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

(713) 523-3483 (dive)
5808 Newcastle Drive
Houston, TX 77401

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Eric Keibler

February 19, 2018 by Eric Keibler

Getting started with Underwater Photography

Photo by Zaide Scheib
Everyone like to have photographs of their experiences, and from their vacations and travels.  Divers are no different.  The only issue is that taking photographs and videos underwater requires a little bit of pre-planning and some different equipment — well sort of.
There are a number of ways to get started from jumping in with your GoPro to using your mobile phone in a case to take photographs.  But, what is the best way?  That is a difficult question to answer,  It all depends on where you are in your land photography and where you want to go with your underwater photography.  What so I mean by that?  Let’s look at this further further.

IPhone Camera User

If your primary camera is your iPhone or Android phone even on vacation, then you will probably be happy starting with a simple underwater camera.  These allow you to shoot video or still photographs and download them to your computer.  Most of these cameras save files in a JPG format.  However, some of the new models have a RAW file feature too.  Not sure what these terms mean, check-out part 2 of this article about digital files and processing.  Let’s just say that the JPG files are what you are used to seeing in your iPhone which means they have some processing done during the save function.  Some examples of these camera are the SeaLife Micro 2.0 and a GoPro.  You could also put your phone in a housing and take it with you.  Kraken makes a new housing for phones.

IPhone and Point and Shoot Camera User

If you use both an iphone and anther camera during your trips, you are probably trying to get better images or different images that what you can get with your phone.  For you, the SeaLife Micro 2.0 or the SeaLife DC 2000 might be good options.  Both have basic functions but also expand to let you “tweek” your photos and your experience.

Eric Keibler in Yap by Joe Thompson

DSLR & Mirrorless Camera Users

Now this is a wide-ranging area of underwater photography.  You could stick with the simpler camera from above or you can expand to take your land camera underwater in a housing.  A lot of it depends on what you want to accomplish underwater and how much you are willing to invest.  The housings for your underwater camera can cost more than your initial camera investment and then there are the strobes…  So you could look at the SeaLife DC2000 or a housing from Nauticam or Aquatica.

How to get started

Our Club Aquarius meeting this month will be focusing on “How to get Started in Underwater Photography.”  We will be discussing how to meet your various goals and what equipment you might consider.  We will also be discussing some things you can do to improve your photographs once you start with a system.

Club Aquatrius Meeting:

  • Speaker:  Zaide Scheib and Eric Keibler
  • When:     22 February 2018, 7:00 PM
  • Where:   The Black Labrador, 4100 Montrose Blvd.  Houston, TX

Filed Under: Club Aquarius, Photography, Social Activities, Underwater Tagged With: photography, underwater photography

February 5, 2018 by Eric Keibler

Wade's Excellent Scuba Diver Specialty Weekend

Wade in Truck with Snorkel
Let’s Go Diving!
Wade is hosting a Specialty Diver Weekend!  Now, before you tune it out, it isn’t until May so the water will be warm and the weather will be stunning (ok, the water will be warmer, we can’t guarantee the weather).  This is the perfect opportunity to improve your diving skills, become more confident in your diving and learn some valuable diving skills while having fun!

If it is in May, why mention it now?

I can hear you asking, “if it is not until May, why should I sign-up now?”  Because “now” is the perfect time to start reading the material; it is cold outside!  One of the requirements for a Specialty Diver Weekend is that you must complete all of the educational materials before you show up. By enrolling now, you

  1. Have time to complete your reading;
  2. Guarantee your space;
  3. Have time to make sure you have the required equipment for the program;
  4. Have time to purchase what you are missing; and
  5. Plan your contribution to the “Pot Luck Dinner” (remember as Eric says, Texas Diving is a BarBQ interrupted by diving).

What specialties can I take?

You can participate in a number of specialty programs this weekend including,

  • Nitrox
  • Navigation
  • Night & Limited Visibility
  • Search & Relocation

How Do I sign-up?

Enrolling in a class is “as easy as squeezy” as they say in Trinidad.  You can either call Dive Mom to sign-up or simply, click a button below, which will take you to the product to purchase it.  Either way, we will open up the training materials so you can get started and be ready for diving in May.
 

