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

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

Eric Keibler

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Photo Hints – Reef Shooting, Using Lights

By Tobias Friedrich

When shooting corals, it’s important to have powerful underwater lighting with a high color rendering like the Sea Dragon 3000F to be able to capture all the colors of the reef. 

Shoot the image when the fish are around the reef, like these Anthias, swimming closely out of the corals preferably in one direction. Shoot several exposures so you’ll capture the best moment.

Equipment: SportDiver Housing with iPhone 12 Max Pro using 0.5x iPhone Lens, Sea Dragon 3000F

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

SportDiver Underwater Smartphone Housing

SL400-U  Available now!

The SportDiver underwater housing works with iPhone® 7 through the 13 Pro Max and most Android phones. Check if a phone fits and is compatible here. The SportDiver includes a color correcting red filter that brings back lost underwater colors. The best way to get breathtaking images and brilliant video underwater with your phone is with the Sea Dragon 3000F or the complete SportDiver Pro 2500 smartphone housing & photo-video light set.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679 Available Now! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Come On In…the Water Is Fine in October

September and October have been a blast up at the lakes! The outdoor West Bellaire pool was colder than the lake last weekend. This mean you shoudl take the time and join us for some fun local diving!

We spent the first weekend in October down at Mammoth Lake. The visability was great and the water was still warm — no drysuits yet! I had my newest group od Open Water Side Mount students join me for three tours of the lake while performing some fun skills for Joe Thompson and me. Thir perfomances were good and they looked like they were actually enjoying themselves on the third dive.

We also had a group of “just for fun” divers up there as well as two of our newest DPV divers .

Be sure to congratulations to all of the Open Water Side Mount divers!

This past weekend, Ryan completed his Open Water Class with Joel! and Rich rejoined the underwater world after a small 10+ year hiatus. Cora even took his wife snorkeling to find the elusive turtles hiding in the grass up at Blue Lagoon.

Be sure to congratulate Ryan and welcome Rich back to diving!

  • New Open Water Diver

There are still a few weekends left in October which means that there is still time for you to join us for some fun local diving. See our Events Calendar or call Dive Mom!

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Photo Hints – Keep Calm for Best Results

By Tobias Friedrich

Move calmly in the water and don’t make too many motions, especially not towards the animal, and they’ll tend to come closer to you; like this Hawksbill Turtle. This allows shots of the front and sides which is always good. Approach sharks and other animals the same way.

Equipment: SeaLife Micro 3.0, Sea Dragon 3000F

Settings: Deep Water White Balance

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set

SL552Ideal for colorful, sharp stills and videos, the Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set includes the Sea Dragon 3000F Photo-Video Light, Micro 3.0 Camera, Flex-Connect Single Tray and Grip for optimal stability and handling. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 camera offers easy set-up with automatic and manual image setting options. The Sea Dragon 3000F Light has a Color Rendering Index of 80, with a 5000k color temperature to simulate natural sunlight. Sea Dragon Photo/Video Lights reveal beautiful colors in underwater photos and videos.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679

Try the NEW SL554 Micro 3.0 Pro Dual Beam Set! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Photo Hint – Shoot for Best Composition

By Tobias Friedrich

Good composition is always important, especially if you have enough time to frame a subject like this coral reef rock. Try to take a few minutes and swim around the subject, while holding your camera towards it and checking the camera display’s live view. Shoot a few images from each direction and later choose the best one after you’ve downloaded the images. And next time, you’ll know which perspective worked best.

Equipment: SeaLife Micro 3.0, Sea Dragon 3000F

Settings: Deep Water White Balance

If you’d like a copy of the above underwater image, please email: lindsay@pioneer-research.com

Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set

SL552Ideal for colorful, sharp stills and videos, the Micro 3.0 Pro 3000 Set includes the Sea Dragon 3000F Photo-Video Light, Micro 3.0 Camera, Flex-Connect Single Tray and Grip for optimal stability and handling. The SeaLife Micro 3.0 camera offers easy set-up with automatic and manual image setting options. The Sea Dragon 3000F Light has a Color Rendering Index of 80, with a 5000k color temperature to simulate natural sunlight. Sea Dragon Photo/Video Lights reveal beautiful colors in underwater photos and videos.

Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam

SL679

Try the NEW SL554 Micro 3.0 Pro Dual Beam Set! The compact Sea Dragon 3000SF Pro Dual Beam Photo-Video light has a large COB LED, delivering 3000 lumens in an even 120° wide beam. The light offers an impressive 90 CRI (color rendering index) with a proprietary COB LED array that replicates natural sunlight (A CRI of 100 would be just like natural sunlight). With a simple one-button push, the underwater photographer can switch from the wide 120° beam to a narrow 1500 lumen 15° spot beam. For imaging, the spot beam offers many creative opportunities such as to create a narrowly focused snoot or stage spotlight effect.

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Sea of Cortez – Mobulas and Orcas

Air Plane Spotted Mobulas and Orcas Expedition

May 6 -May 14, 2023

Overview

Embarking on our luxurious 116 ft expedition yacht, the Nautilus Gallant Lady, we’ll follow this epic migration across the Sea of Cortez. Suitable for snorkelers, swimmers and divers of all experience levels and fitness, we’ll put you in the water for virtually unlimited time with schools of mobulas. 

If the rays are on the move, some encounters might only last minutes, but other encounters might last for an hour or longer, and sometimes the mobulas will even allow you into the middle of their squadron. The icing on the cake? Experience special night encounters with schooling rays as they swarm around our dive lights in shallow protected bays…

The Sea of Cortez is home to many different and exciting migrations of megafauna, including one of our favorites, the Munk’s Pygmy Devil Ray (Mobula munkiana). From April to July, hundreds of thousands of mobulas gather in dense schools. Where there are mobulas, there are killer whales (Orcinus orca). We use dedicated aircraft support to spot our snorkelers and divers onto mobulas and orcas and also whale sharks, blue and fin whales and much more!

Where There Are Mobulas, There Are Orcas

Orcas (Orcinus orca) are commonly known as killer whales, or to be more accurate, these large apex predators are actually giant dolphins by definition. Males can grow up to 30 feet in length and swim over 35 mph, but the grandmas are the real bosses of the family. These fascinating and highly intelligent “resident” and “oceanic” whales often stay in tight family groups for their entire lives. “Transient” orcas are a little different and travel individually or in small groups of two or three animals maximum. The orcas that we hope to encounter are individuals from the Eastern Tropical Pacific population that is known to travel between Baja and Costa Rica.  

The Flying Rays of the Sea of Cortez

Seeing the colour variations and geometric patterns of these rays as they dance underwater is a hypnotizing sight and a dream for photographers. Above water, these rays have earned a reputation for their acrobatic prowess.  Hailed as the flying rays of the Sea of Cortez, rays are typically five to seven feet across, and witnessing males leaping out of the water, wings (pectoral fins) flapping, is an unforgettable sight. More athletic individuals can reach an altitude of ten feet or more, and while it’s a guess on our part, we believe that the higher the boys jump, the more impressed the girls are!

What is included?

  • * 8 days/ 7 nights/6 days of diving 
  • * Taxes
  • * Meals while on boat,
  • * Use of Kayaks and Stand-up paddle boards
  • * transfers on arrival to the hotel, if arrive with group
  • * trip brochure and packet,
  • * trip shirt, and travel leader.

Special Oceanic Ventures Connoisseur Club Benefit

  • Snorkeling Tune-up before you leave

Other activities that can be arranged… 

Shopping in town, zip lining, parasailing, City and cultural tours, horseback riding and more

What is not included?

Airfare to/from Cabo San Lucas, Nitrox, port fee ($65, cash paid on-board), Park Fee (None at this time), transit hotel, Boutique, Bar tab, meals while not on board the vessel, Rentals, Taxi fares to/from town, Airport tax Additional land tours, Other activities, Diving equipment system, Trip insurance and shopping, hotels in Cabo the day before or after arrivals. Tips for local dive staff or tour staff.

  • M/v Gallant Lady
  • Relaxation
  • Double Berth
  • Twin Cabin Arrangement
  • Double Cabin Arrangement
  • Twin Cabin Arrangement
  • Spotter Plane

The M/V Gallant Lady

  • * Stabilized
  • * IMS safety certified
  • * 6 ensuite suites
  • * 12 guests
  • * Internet access and satellite phone
  • * High-capacity water makers
  • * Freshwater hot tub
  • * Air fills, nitrox, rebreather friendly
  • * Fully stocked extensive bar (single malts, micro brews, a great selection of wine)
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You can also contact Dive Mom!

The Fine Print…

Please see the Terms & Conditions page for a listing of our travel policies. All prices are subject to change until booked and ticketed. All moneys are due in full on deposit even if not paid in full and some penalties may ably for cancellations based on the operators policies and group penalties.  As with most small island properties and vessels, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces.  We highly recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems.  No refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Trip insurance and diving insurance can be found at http://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure/DAN and Travel Guard have a family plan.  Diving Accident and Medical Insurance is required. Vessel and OVI travel releases are required.  Please plan to bring a copy of your logbook, c-card, and diving insurance.  

Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration.  No refunds for missed flights or boats.

Note: All guests spaces are reserved upon deposit.  But unless a minimum number of guest sign up for the trip by the deadline dates, an Oceanic Ventures trip leader will not be attending.

Adventure Date

May 6-14 2023

Airfare

Airfare is not included in this trip. Your destination is Cabo San Lucas

Transit Arrangements

We can assist you with transit hotels if needed.

Fare

All per person double discounted for cash and Club membership. First booked, first choice.

  • * $5,500 pp/Club/cash ($4,826 full rate) Master Cabin (couple)
  • * $4,200 pp/Club/cash ($4,326 full rate) Stateroom

Deposit & Final Payment

  • * $1,500 plus trip insurance
  • * Final payment due – February 1, 2023
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You can also contact Dive Mom!

Travel Notes

  • * An Oceanic Ventures Application/Travel Release is required at time of booking
  • * A boat Release is required by the final payment date
  • * We cannot guarantee a roommate unless you are booking together with someone, so plan on a single supplement
  • ^ While we try to assign roommates of the same sex (male or female) we cannot guarantee it.
  • * As with most small liveaboard operations, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces. We always recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems. There are no refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Travel Insurance (ie: comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance) purchased at the time their reservation is made, may help protect guests from financial disappointment if they are prevented from making their scheduled trip due to illness or family illness, or in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent the airline or yacht from making its scheduled trip.
  • * The United States may require a COVID test prior to re-entering the country. The boat will handle getting everyone COVID tested prior to boarding your return flight.
  • * Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration
  • * We require diving accident insurance. For your convenience below are links to Dive Assure . Both organizations offer Travel Insurance and Dive Accident Insurance and be purchased via our web site at https://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure and Travel Guard have a family plan. Dive Assure is diving insurance and also has a travel insurance option.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend travel insurance to help cover you for unknown events that may occur. We also recommend that you have coverage to help you in the event you need to leave for weather or other emergencies.

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Where was your favorite dive?

Anjelica asked me where was my favorite dive. This is a question I get a lot. And the answer if not that simple. Diving is a series of moments in time and I have been lucky to have had a number special moments over the past forty years of diving. Like many divers, there is still something special about my first open water dive. No it was not somewhere exotic nor was the water particularly clear. But it was my first time to breath underwater and to see what was really there up close. My first dives were in Possum Kingdome Lake near Ft Worth and it was a cold, rainy day in March. But there was something so special about that day and that experience that I can still picture in my head today.

I remember some spectacular dives in Fiji where Ann and I spent our honeymoon. The corals were alive with color and seemed to go on forever. The While Wall remains one of my favorite dives in all of Fiji. It is a wall of blue-white corals that open in a current to feed and completely cover the wall from forty-five feet to one-hundred twenty feet. A truly spectacular sight.

Indonesia holds a lot of memories with schoold of bait fish swishing back and forth in various formations (remember that scene from Finding Nemo?) The schools of jacks and barracuda are entrancing at Mary’s Island in the Solomon Islands.

There are lots of stories but instead of only hearing mine, I would love to hear yours. Please take a moment and let me know about your favorite dives and help answer Anjelica’s question.