Ann and her husband Eric own Oceanic Ventures, Inc., a professional scuba diving education, equipment sales, repair and travel company located in Houston, Texas. Ann has been diving since 1989 and has been teaching diving since 1990. She was awarded Instructor of the Year in 1994 by the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools and was instrumental in Oceanic Ventures, receiving the NASDS Gold Dealer Award for Excellence in Training in 1994 and the International Diamond Facility Award in 2003. She has been honored by the Island of Cozumel with the Buzo de Oro in 2014.
Ann graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters in Business Administration and specialization in Real Estate and Marketing. Ann was in management with Conoco USA, in various departments in both Denver and Houston. She was later a financial and business development for Houston Industries, Inc. Besides her role as President of Oceanic Ventures, Inc., she offers marketing support for her and Eric’s Square Rig Photography.
Ann’s infatuation with the underwater world and entrepreneurial spirit led her to form Oceanic Ventures, Inc. in 1990. The goal was to create a unique environment that focused on private and semi-private instruction, creating a personal, family atmosphere at the dive facility. With the new interest of her husband in technical and extended range diving, Oceanic Ventures, Inc. has taken the leadership in Houston to provide the facilities, education, equipment and travel in the newly developing field of technical diving. Oceanic Ventures was the first dive facility to offer Nitrox training and blending in Houston. Oceanic Ventures has affiliated staff in Florida, Michigan and the Caribbean. The company takes an active role in support of many non-profit organizations in Houston and Founding Board member for Oceanic Ventures Foundation. Although Ann enjoys teaching new, timid divers the best, she is also a factory trained and authorized repair technician, travel coordinator, buyer and instructor trainer. She love being SCUBA Ranger and Starfish Leader.
Her diving travels have taken her to the far reaches of the world including the Red Sea, Fiji, Palau, Yap, Belize, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, TRUK, Antarctica, the caves in Florida and the Caribbean and Pacific. She loves to photograph the unusual in her dive travels. She specializes in macro-photography with her work shown previously at art galleries in Houston and Arizona, and published in several international publications. Ann served as President of ROBWEC, Houston’s oldest business women’s club, recipient of the Girl Scouts of the USA Thanks Badge, and honored as SJCGSA Women Of Distinction and sings in a choir.