Filed Under: Classes and Training Tagged With: continuing education, diving skills, Scuba Dive Training, specialties, Training

January 24, 2018 by Eric Keibler

Diver's Trivia Night – Club Aquarius January

Dive Mom’s fabulous Trivia Game returns with all new challenges for divers.  Come test your diving and travel knowledge for some great prizes including a $50.00 Gift card and t-shirts.  So pull your team together and try your luck!
We have also posted the Club Dates for 2018…

  • January 25, 2018
  • February 22, 2018
  • March 22, 2018
  • April 19, 2018
  • May 17. 2018
  • June 21, 2018
  • July 19, 2018
  • August 16, 2018
  • September 20, 2018
  • October 18, 2018 – The year’s best videos
  • November 15, 2018
  • December 8, 2018 Store Open House
  • December 13 – Photo Contest Winners

Keep watching for all of the speakers, for this year’s meeting!

Join us at the Black Labrador!
Come join us on Thursday, 25 January 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Black Labrador.  We will be up in Cezanne’s for this meeting!

Filed Under: Club Aquarius, Social Activities Tagged With: Club Aquarius, Trivia

December 21, 2017 by Eric Keibler

Nollaig Shona agus Athbhlian faoi Mhaise Duit,

The staff of Oceanic Ventures wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

2018 is your year to go diving more!

 

____________________________________________________

Holiday Hours

 

  • December 24, Christmas Eve                                          Closed
  • December 25, Christmas Day                                          Closed
  • December 26, St Stephen’s Day                                      Closed
  • December 27-29 Acquire what you didn’t get week    12:00 – 6:00
  • December 30   Last shopping day of 2017                     10:00 – 4:00
  • December 31, New Year’s Eve                                          Closed
  • January 1,       New Year’s Day                                          Closed
  • January 2,        First Day of 2018                                      12:00 – 6:00

 

Filed Under: Sales and Fun, Staff Tagged With: Happy New Year, Holiday Hours, Merry Christmas

November 28, 2017 by Eric Keibler

No Jingling But Some Scuba Stocking "Stuffers"

Stocking Stuffing Ideas


It is the Christmas shopping season and if you are like me, you started noticing holiday decorations being put up in early October.  I have a hard time getting into the season before Halloween, Thanksgiving, and my Birthday.  But going into any store now, even HEB, you hear Christmas music and the trees are blinking.

One of our clients hurried over the day before Thanksgiving to do some shopping  and said “I wanted to come here to take a breath of quietness before all the rush begins.”  With that, Ann and I started thinking that maybe we all need a break from all of the constant holiday hype.  So this weekend we are offering you a break from all of this.  This is not to say that Oceanic Ventures has been taken over by Ebeneezer Scrooge but we want you to enjoy the holidays!

So, get a break from the ring-a-ling-ing, jingling, blinking, winking, and holiday singing.   There will be no bay-berry, cinnamon spice, evergreen,  nutmeg, or cookies;  ok, maybe we will have cookies or brownies.  Everyone needs a snack.   So we won’t have lights, greenery, blinking or endless Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby singing.  But we will have treats to eat and drink starting this week.  We will wrap your presents and even can arrange for delivery.  We will try our very best to have friendly and warm faces.  But the only decoration will be a very large red stocking, and maybe a wreath!

Why the stocking?

Why!  Because everyone needs a few little things to add to their diving system!  Even if your diving friend who  “has everything” there are still some little things they need.  Come by and let us help you fill up your stocking and have an adult beverage and a cookie too!

Filed Under: Sales and Fun, Social Activities Tagged With: Christmas, Holiday, Stocking Stuffers

November 13, 2017 by Eric Keibler

Scuba Santa 2018

Travis Hershey Stars as the Scuba Santa
Santa is Waiting For You

We had a great time this past weekend with Santa underwater at the West University Recreation Center Pool!  The kids had a great time finding Santa hanging out underwater and Mom & Dad have fun holiday cards to send out.  If you are a Houstonian member or know a member, Santa will be visiting the Houstonian this weekend.  There are still some spaces so if you want to have your photo made with Santa, you need to hurry and call the member services group to set-up a time.

  • What: Santa In the Pool
  • Where: Houstonian Hotel, & Spa
  • When: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
  • Note: The Houstonian is a members only club so you must be a member of have a member set it up for you to have your photo made here.

On Wednesday, Santa will be at the Houston Racket Club with the Kinkaid Swim Team and the Houston Racket Club Swim Team and some of their members.
 
So you can see, he really gets around when he is town!

Filed Under: Children, Photography, Sales and Fun Tagged With: Santa, Santa Claus, underwater photography

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