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

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

Social Activities

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Diving Rebreather Event Planned in Houston March 29 – April 3

PRESS RELEASE: Oceanic Ventures and InnerSpace Systems are hosting a weekend of rebreather events March 29 – April 3, 2012. The program will include lectures, pool demos of a new recreational rebreather, the Pathfinder, and a benefit dinner with keynote speaker Leon Scamerhorn, CEO and founder of InnerSpace Systems.

PAthfinder RebreatherThe rebreather demonstrations are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.  The benefit dinner will include a raffle, door prizes, and photo program of rebreather diving around the world.  All proceeds of the event will benefit Oceanic Ventures Foundation.  The focus of the event will be to help the Bonaventure Boys home in Grand Cayman.  Grand Cayman has been the leading destination for rebreather divers with the first rebreather only event, Zero Gravity in 2000 and was later replaced by Inner Space with Dive Tech, which is celebrating its ninth year in 2012.  There will be also be a silent auction and giveaways during the event.

Eric Keibler, Managing Director and Director of Education for Oceanic Ventures says, “rebreathers are the latest trend in diving enabling divers to discover the underwater world in relative silence without disturbing the fish.  This allows you to get closer to the fish and other creatures.  Photographers find them to be a wonderful tool and a enjoyable way to go diving.”  According to Ann Keibler, President of Oceanic Ventures, “this is a fun event that will allow divers to experience what it is like to dive silently underwater with no bubbles while helping out children.”

Details of the event will be announced soon.  You can contact Ann for more details.

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HO HO HO Merry Christmas – Scuba Santa Undwerwater

Santa & the Mittendorfs
Santa with John, Sean and Paige Mittendorf, along with a large Elf

You may not have known it, but Santa Claus is a scuba diver.  He spends his vacations in such tropical locations as Fiji, Palau, Grand Cayman and Honduras.  Since he spends so much time in the north, he sunburns easily so he took up scuba diving as a way to enjoy the islands but not get too burned.  He loves the water and really enjoys swimming with the fish.  In 2012, his goal is to begin rebreather diving.

 
On Saturday, he visited the West University Recreation Center pool and posed for pictures with swimmers, snorkelers and divers alike.  Santa really like receiving those wish lists underwater! 
 
Eric Keibler served as the photographer for the event and Joel Hershey, Travis Hershey and Christiaan Khurana all helped make Santa’s visit fun and eventful.  Hopefully, they will receive a special gift from Santa on Christmas.  We would also like to thank Brittany Bakes, Julie Bickham, Rob Cantu and the rest of the West University Aquatic Staff  for all of their help in making this event a success. 
 
If you missed this year’s photo shoot, Santa has promised to return next year for another photo session.  And remember, look for Santa while you are visiting your favorite scuba diving and tropical locations.  He will be the one in the red wetsuit.

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Weekend Winners!

This past weekend was a very busy one for the staff at Oceanic Ventures.  We had a lot going on with Santa’s visit and the first of our holiday auctions.
The holiday auction supports our school and community projects around the world.  We appreciate everyone who helped support the auction and our projects.  The high bidders were:

  • Gentleman’s Pleasure – Cigars & Vodka – Alex
  • Wine Lovers Special – Dutchman Family Winery – Eddie
  • Silly Fun – Vodka and Chocolate – Mark
  • Art for a Start – Watercolour Still Life – Mike
  • Girls Party – MaryKay Timewise Microderm kit and party – Lynn
  • Bubbles are for Wimps – Rebreather Experience – Joe
  • Beach Remembrances – Beach Bag and more – Dorothy

We are still working on the raffle, we need to sell 25 more tickets before we draw.
Other prizes for the weekend:

  • $50  Oceanic Ventures Adventure Gift Card – For anyone who came in during the sale and made a purchase – Mike H.
  • $500 Oceanic Ventures Adventure Gift Card – For anyone who makes a purchase from 1 November the 23 December you go into a drawing for the card – Ongoing
  • Door Prizes drawn please come in and pick up your t-shirts, hats, luggage tags, dive pins, etc. – Candy R, Marlena E, Eddie T., Mike C

You still have time to turn in your 2011 Holiday Wish Lists to be eligible for a special drawing.  even Rachel, Steve Jurbala’s daughter turned in her list!
Thank you to everyone who came by this weekend!
 

