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
Bill
Machinski is a Century SSI Instructor and an Oceanic
Ventures client whose hobby got out of control. Bill is a former
“Yankee” who had Uncle Sam’s help in seeing the world.
Bill is a retired US Navy Senior Chief whose 25 years service
includes the US Air Force and the Naval Construction Force Seabees.
He is now a Senior Project Manager with a Houston commercial General
Contractor. Bill’s diving adventures have taken him throughout
the Caribbean and to the Pacific. For students wanting to learn
underwater navigation the fun and easy way, then Bill’s Power
Navigation course is a must!
David
Snyder is a SSI Century Instructor and an IANTD 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.
Carl
Strange came to Oceanic Ventures to learn to dive before
departing on his sailboat for the Caribbean. He dove every day and
wanted to introduce others to the fascinating underwater world. He
has since become an Advanced EANx Instructor. He has his Bachelors of
Science from the University of Texas in computer science. Carl
travels throughout the Caribbean on his sailboat and is planning to
continue on to the Pacific. He works for Oceanic Ventures between cruises.
Chuck
Gerlovich, Advanced Open Water Instructor (Century Instructor):
While working as a Chemical Engineer in Denver hurt Chuck's diving,
he got back into it as soon as he moved to Hawaii. He later
transferred to Corpus Christi where he was a member of the Charter
Guide Class at the Texas State Aquarium. He also completed the REEF
fish identification course and participated in fish count surveys. A
Technical Diver that loves wreck diving, he has 125 dives at Truk
Lagoon and Bikini Atoll. Of course he still enjoys local diving in
Cozumel and the Flower Gardens. His dive travels have taken him to
all 3 coasts, the Caribbean, South America, and the Far East.
Barney
Corbin, 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.
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.
Ed Walsh, SSI Assistant Instructor. Will be completing his IEC in the summer.
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.
Andrew
Fritz, Repair Technician: Andrew is currently a PhD candidate at
the University of Houston in Computer Science. Because he is a
student, his diving has been limited somewhat. However, it has not
stopped him from becoming a rebreather diver and doing local diving
and road trips to Florida. Andrew also enjoys introducing others to
Gulf diving.
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.
Ashton
Arsement, Retail Manager; Ashton is responsible inventory and in
store sales.