Oceanic Ventures, Inc.
Staff
Instructor Trainers
Ann
Keibler: Ann is a Platinum 1000 Instructor with SSI and an
Instructor Trainer/Certifier with both NASDS and SSI. She is
originally from Arizona and received her Masters of Business
Administration from Arizona State University. She has been involved
in Scuba instruction since 1990 and outdoor education since 1975 Her
diving career has taken her from the Caribbean to the Pacific, the
Middle East and the Far East. Ann loves to tell people that she
specializes in chickens. If you want to be a diver, she will get you there!
Eric
Keibler: Eric is a Platinum 1000 Instructor with SSI and an
Instructor Trainer with IANTD, NASDS and SSI. He is a native Texan
and received his Bachelors in Business Administration, Accounting
from Texas Tech University. He has been involved in Scuba instruction
since 1988. His diving experience has taken him from the Caribbean to
the far reaches of the earth including Bikini Atoll, Truk Lagoon and
Thailand. Eric is a member of the board for the United States Deep
Diving Foundation and serves as the Gulf Coast Regional Director for
the United States Deep Diving Team.
Gary
Taylor: Gary is an adjunct member of our diving faculty. He has
degrees in Education, Theology and Ancient Languages and serves as a
Technical Instructor and Instructor trainer for the company. He has
extensive diving experience with over 7,000 dives and in excess of
4,000 Cave dives. He has dove all over the world and specializes in
technical diving. He is the founder of the United States Deep Diving
Team and serves on the board of Advisors for IANTD.
Tom
Mount Instructor Trainer: Tom serves as the CEO of IANTD/IAND,
Inc. and was involved with the organization since it's inception. He
is the author of numerous IANTD text books as well as for the
National Association of Cave Divers and various other organizations.
He has dove around the world and has logged in excess of 11,000 dives
including more than 1200 wreck dives. Tom teaches the Company's
Megaladon Rebreather course and several other programs
Instructors
David
Snyder is a SSI DCSI Century Instructor and an IANTD and TDI
Normoxic Trimix Instructor. David is a former banking officer who
retired early and chose to occupy his spare time teaching Scuba. He
has his MBA in Finance. Dave is an avid underwater photographer and
has traveled extensively throughout the South Pacific and the
Caribbean. Like many of our staff, Dave is a certified Trimix Diver
and Cave Diver. Dave’s has two rules for divers, Rule #1...BE
Careful, Rule #2...NO Whining.
Jean-Luc
Pous, SSI Dive Control Specialist Instructor: Most days you will
find Jean-Luc at an airport somewhere. You may find him teaching a
pilot who is upgrading his rating or taking passengers to an
important business meeting. Of course he is also an Engineer with
years of experience which takes him to the far reaches of the world.
But, when he is not working or flying, you will find him diving,
talking about diving or teaching diving. Jean-Luc loves diving and
introduces people to this hidden world as often as he can. His diving
travels have taken him all over the world and as long as there is
water, he is a happy diver.
Barney
Corbin, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor: Barney started his
diving hobby as a teenager in Florida. Over the years his work with
the Air Force and NASA took him all over the world letting him visit
numerous countries. While working for NASA in California, Barney
increased his dives through frequent local diving. He moved to
Houston to work on the Space Station and made frequent trips to
Russia. Now retired, Barney is hoping to increase his dives again; he
has recently become a certified Cave Diver. Barney's travels have
taken him to various locations in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Pat
Croll, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor Instructor:Pat
got to participate in a Stress Rescue Open Water prior to even
meeting us...Wade snuck out of the water and went to visit Pat and
his son Nick at their shelter while the students were looking for him
in the water. He decided we seemed like a fun group and joined the
Oceanic Ventures family shortly thereafter. Pat has been snorkeling
and diving for years, and has now let his hobby get out of control by
progressing into a dive leadership role. In his other life, Pat works
with corporate insurance brokers placing coverage with underwriters.
He loves to dive and has been all over the Caribbean.
Vernon
Dittrich,
SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor. Vern started
his dive career with his permanent Dive buddy and wife, Paula.
After having so much fun with Stress Rescue class, he decided and
dive leader role was what he wanted to pursue. Vern loves
teaching Open Water divers, Navigation Specialty classes, and is also
a SCUBA Ranger Leader.
Bob
Sloan, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor Instructor:Bob
loves diving and his enthusiasm is contagious. His diving career
started in the Northwest when certification cards were not really
required. His passion for diving is only matched for his love of
skiing and the outdoors. Since his retirement as an engineer and tool
designer for Schlumberger, he has been able to spend more time
pursuing his hobbies and traveling. As a recreational diver, a
Technical Diver, and a Technical Cave Diver, Bob has dove in some
very unique places. He has a hard time pinpointing his favorite dive
sites but you might ask him about Chuuk, Kosrae or Hawaii.
Wade
Sparks, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor
Instructor:Watching Jacques Cousteau, helped get Wade interested in
the underwater world and Scuba Diving was a natural fit. He is a
graduate of the University of Houston—Victoria with a degree in
Accounting. He currently works in the IT group for Waste Management,
Inc. Wade loves being underwater and has dove in a number of US
locations and throughout the Caribbean. No matter where he ends up
for vacation, he manages to find a dive location.
Holly
Williams, SSI Advanced Open Water Instructor: With a degree in
social work and criminal psychology from the University of Maryland,
she is a perfect fit for Oceanic Ventures staff. After all, we are
all adventurers at heart. While Holly is currently a Senior Project
Manager in the Technology group at Sysco her heart lies underwater.
She loves training divers of all ages and especially families. Her
appetite for dive travel has taken her all over the Caribbean and she
is now heading out to explore the Pacific.
Steve
Jurbala, SSI Open Water Instructor: Steve is one of the newest
members of the Oceanic Ventures Dive Team. He is an enthusiastic
diver with a love for the sport and a desire to introduce his
students to the underwater world. Steve serves as the Regional
Manager for Imperial Brands, an upscale liquor importer. When he is
not on the road introducing others to his products, you will find
Steve diving or out on his boat. He has spent time all over the
Caribbean but still finds Cozumel his favorite dive destination.
Barbara
Corbin, SSI Assistant Instructor:Simply put, Barbara loves
diving. She and her husband Barney have dove all over the country and
in numerous places around the world. She has been to springs in
Florida and Texas, the Kelp beds in California and even NASA’s
newest underwater habitat. In her other life, Barbara works for NASA
and is a director overseeing a number of rocket scientists. She is a
certified Coast Guard Captain and the Admiral of her own navy with
more boats and personal watercraft than she has family at home. She
really enjoys teaching others to dive and has fun doing it.
Ed Walsh, SSI Assistant Instructor.Ed likes to tell people that he has been diving longer than Jacques Cousteau. Of course that is a bit of an exaggeration which describes Ed’s fun loving personality. Ed got his diving start in Ohio but rapidly found the healing benefits of warm tropical waters. He currently serves as the Business Manager for St Cecilia’s church. Ed loves helping students discover the underwater world and has dove in a number of US locations and throughout the Caribbean. No matter where he ends up for vacation, he has fun and works in some diving and some fishing.
Other Dive Staff
Mike
Coburn, M.D., Medical Advisor: Mike is currently completing his
Dive Coordinator training with Oceanic Ventures. He also serves as
the medical advisor to Oceanic Ventures and the United States Deep
Diving Team. In his "real life", he is an Urologist and
Professor at the Baylor Medical School in the Texas Medical Center.
From river Archeology in North Carolina to rock quarries in in the
mid-west, Mike has dove all over the United States. He also has
extensive experience in diving in various locations in the Caribbean.
Stephanie
Watowich, Dive Coordinator: Stephanie spends her time split
between her career as a research Professor for MD Anderson, her
family and diving. She is a survivor of one of Chuck’s classes
and despite his best efforts, she has become a Dive Coordinator.
Stephanie simply loves diving and has even put up with Eric popping
out of hidden area of a ship to pull on her fins. She has been diving
in the Caribbean and the Pacific and her plans include more trips
underwater...where next? Only Stephanie really knows.
Melanie
Worthington Dive Coordinator: If you spend much time with Mel,
you will likely hear "Mom" coming from the mouths of one of
her two children. Of course in between her duties as Mom, Scuba
Ranger Leader, and Dive Coordinator, she is a practicing attorney.
Her enthusiasm in contagious and her ability to keep up with the
Rangers is inspiring. She has been diving since she was sixteen and
is a true believer in diving being a Lifetime Pastime. She has been
diving throughout the Caribbean and loves introducing others to the sport.
Steve
Brennan Dive Coordinator:
Zaide Scheib Dive Coordinator:
Ashton
Arsement Retail manager: