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

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

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Snakes – Conserving Wildlife and Protecting our World

seth tuba
Seth Providing Dinner Entertainment


Recently one of my young friends, Seth,  was talking to me about his “history changer project.”  Specifically, Seth’s concern and interest is in snakes.
You might ask, why would Ms. Ann care about snakes? Many of you may not know that I grew up in the desert. The desert I grew up in was the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, which is one of the great deserts of the world. It has a very unique ecosystem that contains a variety of endemic plants and animals, such as the Saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) and Organ Pipe cactus (Stenocereus thurberi).

One of the threats to the health of the beautiful Saguaro cactus was people killing snakes. As the snake population decreased, the cactus mouse (which is the size of a field mouse) population increased.  These little mice like to eat holes in the base of the mighty cactus, which is not healthy for the cactus.
From the time I first started hiking and rock climbing in Arizona, I learned that when you saw a rattlesnake, you backed up and went the other way; but it was important you did not kill them.

My friend Seth is trying to protect one of his favorite creatures…the snake. Please look at his History Changer Brochure   Let’s help him spread the word!!!!

Ann Keibler Avatar


 

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The Scuba Diving Neighborhood in Houston

Future Scuba Diver Vanessa Cleaning Windows at Merlot's Barbershop
Vanessa Cleaning Windows at Merlot’s Barbershop

Recently, I drove in the parking lot and watched Vanessa helping her Father get ready for the day’s activities.  She was working hard and having fun in front of Merlot’s Barber Shop, which is a new tenant near the Scuba store and run by master barber, Ronnie.

A New Look for the Scuba Diving Facility and Surrounding Businesses.

Oceanic Ventures has been in the same location for twenty-five years and if you haven’t been here recently, you might not recognize the building.  The West University Office Suites Building was sold last year and the new owners decided the property needed a little improvement.  So they have repainted the building, updated the lighting, put in new landscaping, and re-striped the parking lot.  This biggest change was the actual appearance of the property.  It has gone from the natural red brick facade to an updated, painted white brick.  It was such a change that one of our clients remarked that he “drove right past the building; it just didn’t look like the right place.”

A Real Neighborhood Destination For Scuba Divers and Friends

Oceanic Ventures Scuba Diving Facility in White
The White Building

One of the things that happened since the renovation is the addition of new businesses to the complex.  The older established businesses like Nails by Kim (and Alternations), Mr. K’s Watch Repair, Ruth’s Electrolysis, Ed Wilson (Hypnotherapy) and Republic State Mortgage have been joined by some other small businesses.  The complex now boasts eight hair salons, one barber, two tailors, three nail salons, a formal & bridal dress shop, a watch repair facility, a new watch dealer, a pet acupuncture specialist, a motivational and hypno-therapy counselor and one extra special Scuba Diving Shop.

Why are we excited about all of this activity here?  Well it means that small businesses is alive and well in Houston and are in evidence at 2715 Bissonnet.

So, fellow divers, you can come by and spoil yourself with a manicure and pedicure, get a trim and shave, have your watch battery changed (Mr. K still only charges $5.00 for most batteries in non-dive watches) and come talk about diving while looking at new dive computers all without having to move your car.  And, if you like, we have adult beverages on hand or our friends over at Tony K’s liquors across the street can help you find the right libation for your day at the complex.  And, if you are hungry, remember Pink’s Pizza is across the street!

If you have not been around for a while, come by and see us.  You might even get lucky and find Vanessa cleaning the windows and singing while she works.

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The Making of a Scuba Diver

Scuba Diver Susan Long Relaxing in Fiji
Susan Long Relaxing in Fiji

I have been scuba diving for over two years – since December 2012. Not only that, I had 100 dives within 10 months, and I had another 100 dives within another 10 months. I LOVE it! I am 59 years old, a retired IT professional, not athletic or mechanical in the slightest. How did I get here?

When we got married in 1992, my husband and I made a deal. He would not buy a Harley, and I would not go scuba diving. That way, we thought we could keep each other alive for a good long time. I have always had friends who scuba dived, and I have long been intrigued by it.

