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

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

Grand Cayman

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Grand Cayman Family Trip – July 2022

Grand Cayman – Sunset House

July 30 to August 6, 2022

Overview

Join us for a Grand Cayman Summer Adventure to Sunset House, with Charles & Amy Alarez as your trip leaders.  This is a perfect get-away for Summer.  There is lots of great diving, beautiful relaxing setting, simple accommodations, unlimited beach diving, with tons of other fun things to do on island.

Your trip leaders will be happy to share the underwater experience with topside adventures from start to finish.  We will even start the day of arrival with a quick beach check-dive, so we are ready for the rest of the week.  Oceanic Ventures guests have several specials with this package only: including a 3 tank safari day, a dive to the famous wreck of the Kittiwake, beach night dives on one of Ann’s favorite beach night diving spots and free nitrox!!! Maybe even do some shopping while you are there or maybe just a ton of diving!!!  The hotel will arrange for a shared fee-transfer each night to a local restaurant for the group if you want to join them so no rental car or taxi’s needed.

There is amazing shore diving from the Sunset House beach as well as very good night diving and night snorkeling!!  The Mermaid, Amphitrite a 9 foot bronze statue resides right offshore of the resort.  There is a protected ocean pool entrance from the shore.

What is included?

  • * 8 days/ 7 nights/5 days of boat diving,
  • 4 two tank days and one 3 tank day Safari dive with lunch,
  • Sunset House Courtyard Rooms,
  • made-to-order breakfast,
  • RT air transfers to the hotel, 
  • unlimited beach cylinders, weights, 
  • water on board,
  • hotel taxes/resort fee, 
  • trip brochure and packet,
  • trip shirt, and 
  • travel leader.

Special Oceanic Ventures Connoisseur Club Benefit

  • one day of three tank safari with lunch
  • free nitrox

Other activities that can be arranged… 

Shopping in town, City and cultural tours

What is not included?

international air ticket, marine park fee, Kittiwake tag, Kittiwake upgrade dive, extra boat diving, tips for local dive staff, bar tab, lunch & dinner, additional land tours, other activities, diving equipment system, add-on specialty diver classes, private dive master for junior divers under 16 (estimate $150 per day per family buddy team), trip insurance, dive insurance and shopping. 

What other things should I be aware of?

  • All guests must complete an OVI Travel Application and a Sunset House Liability Waiver
  • COVID 19 Vaccination: Vaccinated travelers may enter the Cayman Islands with a negative PCR test. Unvacinated travelers will require a two week quarantine upon entry.
  • Flight Suggestions:

United: non-stop

July 30 UA 551                   IAH 12:42 pm to GCM    3:35 pm

Aug 6 UA 1854                   GCM 4:40 pm to IAH       7:42 pm

Southwest Airlines : thru FLL

July 30  SW 3833/ 1236                 HOU 7:15 AM  to GCM 12:20 PM via FLL

Aug 06   SW 1216/3430                    GCM 1:15 pm to  HOU 9:55 pm  via FLL

Dive Mom – “Tell Me More!”

COVID Information

The traveler must be free from COVID before departure. A COVID test is required before departure and a test is required to return to the United States. These requirements are subject to change

The Fine Print…

Please see the Terms & Conditions page for a listing of our travel policies. Additionally, please see the Master Liveaboard terms and conditions. By depositing on the trip, you agree to both sets of terms and conditions. All prices are subject to change until booked and ticketed. All moneys are due in full on deposit even if not paid in full and some penalties may ably for cancellations based on the operators policies and group penalties.  As with most small island properties and vessels, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces.  We highly recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems and should be purchased within 14 das of the initial deposit to receive the most benefit.  No refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Trip insurance and diving insurance can be found at http://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure/DAN and Travel Guard have a family plan.  Diving Accident and Medical Insurance is required. Vessel and OVI travel releases are required.  Please plan to bring a copy of your logbook, c-card, and diving insurance.  

Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration.  No refunds for missed flights or boats.

Note: All guests spaces are reserved upon deposit.  But unless a minimum number of guest sign up for the trip by the deadline dates, an Oceanic Ventures trip leader will not be attending.

Adventure Date

July 30 to August 6, 2022

Airfare

Airfare is not included in this trip. Your destination is Georgetown Grand Cayman

It is best to fly with the group so please let us help you plan this part of the trip.

