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

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

Club Aquarius

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Club Aquarius Social Club Is Back in August

Greg Such

Guest Speaker – Greg Such

After a short hiatus, the Club Aquarius Social Club is back! We have a special guest speaker joining us for the event. Greg Such has agreed to talk about diving in the Great Lakes as well as some other dives he has been on recently in Europe. He is a fascinating speaker with a number of fun and entertaining stories.

The Great Lake region is in his backyard (yes he is one of those people who lives above the Mason-Dixon Line by choice). He actually has a commercial dive vessel and takes divers out regularly. The cool thing is that the boat can be moved from one location to the other, so the dives can be quite varied.

I first met Greg in 2008 when we were both in the Red Sea for the new Sentinel Rebreather training with Kevin Gurr and Phil Short. We were the American contingent in a group that had instructors from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Italy, Malta, and Egypt. It turned out to be a fun week full of learning opportunities and sorting out issues with the first generation of the Sentinal rebreather.

When he is not diving, he is talking about diving. Greg is also a Sales Representative for Huish Outdoors the parent company of Atomic Aquatics, Zeagle Systems, Bare Sportswear, Stahlsac, Oceanic, and Hollis. Fortunately, Texas is in his territory.

And, if you are wondering, the meeting will be inside the store — it is too hot in Texas to be outside for long. So, this is your opportunity to come by and talk about diving, watch some diving, and hear about diving in other places.

We look forward to talking to everyone!

Tell me More and let me RSVP

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The Master Liveaboard BBQ Nothing but Fun!

If you watched the email or checked the calendar we has a really fun event. Mark and Alex, from Master Liveaboards, came into Houston for a visit and we all thought it would be fun to have a BBQ party in the backyard! And, that is exactly what we did.

The Menu for the evening included:

  • Indonesian Sambal Chicken,
  • Philippine BBQ Pork,
  • Sambal Tempe
  • fragrant rice,
  • grilled vegetables,
  • Green Beans steamed with with Thai chilies and lemon grass, and
  • Treebeard’s Butter Cake

Steve Jurbala, our own distiller, provided us with dome Boquerón Rum cocktails to go with the dinner menu.

Mark and Alex got the opportunity to tell some stories, talk about diving and invite people to go diving on one of their awesome dive vessels.

Want to see how the party went? Click on the video below…

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March 2023 Auction

If you missed the party with Alex and Mark from the Masterfleet you missed an awesome event. But if you attended, you may remember that we had some auction items but Sam and Dive Mom forgot to set out the bid sheets. So, everything is still up for auction until March 31, 2023!

So, how do you win one of the items? It is simple, think about your bid, send Dive Mom an email with “Bid for an awesome item “ along with the item description in the subject line and tell her what you would like to bid for the certificate or one of the other items. . So you know, there is a reserve on some of the items and Dive Mom cannot tell you what others are bidding. The bidding period opens 1 March 2023 and ends 31 March 2023.

Here are the items that are available for you to bid on…

Mark & Alex have donated a Gift Certificate that can be used for future bookings on trips or for on-board purchases. This is your opportunity to get a head start on future dive travel — remember we said new and future so this excludes our current year’s travel destinations. But what a way to jump into 2024!

Donated by Master Liveaboards  – Value $1,000

Dive Mom I want to enter a bid!

Mark Austin Streetlight Bowl

Previously on display in Houston galleries, Mark Austin’s hand-crafted glass bowls will bring a flare to your home with its coral-like design and one-of-a-kind shape! Mark Austin’s unique bowls are creatively made from melted down streetlights!

Donated by Mark Austin – Value $275

Dive Mom I want to enter a bid!

Boquerón Caribbean Rum Bundle

It’s always a tropical if you’re stocked with Boquerón. Now, pickup a snazzy guayabera shirt to go along with it! Choose from a shirt size of MD, Lg or XL. Includes rum, shaker, and guayabera.

Donated by Steve & Barbara Jurbala- Value $65

Dive Mom I want to enter a bid!

