Winter Weather
Eric Keibler Feb 20, 2021
As I sit at home, luckily with power, I really begin to think, “I need to visit a different latitude!” Houston is in the middle of an unusual weather event (the last similar one was in 1988) that has resulted in freezing temperatures, sleet, ice, and terrible snow! Additionally, a number of our friends are without power and/or without water. It is just crazy. Now for those living in northern climates, this may seem like a normal day in winter; but you have to remember Houston is a more tropical city where freezing weather is about 32 degrees and lasts only one day.
This just adds to the strange life we have been living with the current pandemic. I think I just need to escape it all and go diving — not an easy task right now either! The local lakes are in the 50’s or worse and much of the Caribbean is closed. But there is hope, many places are starting to open. Sure they have some unusual entry requirements (COVID Test before boarding the plane, extra entry documentation, COVID test on arrival, quarantines, etc.) but the fact is that more places are opening for diving.
We had a wonderful trip to Cozumel in December. The staff at the El Presidente and Scuba Du helped us feel welcome and safe. In fact one client remarked that he felt safer there than he did in Houston. In May, I am taking a group to Socorro to dive with mantas, sharks and most especially near huge bait balls! It promises to be a really spectacular trip!
To me, this means that there is hope despite the immediate setbacks we are experiencing. The cold is limiting what we can do and we have closed the store for a few days due to the weather (and well there is no power there right now anyway.) But this will pass and the warm weather will return. It is supposed to be 70 degrees on Sunday! People worldwide are receiving vaccines and various governments are trying to find ways to open up their economies and welcome tourists again.
To help you begin to dream of different latitudes, we have a fun Club Aquarius Social Club meeting on Thursday with some fun people talking about Palau.
I am in need of a different latitude and I look forward to getting out and diving! I am sure I am not alone!
Author: Eric Keibler
Eric’s Father used to say that Odessa (where Eric grew up) was the hub of water in the state. You can drive 500 miles in any direction and hit water but there was nothing in-between. So it is not surprising that Eric moved to the coat to be nearer to water and trees. An avid diver and sailor, Eric loves being on the water. He serves as the Managing Director for Oceanic Ventures, Houston’s premier Scuba Diving facility where he teaches both recreational and technical diving. He is also an accomplished author, photographer and sailor.