Transit Arrangements

None are required for this trip. However if you want to arrive early or stay longer, we can assist you with these arrangements.

Fare

All per person double and Club membership. First booked, first choice. Only 15 guest spaces available

  • * $2,195 pp/Club – garden view room
  • *There is also an ocean view apartment booked.  Ask for pricing. (based on availability.)
  • $400 discount for non-diver on garden view,
  • $300 discount for non-diver in ocean view.  
  • $175 pp upgrade for ocean view rooms 
  • $600 single upgrade in the Courtyard room/ $850 upgrade for Ocean view room

Deposit & Final Payment

  • * $1,500 plus trip insurance
  • * Final payment due – August 1, 2022
Tell me more
Oceanic Ventures Travel Application

Travel Notes

  • * An Oceanic Ventures Application/Travel Release is required at time of booking
  • * A boat Release is required by the final payment date
  • * We cannot guarantee a roommate unless you are booking together with someone, so plan on a single supplement
  • * As with most small operations, cancellations are more of an issue so they have limited ability to fill unused spaces. We always recommend trip insurance to help avoid any unnecessary problems. There are no refunds for missed flights or changes in plans. Travel Insurance (ie: comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation and interruption insurance) purchased at the time their reservation is made, may help protect guests from financial disappointment if they are prevented from making their scheduled trip due to illness or family illness, or in the event that unforeseen circumstances prevent the airline or yacht from making its scheduled trip.
  • * The United States is requiring a COVID test prior to re-entering the country. The boat will handle getting everyone COVID tested prior to boarding your return flight.
  • * Passport must have a minimum of 6 months validity prior to passport expiration
  • * We require diving accident insurance. For your convenience below are links to Dive Assure . Both organizations offer Travel Insurance and Dive Accident Insurance and be purchased via our web site at https://oceanicventures.net/travel-insurance/.  Both Dive Assure and Travel Guard have a family plan. Dive Assure is diving insurance and also has a travel insurance option.

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend travel insurance to help cover you for unknown events that may occur. You should purchase it within 14 days of your deposit to receive the most benefit from the policy. We also recommend that you have coverage to help you in the event you need to leave for weather or other emergencies.

Thank you for letting us assist you with your family’s diving adventures!

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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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Ann Keibler Wins Award from Cayman Islands Department of Tourism for Adventure Travel

Ann Wins Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Tanks a Lot Promotion
Ann Wins Cayman Islands Department of Tourism Tanks a Lot Promotion

Ann Keibler won first place in the June Tanks a Lot Scuba Diving and travel Promotion which was awarded the end of July.  This is the second time in 2014, Ann has been awarded a prize by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.  She was also the winner of prizes three times in 2013.  According to Ann, “we are a Cayman Islands Travel Specialist” and we love to send people to go diving there.  It is a fantastic place to go and get away and enjoy some truly spectacular scuba diving.”
Oceanic Ventures is a full service travel company specializing in adventure and scuba diving travel.  “we have contacts all over the world and know how to find the right destination and property for our clients. whether it is a backpacking, rafting type operation or a five star resort we can help you find the right fit.”
According the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, “the ‘T’anks A Lot,’ programme offers monthly cash prizes (up to $365!) and a chance to win the ultimate grand prize: use of a Porsche Cayman for one year to dive operators that show outstanding support for the destination’s dive industry. Renowned as the birthplace of recreational diving, the Cayman Islands is home to 365 diverse dive experiences and is lauded as the Caribbean’s premier dive destination.
According to Cayman Islands Director of Tourism Shomari Scott, the ‘T’anks A Lot’ programme was conceptualized as a fun way to keep dive centres focused on the destination, while at the same time offering a chance to win an exceptional prize. “Diving in the Cayman Islands is an unforgettable and extraordinary experience and we wanted to find an equally unforgettable and extraordinary way to show our appreciation to dive operators who recommend our Islands to their valued clients.  We feel that the chance to drive a Porsche Cayman for 365 days – which reflects our 365 dive sites – will certainly be memorable to the lucky winner and we encourage dive centres across the US to enter before the closing date of October 31st.  Every confirmed booking equals one entry into the grand prize drawing which gives every dive centre whether big or small a chance to win the Porsche.”   
Ann loves helping people and she is not afraid to tell anyone that she fully intends to be driving that Porsche next year!

