Gulf. While he did not give a lot of particulars, he did talk about things his group and the ROV group did to help coordinate and bring a positive conclusion to that incident.

Of course, Drew also talked about his past life as a saturation diver in the North sea and his love of diving and sailing. He had photographs from these adventures as well as his early courses with Oceanic Ventures. He even recounted how a mixed gas dive supervisor was forced to take a series of diving courses beginning with the Principles of Technical diving through Trimix.

It was fun getting together with so many people to talk about diving and to have such an entertaining speaker. You can see photographs from the event by clicking here.

Don’t forget to put next month’s meeting on your calendar (23 February 2012). The topic is From the Highlands to the Islands – A Scotch Tasting Event .

Eric Keibler is in the News

Eric Keibler — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:08:08 +0000

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.

Dive Diva Trip October 2012

Eric Keibler — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:25:27 +0000

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.

Diving Rebreather Event Planned for Houston

Eric Keibler — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:42:05 +0000

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.

Al’s Pick – In-Store Special for January

Eric Keibler — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:24:59 +0000

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!

Club Aquarius Meeting Thursday 26 January 2012

Eric Keibler — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:16:05 +0000

Club Aquarius Guest Speaker, Andrew Trent,

Too Deep to See, the Development of Deep Water Technology

Join us as we welcome Andrew Trent, Vice President of Oceaneering International, Inc., Deep Water Engineering Services unit, for a discussion of deep water operations around the world. 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.

The details

Date: Thursday, 26 January 2012

Time: 7:00 pm

Location: The Black Labrador, 4100 Montrose, Houston, TX

Dinner: Cash bar and dinner

Holiday Hours

Eric Keibler — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 21:05:49 +0000

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.