Hand-woven Native Filipino Basket and Plate

The Philippines is bursting with traditions, experience it with this hand-weaved plate. The basket weaving of the Philippines is a lost art, akin to highly sought-after Navajo weaving. Sporting a beautifully intricate pattern, this set will bring a natural feel to any home.

Donated by Ann & Eric Keibler – Value $85

Dive Mom I want to enter a bid!

Solomon Island Money Necklace

The money necklaces of the Solomon Islands are not only beautiful, they’re also a form of payment! The shell currency of the Solomon Islands has been used in the region for hundreds of years. It began as a traditional  form of dowry, peace offerings, and also to be used as payments.

Donated by Oceanic Ventures Inc. – Value $100

Dive Mom I want to enter a bid!

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The Oceanic Ventures Backyard

Water Lily in Sugar Kettle
New Table and Sugar Kettle
40 Pounds of Smoked Chicken
Cayman Islands Party in the Backyard
Around the Fire Pit
Alex, Rick, Joel and Travis

A Place to Relax

If you haven’t been to your favorite diving location lately, may we suggest stopping by your favorite dive store, Oceanic Ventures amd take a moment or two to relax and swap some diving storied with your fellow divers? Ann has been working hard to make our backyard a relaxing space meet your friends and enjoy some time outside.

We have had a number of impromptu cocktail hours in the backyard and an occasional cigar night too. It is amazing how relaxing it can be to talk about your next dive over a glass of wine, rum or a Topo Chico. You might even get Eric to pull out a homemade Setzer if you are lucky.

Just recently, a client donated another table and some chairs along with some lounge chairs. This latest gift along with the other table and chairs as well as a collection of umbrellas and a new fire pit make the backyard a really cool meeting place. We can comfortably seat 20-30 people and still have room for the kids to run around a play games.

Speaking of games, one of our staff donated an old fashioned corn hole game and a large jenga game. Ann found some lawn darts and we have about 6 hula-hoops and some soccer balls to boot. As you probably already know, children are always welcome at the store.

When a meeting calls for food, we are fully prepared with two gas grills, 2 charcoal grills, a column smoker and a pig roasting box. Couple that with the gas camp burners and a warmer and we are prepared for a big event.

Almost everything in the backyard has been donated by our clients. They have been instrumental in helping us create a special place in the middle of Houston and Bellaire. We really appreciate their generosity!

Gardens

Ann and a few of the staff have been working on enhancing the garden and planting in the back yard. The freeze killed the bannana trees but they are beginning to come back as is the star jasmine. This past weekend we rehabilitated the sugar kettle garden adding a beautiful new lily, some other plantings and a few goldfish. The fish are still getting used to their new home so they hide a lot but they are getting used to people being around.

During the COVID shut-down, Ann was jealous of everyone working in their gardens so she started one at the store. Now, it is time to replant the vegetable gardens. Last year we had fresh tomatoes for months as well as onions and peppers. I found some pepper seeds for some colorful exotic peppers so I am looking forward to those fruiting this season. She is also looking at planting some basil and rosemary. If you have some suggestions, please send her a note. She likes to hear what people have had success with here in the area.

Never Finished…

We still have some plans for the future. We are looking for a rolling cooler and a stock tank to make a pool/fountain to add to the ambiance. We are also looking at adding more fans for the summer months as well as some outdoor speakers. Do you have some things you need to find a home for?

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Club Aquarius Social Club – Out of This World

Our first, in-person, Club Aquarius Social Club meeting for 2022 featured an “out of this world” presentation from Robert Sanders, Medical Director of NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. It was a fascinating look at hyperbaric medicine as it applies to NASA, astronaut training and the staff at the NBL mixed in with some fun stories and diving adventures.  And, we met at our new favorite bar, restaurant Simone’s on Sunset where Eddie and his staff, especially Brian helped make it a fun evening.

#oceanicventures #ovidiving #NASA #NBL #Simonesonsunset #clubaquarius

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Master Diver Challenge 2021 – Now Even More Ways to Win!