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The 12 Days to a Scuba Christmas

As you may know, I just returned from a short visit to the Cayman Islands. Diving in December could not have been better and I did not have to wear a drysuit!  Today, while I was cleaning out my email inbox I stumbled upon a note from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism – are you sensing a theme here?  It seems that they are having a Christmas contest for crafty and culinary divers. The prize is roundtrip airfare for two on Cayman Airways and they are giving away three sets of prizes.  The contest, “12 Days to a Cayman Christmas” seems like a fun way to get your entire family involved in diving without leaving home!  Of course, that is not the idea behind diving but the water is a little cold here right now even if the air temperature is not (I love living in the South!)
There are twelve different projects and you post your entry in a photograph to facebook by the 21st.  Then, from the 17th to the 24th t everyone votes for their favorite entry.  So you are asking what do I have to do?  Well, there are twelve challenges to complete.  You only have to do one to enter the contest but the more you do, the greater your chances of winning.  Here are the challenges (remember, you only have to do one to enter):

  • Challenge #1: Bake a Gingerbread House in the form of an old time Caymanian House
  • Challenge #2: Make a Cayman Catboat out of any craft items from your local craft store.
  • Challenge #3: Make a Christmas Ornament pertaining to anything in the Cayman Islands
  • Challenge #4: Make a Christmas Card representing the Cayman Islands
  • Challenge #5: Create a Christmas logo for Sir Turtle
  • Challenge #6: Create a Cayman Islands Christmas T-Shirt
  • Challenge #7: Bake a cake inspired by the Cayman Islands
  • Challenge #8: Use shells from your local craft store and design them to represent the Cayman Islands
  • Challenge #9: Make a Caymanian dish for dinner.
  • Challenge #10: Decorate a Christmas Tree inspired by the Cayman Islands
  • Challenge #11: Design a Cayman Islands Christmas Post Card
  • Challenge #12: Design a Stocking stuffer in a Cayman Islands Theme

So, if you can’t get wet right now, why not think about the islands and have some fun with your family?  You can enter the contest by visiting www.facebook.com/visitcaymanislands.  And, be sure to let us know you are entering so we can go out and vote for you.
And of course Dive Mom can help you set up the rest of your adventure in the Cayman Islands…
See you in the Islands!

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At the Office – Diving the Pathfinder Rebreather

Eric Keibler on a Pathfinder Rebreather in Grand Cayman
Eric Keibler on a Pathfinder Rebreather in Grand Cayman

Just another day at the office. at least that is what I tried to convince Ann was happening the past five days in Grand Cayman. One of our friends, Pam, even said that maybe they needed to “meet in our conference room.”
But really, I was in Grand Cayman to complete a training program on the Megalodon and Pathfinder rebreathers. You can ask Emma or Nancy, I was in class each morning and diving in the afternoon…you know skills, drills and well ok, some fish, corals and steel; one dive was on the Kittywake.
While I have a lot of experience diving the Megalodon rebreather, the real treat of this trip was to dive the Pathfinder in something other than the pool. Not that I mind the pool, but there is something more interesting about a vertical wall with fish, colourful corals and vibrant sponges. Remember, part of my training was swimming in the unit.
Eric Keibler and Leon Scamahorn diving Pathfinder Rebreathers in Grand Cayman
Eric Keibler and Leon Scamahorn diving Pathfinder Rebreathers in Grand Cayman

