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June 4, 2013 by Ann Keibler

Puffy Clouds in a Blue Sky, Hydrilla Fairy Forests and Fresh Water Sponges – Scuba Diving in Texas

Texas Blue Sky and Puffy Clouds (c) Ann Keibler

Madison and I decided that a Sunday afternoon at 288 Lake was just what was needed for the holiday weekend. It was a beautiful, picture perfect Texas blue sky day with just the right amount of white puffy clouds. We met on the back side of the lake at Ted’d favorite spot, where he also met us, continuing his work on the mapping project . The water was warm at the surface , 79 or 80 degrees f , and cool but nice 76 at depth. Visibility was awesome, at least two body lengths of Madison, so 12+ feet of clear !! The Hydrilla looked like a “Fairy Forest” dusted with soft powder on each of its star like leaf patterns. And as if each was placed at differing heights to make a perfect arrangement. It reminded me of the opening scene of the recent Oz mneue.

We visited the boat that lives under the big red ball. The very curious blue gill “damsel” fish alternated between farming their algae and staring at us. The eyes are surrounded by a very thin iridescent coral pink colored ring. And they love to come stare at you if are holding still or the also like a nibble or two at your glove. They are occasionally chased away by the perch “barracuda”. It was too warm for the “penguins”. Madison said they had left when the viz was so bad this winter and it was starting to warm. But we did see what we think are the start of several patches of an encrusting light pinkish sponges. It had started to encrust around the wood support on the roof, around the broken out window near the port side cleat, and in one of the exposed cable bands on the aft port roof. We had never seen a fresh water sponge but are fairly certain that is what is growing there. The pattern is similar to encrusting sponges, they have the tell-tale mouth holes, and skeletal structure, texture, indicative of a sponge.
All and all it was a good day. We both got two 60 minute dives on one cylinder, swam the lake underwater, found new critters, and enjoyed Madison special lettuce and cheese sandwiches and dark chocolate.
How was your Sunday?
Come visit 288 Lake in June with me and Madison and meet the barracuda and damsel fish.

May 28, 2013 by Matthew Watowich

Whale Skelton Found in Antarctica

This is the backbone of a whale skeleton found at the bottom of the Ocean (Credit: UK Natural Environment Research Council ChEsSo Consortium) — This is the backbone of a whale skeleton found at the bottom of the
Ocean (Credit: UK Natural Environment Research Council ChEsSo Consortium)

Marine biologists recently found a whale skeleton on the bottom of the ocean in Antarctica. On it, they found nine new deep sea species. The team of marine biologists found the whale skeleton about a mile under water in an undersea crater. This is significant because before this discovery scientists had only found five natural whale skeletons at the bottom of the ocean. Most dead whales are found floating at the top of the ocean. This whale skeleton seemed to be supporting a whole variety of animals. After a whale dies it sometimes sinks to the bottom of the ocean where scavengers such as shrimp and crabs eat the flesh. Once just the bones are left new animals and bacteria start to make their home on the whale skeleton. Bacteria’s began to break down the fats that are still stored in the whale bones. These broken down fats prneude food for other animals. Zombie worms are a type of animal that is also known to eat the bones of the whale. Researchers believe that this whale has been at the bottom of the ocean for decades because of how many different animals and bacteria they found on its bones. The researchers found a new species of isopod crustacean, which are like wood lice, and limpets that resembled the ones living near deep sea volcanoes.

April 17, 2013 by Eric Keibler

Traveling – Talking to Strangers

Ann with Hopi Artist Darrell at His Home

This morning I was reading a blog post by Richard Branson entitled “Do Talk to Strangers.” It seems his son went to Hawaii to go surfing but returned home when no-one would talk to him. I found that to be a sad commentary on life. I am basically a shy person, so initiating conversations with strangers can be difficult. If people are not open to the conversation then it makes it even harder.

One of the wonderful things about traveling is the interactions with people, especially the people who live and work in the places we are visiting. These conversations open a window into a whole new world and the daily life of the people in those places we visit. On a recent trip to Arizona, we met some very talented artists who invited us into their homes and work areas. Not only did we learn about their art, we caught a glimpse into their life on the reservation, their religious beliefs and their families.

Ann with Hopi Artist Davis at his home — Ann and Eric with Hopi Carver, Davis Cook at His Home

I love traveling with Ann, because she loves to interact with people and she is not shy about it. Children seem to come out of the woodwork to say hello to her and their parents tend to follow. She meets people everywhere and at times these complete strangers become lifelong friends. Her ability to talk to anyone makes travel fun and different. You just never know who she will meet. For instance, she met group of nuns in Ecuador who knew some of her elementary school teachers in Scottsdale. On another trip to Fiji, she was invited to go down to the river with a group of local village ladies to cool off and gossip. I am envious of her ability to always say hello and start a conversation with a stranger.

As many of you know, her conversations can lead to wonderful opportunities. Our school project where we carry school supplies to the places we visit started with a conversation with some of the local staff at one of the dive resorts. There is no reason we cannot emulate her openness to a conversation. Of course we have to be careful, but for an adult, rarely is a simple conversation a risk. It is sad that we ask our children to “not talk to strangers” because some “strangers” have a lot of information and stories that are interesting and fun. But, this warning should not apply to adults.

Ann With Children in Moscow — Ann with Children in Moscow

Don’t miss out on the stories and adventurers that people have to tell. Say hello to people you meet. Practice talking to people at home so you will feel more comfortable in foreign countries. At least be open to a conversation with a stranger; your life will be enriched.

March 27, 2013 by Eric Keibler

First Dive Cache In Texas Established by Scuba Divers at Oceanic Ventures, Inc. in Houston, Texas

This past weekend, our new Cache Master, Steven Soulen, Installed the first Dive Cache in Texas. The Cache was placed in 288 Lake in a secret location. In order to find the cache, you can follow this link for the clues.

Like geocaching, the Dive Cache program is a way for individuals and groups to use their navigation skills to locate a secret “cache.” These containers have some token items and a list of people who have discovered the cache. The list of searchers is periodically posted to the main geocaching website, OpenCaching.com.

Looking for dive caches is a way for divers to practice their navigation skills and have fun doing it. According to Ann Keibler, President of Oceanic Ventures, “we saw that there were DiveCaches in a lot of other places in the United States but there were none in Texas. Steve Soulen volunteered to establish and maintain the first in a series of Dive Caches that we hope to place in our local training lakes. DEMA, the Diving Equipment & Manufacturing Association, the trade organization for the diving industry, has been promoting this program throughout the country but there were no Dive Caches established in Texas so we decided to step up and start the program ourselves.

This event even made the Dive Newswire!

Next time you are at the lake, try your navigation skills and find the cache. But remember, if you take something out of it, you have to put something back in it that still represents a prize to the next searcher.

March 27, 2013 by Eric Keibler

Scuba Divers Enjoy Wade's Crawfish

Crawfish Chef Wade Sparks — Chef Wade finally gets to sit down and enjoy some crawfish.

The secret is the garlic and the butter at least that is what Wade was overheard saying this weekend at Wade’s Cajun Crawfish Boil down at 288 Lake. Whatever the secret mix of ingrediants were, everyone on hand said that his crawfish were the best they haever eaten! And this was from some “professional crawfish eaters.” Wade kept the pots going with sack after sack of crawfish and with a seperate pot of Gumbo cooking away.

The group sat down to cold tea (& a few beers), warm crawfish, corn, muchrooms, garlic and hot gumbo over rice.

In addition to the crawfish boil, Alex had a group of Advanced Open Water students and Vernon had some Dry Suit Students. The divers had a great time with a lunch break in between. Steve Soulen wven had time to set the First Dive Cache in Texas. A really fun weekend — Thank’s Wade!