“The 2021 Master Diver Challenge has shaped up to be the best ever,” states Jeff Saenger, SSI Director of Sales. “Not only do we have great prizes, but we’ve expanded the opportunities for more SSI divers to win.“

Become a SSI Master Diver in 2021 and Enter to Win an Awesome Dive Trip!

Becoming an SSI Master Diver in 2021 not only allows you to join the growing ranks of this prestigious dive rating but enters you for a chance to win an exotic dive vacation. Enjoy your passion for diving and make incredible memories, all while becoming a better diver and possibly winning the dive trip of a lifetime. Take the Master Diver Challenge today!

Master Diver Grand Prize

Enter by earning your SSI Master Diver rating in 2021, and you will be automatically entered to win the Master Diver grand prize. Divers achieving their SSI Master Diver rating during 2021 will be automatically registered to win an AGGRESSOR LIVEABOARD DIVE VACATION!  

The Aggressor Liveaboard Grand Prize is an exclusive 7-night, all-expense* paid trip for two, with shared accommodations in a deluxe stateroom, on board the Red Sea Aggressor III!  On this exciting dive adventure, you will enjoy the best of the Red Sea. With awesome visibility and breath-taking soft corals, the Red Sea is one of the most popular liveaboard scuba diving destinations in Egypt. Dive amongst over 1000 species of fish, colorful coral, and intriguing WWII shipwrecks. 

Follow These Steps to Become an SSI Master Diver

  • Log a minimum of 50 dives
  • Get certified in a minimum of five SSI Specialty Courses of your choice, one being the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue program

Master Divers “Challenge Coin”

Come meet some of the 2020 Master Divers at the March 2021 Club Aquarius Social Club Meeting! We have the special Challenge Coins to award these divers!

Advanced Open Water Diver Grand Prize

Enter by earning your SSI Advanced Diver certification in 2021, and you will be automatically entered to win the Advanced Open Water Challenge prize. Divers achieving their SSI Advanced Open Water Diver rating during 2021 will be automatically registered to win a COZUMEL DIVE VACATION!  

The Cozumel Dive Vacation is an exclusive 8-day / 7-night dive vacation with Blue Angel Resort & Blue Angel Diving.  The trip includes a single room, double occupancy accommodations, including three meals per day.  Your dive boat is just steps away from your room with the most accommodating and friendliest crew in Cozumel.  Diving includes five two-tank dive trips for two, including tanks and weights. Rentals and gratuities not included. 

Follow These Steps to Become a SSI Advanced Diver

  • Log a minimum of 24 dives
  • Get certified in a minimum of four SSI Specialty Courses of your choice.

Specialty Diver Grand Package

Enter by earning your SSI Specialty Diver certification in 2021, and you will be automatically entered to win the Specialty Diver Challenge prize. Divers achieving their SSI Specialty Diver rating during 2021 will be automatically registered to win a FLORIDA KEYS DIVE VACATION!  

The Florida Keys Dive Vacation is a 5-day / 4-night dive vacation with Looe Key Reef Resort & Dive Center.  Dive the best of the Keys from the convenience of your hotel. Looe Key is famous for its healthy reefs with abundant fish and marine life. The trip includes a single room, double occupancy accommodations, three two-tank dive trips including tanks and weights.  

Follow These Steps to Become and SSI Specialty Diver

  • Log a minimum of 12 dives
  • Get certified in a minimum of two SSI Specialty Courses of your choice.

How do I enter the SSI Master Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Specialty Challenge?

Divers certified as an SSI Master Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver, or Specialty Diver between January 1 and December 31, 2021, are automatically entered to win. Winners will be chosen on January 15, 2022. These trips have no cash value and are non-transferable.  Transportation to and from the dive destination is not included.  Please review each specific dive vacation for all the details.  Some blackout dates may apply. Tips and gratuities not included.  

Do you want more information?

Call Dive Mom or come by the facility!

 TAKE THE CHALLENGE!