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New Scuba Divers

Photo of David and Morgan at hospital
Morgan Morris wtih her father David Morris

There is really something special about babies and our diving family has been expanding a lot over the past few months.  Oceanic Ventures is a family oriented dive store so we have a special appreciation for the new divers joining our diving family.  Remember it will only be a few years before they are ready for our Star Fish program and their first diving mask.  Ann is always quick to ask new parents when they will be bringing their new dive buddy to the dive store for a visit and a photo with her and maybe even “Al.”

Most recently, one our staff, David Morris and his wife Marissa brought Morgan Morris into the world. David even laughed that she was already becoming a nitrox diver because she was on elevated oxygen (i.e. nitrox) while in the incubator after her delivery.  She is still a few weeks away from her first visit here, but we are anxiously awaiting her arrival.

Another of our diving clients, Giles Adam brought his beautiful baby girl, Genevieve, who was born on 25 October, to the dive store to meet Dive Mom and to start learning where to buy her father some scuba Christmas gifts.  Giles is one of the members of  Team Ice Cold and went to Antarctica with us last March.

Genevieve Jane Adam
Genevieve Adam

Ann and Eric were also priviledged to serve as God Parents for Anna Coussirat, the daughter of long time customers and friends Dan and Angie Coussirat.

It is always special when children come to visit, especially the newest member of our family.  Congratlations on the birth of your children and we really look forward to their first Star Fish class!

anna coussirat
Anna Coussirat at her baptism

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Santa is Coming To Visit On Saturday, November 12, 2011

Many people may not realize that Santa Claus is a scuba diver and on 12 November 2011 from 9:00 to 12:00 he will be posing for photos underwater at the West University Place Recreation Center Pool located at 4210 Bellaire Blvd in West University Place (Houston).  There is a $10.00 fee for the photos if you call in advance or $35.00 on the day of the event.  If you are interested, call Ann at the store (713.523.3483) or email her and tell her you would like to participate.
This will be Santa’s fifth visit to the City of West University Place and Houston to pose with adults and children in the swimming pool.  The photos are fun and are a great way to start the holiday season.  Imagine sending Grandma a photo of the kids underwater with Santa Claus. 
We will also be doing an interview with Santa to learn more about his diving plans for 2012.  Keep looking at the blog for more diving stories from the man himself.
This will be Santa’s only underwater visit in the area because he need to return to the North Pole to finish getting ready for Christmas so don’t miss this Christmas Card moment!

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Divers Support Schools & Communities

Sample Auction ItemsWith the holiday season fast approaching, it is time once again for our fall “Sealed Bid Auction” to support Oceanic Ventures efforts to help schools and communities in the places we dive.  This years auction has some really special items on it including wine, spirits, cigars, art, beauty items and a whole lot more.  To participate all you have to do is complete a bid sheet and email it to Ann or fax it to us.  The items are on dispay in the store and will be here through the close of the auction on Saturday afternoon (11 November 2011).
The assistance program started a number of years ago when Ann came up with this idea of helping schools by encuraging our trip participants to carry school supplies in their excess luggage space.  This prneuded the participants the opportunity to help a local school and left them space to bring back handicrafts made by the local people.  A real win-win for everyone.  Over the years, we have prneuded school supplies to small schools in the Philippines, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Honduras, Cozumel as well as adding running water and plumbing to a school in the Philippines.
It is a wonderful way to meet people and to share a little joy with some wonderful school children.  The auction helps prneude funds for continuing projects around the world.