The Pathfinder is designed with a more recreational diver in mind. Underwater photographers will love this unit because it is small, easy to use and prneudes the advantage of not scaring the fish away with every breath. One of the things that appeals to me is its size and weight. The complete unit will fit in a carry on suitcase and will not require help from three of your diving buddies to put it in the overhead. For divers with camera, the unit is robust enough to go as checked luggage as well.
The unit can be configured with a standard over the shoulder set of counterlungs or with the new top of the shoulder counter lungs. One of the other configuration options is the diliuent bottle. You can configure it like a standard rebreather with the diliuent and oxygen supplies mounted to the canister or, alternatively, you can utilize the bailout cylinder as the diliuent thereby reducing the weight and simplifying the rig for the diver.
Unlike some of the other rebreather designs for more recreational divers which try to minimize any diver thought or input into the system, the Pathfinder is designed for a thinking diver. Since you can never fully factor out the human interface, Leon Scamahorn, designer of the system, believes that the diver should be included and involved in the system. This does not mean that the system is complicated but rather it needs some input from the diver during the set-up and initialization phases of the dive. Further, it offers the diver more options in dive parameters and uses.
While a purely “recreational” diver will love this unit, the Pathfinder is capable of mneung beyond what we normally consider to be recreational diving. Leon designed the unit to have enough scrubber media and system capabilities for a diver to do a typical normoxic trimix dive (using helium in the breathing mix.)
So you are probably asking what did I think about it? It was a real treat to dive a lightweight but capable rebreather. The work-of-breathing, a performance measurement, is similar to that found in the Megalodon rebreather. What this means is that it is easy to breath in the horizontal position as well as upside down and while facing up at the surface. The electronics are straight forward and easy to understand both on the surface and underwater and they do a good job of controlling the oxygen set-point or level. I found the unit trimmed well so it was easy to swim with in the water and because of its size and weight it was easy to exit the water. The scrubber packs easily and the assembly is easy and straight forward. It flushes easily and takes minimal amount of time to correct the oxygen levels.
Eric Keibler and Leon Scamahorn after Eric’ s Final Check-Out Dive for his Instructor Certification

If you are interested in rebreahers, I think this unit is a good alternative for more capable and expensive rebreathers. It prneudes a lot punch and is ideal for a photographer or any typical “recreational” diver as well a diver wanting to venture beyond the recreational limits sometime in the future. The Pathfinder is a very capable unit and may be the only unit you will need for the style of diving you have in mind.

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Scuba Divers Make Donation to Bonaventure Boys' Home in Grand Cayman

Eric Keibler Presents CheckEric Keibler, Managing Director of Oceanic Ventures presented a check for $3,630 to Jennifer Leach-Tippetts, Facility Manager for the Bonaventure Boys Home in Grand Cayman.  This donation was made possible by the generous donations from our friends, sponsors and staff at a weekend of rebreather diving in Houston.  During the presentation, Eric explained that Oceanic Ventures and the Oceanic Ventures Foundation wanted to give back to the communities that they travel to for diving.  Ann Keibler started encouraging clients and staff to bring school supplies with them in their luggage to donate to local schools.  She said, “It was a fun way to meet people and give back to the community!  It also helps you to leave a little room to buy some things to help support the local economy where you are visiting.”  Over the years this simple idea morphed into a program to help support schools and communities in diving locations like the Philippines or Grand Cayman.

To help the Bonaventure Boys’ Home, Oceanic Ventures and Innerspace Systems hosted a weekend of rebreather diving events March 29 – April 3, 2012 in Houston, Texas. The program included lectures, pool demos of a new recreational rebreather the Pathfinder plus a benefit dinner with keynote speaker Leon Scamerhorn, CEO and founder of Innerspace Systems.  While the organizations wanted to introduce the new Pathfinder Rebreather System to the diving community in Houston, they also wanted to use the event to raise funds for the Bonaventure Boys’ home. Grand Cayman has been the leading destination for rebreather divers with the first Inner Space Rebreather event hosted by Divetech in 2004 and now its ninth year in 2012.

Eric 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, “this was a fun event that will allow divers to experience what it is like to dive silently underwater with no bubbles while helping out children. We chose the Bonaventure Boys Home as our charity due to the fantastic work they do and our continued visits to Grand Cayman and Divetech.”

The Bonaventure Boys’ Home is a not for profit government funded Foundation that is a part of The CAYS Foundation (Children and Youth Services) in Grand Cayman. The Boy’s Home serves at risks boys and families that need help to achieve their full potential. Jennifer Leach-Tippetts, Bonaventure Boys’ Home Facility Manager commented “We appreciate donation to help fund extra programmes and supplies for our residents and we greatly appreciate the donation Oceanic Venture Foundation is able to give to The Bonaventure Boys’ Home. The monies raised will be used to purchase recreational equipment, resident outings, summer camp fees, clothing and shoes, rewards for incentive programmes and/or bedroom furniture for parents’ homes in preparation for transition.”

We especially want to thak all of the people who made this possible.  Were it not for their generous support, nothing would have happened.  Those people we would like to specifically thank are:

We are also in the news at:

Bonaventure Boys Home in Grand Cayman
Here is a look at the weekend’s event: