Vreni learned to dive in 1974 and became the first female divemaster of The Scuba Sports Club (NY) in 1980. In 1986 she participated in REPEX, a NOAA-sponsored saturation excursion program for the purpose of predicting the long-term effects of oxygen exposure. She is the recipient of BTS Medal of Excellence and their 20 Year Award for loyalty and dedicated service, as well as the TSSC Diver of the Year Award. Vreni was also a participant in the Aqua Women expeditions from 1981 to 1993.