I swam for exercise in college – or more precisely, struggled through maybe 10 lengths a session. It was awful and so difficult, but for some reason, I did it. I did not enjoy it at all. Fast forward 25 years, and we went with some diving friends to the Yucatan for vacation. They did some diving, and we all snorkeled one day. I was terrified! I did not understand how I was supposed to breathe underwater. But I made myself jump in and try it, and within a minute or two, I was having a great time! There were lots of glamorous fish! Who knew? And I really enjoyed being in the water – which was also a surprise, after my college swimming experiences.

Scuba Divers Susan & Larry on a motorcycle trip
Susan and her husband, Larry on their last motorcycle trip.

After I retired in 2005, I decided to go to graduate school in Spanish Linguistics at the University of Houston. The parking is horrible! (The classes were great!) I soon realized if I had a motorcycle or scooter, I could park in the designated areas much more easily. So I bought a Vespa scooter! When my husband got over the shock, he got himself a Harley! So now I had permission to scuba dive! (We now both really enjoy our motorcycle trips together!)

I had permission to scuba dive, but on the other hand, I knew it was an expensive habit. I was reluctant to get a lot more “stuff”. We already had plenty of stuff. Being overweight, I didn’t think there would be enough weight available to keep me down (seriously). I also knew myself it could be dangerous – I had looked at some books detailing scuba diving “incidents” and they are pretty scary. You wonder why anyone comes back alive!

In the fall of 2012, my friend Donna Collins (another scuba diver, and Oceanic Ventures, Inc. denizen) and I were planning to go on a cruise to Costa Rica and Panama. She suggested that we could go snorkeling, and she might try to go diving. I was enthusiastic – I had not had a chance to go snorkeling in years! She took me to Oceanic Ventures to look into getting my own mask, snorkel, fins to take on the trip.

My First Trip the the Dive Store

Ann, Alex and David Morris were in the shop, and I will never forget the warm welcome. David took me under his wing and explained everything I wanted to know about masks, snorkels, fins. I could not believe how expensive they were! But I was sold on the part of getting good equipment so I could really enjoy the experience. I left with the mask, snorkel, fins, a bag, a skin, and maybe a few other goodies. David offered to give me a snorkeling class for free, which I gladly took him up on, since I was certainly not an expert snorkeler, having only done it once.

At the snorkeling class, I learned quite a bit, especially how to “duck dive!” David offered to give me a Try Scuba session, and I was, well, OK, sure! If he’s offering, I sure will try it. Within a few days, I was trying out the scuba equipment in the West U pool, and learning the first rule of scuba. I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but the next inevitable step was signing up for Open Water Scuba classes so I could go on the Cozumel trip that December. And buying all my equipment. Oceanic Ventures made it so easy. I could not have chosen (and still can’t) between Buoyancy Compensaters, Air Delivery System’s or computers. I trusted their advice, and I really liked the idea that they had a lot of experience with the equipment they sold, and they believed in it for all levels of diving.

Open Water Scuba Training with Oceanic Ventures

I had a great time in the Open Water Scuba training with David and Alex. It was hard for me to clear my mask, but eventually I figured it out. It was hard remembering all the steps for sharing air, or the out-of-air ascent. But I did it! The Cozumel trip was fantastic. I did my open water dives there with Alex as my instructor, and it was so much fun! He was so calm, and knowledgeable, and encouraging. I could see it was going to take some time for me to get really comfortable with my buoyancy, and the breathing, but I was plenty comfortable enough to enjoy the diving, and the Oceanic Ventures group was so wonderful. All those experienced divers were so encouraging and helpful to the brand-new,” baby diver.”

Scuba Diving in the Solomon Islands Susan Long and Ann Keibler
Scuba Diving in the Solomon Islands with Susan Long and Ann Keibler

David had let me know in the  Open Water Scuba training that he was the first Oceanic Ventures student to get 100 dives in a year. That sounded like a challenge to me, and I like challenges! Also it was quite clear after the Cozumel trip that the more experience I had, the more fun I could have as a diver. So I set myself the informal goal of getting 100 dives in a year. In order to keep diving through the winter, I started drysuit training and bought a drysuit. I started Advanced Open Water Scuba training, if for no other reason that it was more diving experience! I went with Oceanic Ventures to St. Croix, Belize, Cozumel, and then to Grand Cayman in August! (Donna and I did get to do a few dives on our trip to Costa Rica.) By the time I got to Grand Cayman, I had achieved the 100 dives, between the trips, the training, and being a fun diver at Blue Lagoon and 288 Lake.

Where I Am Now…

So what about all the concerns I had, and my husband had? Well, first off, safety is obviously the first priority at Oceanic Ventures. Now that I am diving, I wonder how people got themselves into those situations in those scary dive books. Of course, mistakes can happen, but most of those incidents are inconceivable on an Oceanic Ventures trip. Yes, diving is expensive, and I have a LOT of stuff. I am still dealing with how to organize it and where it all needs to go between trips. Oh well! The experiences I have had as a diver, and the friends I have made, have been more than worth it.

Scuba Diver Susan Long Diving in Fiji
Susan in Fiji

I love being a part of the Oceanic Ventures “tribe.” It feels like home. I am very impressed with the emphasis on safety and professionalism at Oceanic Ventures. Ann and Eric Keibler run a tight ship, with little room for error, but lots of room for fun. It is easy to have fun when you have confidence in the trip leader, the dive location, the divemasters, and the choice of dive sites. And you get to go play with your dive peeps!

My husband has put up with all this graciously, taking me to the airport and kissing me goodbye as I go off on my next diving adventure. I am so happy to report that since his retirement last August he has become a certified scuba diver, and we are going on our second trip to Cozumel with Oceanic Ventures next month!

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Local Scuba Diver Receives the Golden Diver award

_MG_7761 On 11 December 2014 our own Ann Keibler was honoured by the Cozumel Tourist Association’s Scuba Fest along with Bruce Hootman, Manuel Victoria, and Alberto Friscione.  The event blends the beauty of the reefs in Cozumel  with education, marketing, business and tourism through events that ran throughout the week.  The catered Gala dinner hosts the who’s-who of Cozumel as well as international celebrities including the Master of Cerimonies, Jean Michele Cousteau.
In addition to the Golden Diver Awards, the organization sank a bust of Ramon Bravo, a celebrated cinematographer, who started his work as a guide and cameraman for Jacques Cousteau.  His work appears in documentaries, movies and television shows throughout the world.  His bronze bust will sit near the bust of Jacques Cousteau near the Villablanca Reef.
Ann felt completely overwhelmed at receiving the news she was being honoured at this year’s event.  In fact, she received a congratulations from her friend Martha Peredes before she even read the note from Scuba Fest.  She was in the airport in LA on her way back from a week in Fiji.  When talking about the award, Ann said,

“I feel so humble to be honoured in another country for the thing I love to do and I received it along with some other very distinguished divers who have given back so much to the diving and heritage in Mexico. It is a real honour and a priviledge to be here with them, especially honouring the work of Ramon Bravo whose bust is being lowered into the sea this week. My thanks to the people and divers in Cozumel, the El Presidente hotel and Scuba Du for helping to make this possible”

As part of the award, I put together a short video about Ann’s life in Scuba including some old photographs from her open water class and some early trips to Cozumel,  You can watch the video by going to our YouTube channel or watching it here…

The event made then Mexican National News!  Unfortunately, the link is no longer working so you will have to take our word on it.
Del Sol Photography has posted a number of photographs from the event on their website.  You can view them here.
Decembertrip-3It was a special event and Ann was deeply touched.  Alberto and Manuel were so gracious and wanted to have their photographs made with Ann, a.k.a. “Momma Buzo.”

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Scuba Diving Holiday – Panama City Scuba Diving Trip Update

We’ve made it to Panama City Beach!!   After checking into the hotel, we hit the new oyster bar across the street for a great dinner of oysters, shrimp and the “cheapest beer on the beach”. All of us ate too much and complained that it seems we can’t seem to find fresh seafood like this on our side of the gulf.
This morning we’re off to the famous Vortex Spring for a shake down dive and a picnic. Everyone is excited to cheek out the springs gin clear water and freshwater eels. Well Elizabeth seems more excited about the clear water than the eels.
This afternoon we get to the main event, Viola’s first saltwater dive! Everyone else is also looking forward to great artificial reefs that Panama City Beach has to offer.

As the group’s only photographer, I’ve been charged with getting a new profile picture for everyone’s Facebook account. So hopefully we’ll have so cool pictures to share by the end of the day.