Bottom Breathers Dive Club meeting notes 2-Sep-2016

1. Bottom Breathers Dive Club
Meeting: 2-Sep-2016
Today's topics:
Next year’s activities brainstorming
Better Air Consumption

2. 2016 Events
• Mermet Springs Trip – Sep 9-11
• Underwater Pumpkin Carving – Oct 8
• Pizza Party – Nov 12
• Annual Club Party - Jan 28, 2017
• Florida Keys Wreck Trek – July 10-12, 2017
• Florida Keys Local Diving – July 12-17, 2017
• Socorro Islands Liveaboard - June 11-19, 2018

3. Socorro Island
Liveaboard Info
Trip information
June 11-19, 2018

4. Trip information
• June 11-19, *2018* (Mon-Tues)--8 nights, 9 days
• Nautilus Belle Amie – 140’ long, 33’ wide
(www.nautilusbelleamie.com)
• 3 cabin classes available (5 spots remaining)
– 1 premium suite berth (male)
– 2 superior suite berths (one cabin)
– 0 lower deck stateroom berths
– 2 single staterooms
• Boat can handle 30 divers total
• Reserve at info@bottombreathers.org

5. Trip information
• Pricing:
– Premium - $4295 - main deck – 1 spot left (male)
– Superior - $3695 - upper deck
– Stateroom - $3195 - lower deck
– Single stateroom - $3993 - lower deck (single
room)

6. Trip information
• Payment:
– $100 deposit to reserve a spot (non-refundable)
– 10% due 11-Dec-2016
– 10% due 11-Sep-2017
– 20% due 11-Dec-2017
– balance (~60%) due 11-Apr-2018
• Payment types: paypal, credit card, personal
check

7. Trip information
Sun Deck
Upper Deck:
Superior Suites

8. Trip information
Main Deck:
Premium suites + dive deck +
lounge + dining room

9. Trip information
Lower Deck:
Staterooms + single staterooms

10. Better Air Consumption
• Proper amount of weight
– Formulas
– Guessing
– Trial and error
• Proper distribution of weight
– Around the waist
– On the tank
– BCD Trim pockets
– Ankle weights, fins may have weight

11. Better Air Consumption
• Streamline, reduce drag
– Tuck in gauges, other dangling gear
– Stay horizontal
– Rid your body of all hair 
– Less air in BCD (possible with proper weighting)
– Avoid filling pockets with unnecessary stuff

12. Better Air Consumption
• Breath control
– Breathe deeply and slowly, minimize cost of air
exchange (think about the snorkel example)
– Consciously slow your breathing if you’re
breathing fast
• When entering cool water on a hot day
• First dive of a trip (excitement!)
– Underwater video is a great way to examine your
own breathing

13. Better Air Consumption
• Buoyancy control
– Avoid adding/dumping/adding air to BCD
– Use your lungs
– Don’t tread water
– Are you neutral?
– Butterfly arms

14. Better Air Consumption
• Plan the dive (deal with current)
– Swim into any current to start the dive
– If possible, “hide” behind objects (i.e. wrecks) to
avoid currents

15. Better Air Consumption
• Relax
• Avoid baggy clothing
• Maintain gear – no leaks, even small ones add
up
• Arrive early, prepare slowly, reduce anxiety
• Stay physically fit
• Keep warm
• Don’t use hands, use feet/fins

16. 2016 Events
• Mermet Springs Trip – Sep 9-11
• Underwater Pumpkin Carving – Oct 8
• Pizza Party – Nov 12
• Annual Club Party - Jan 28, 2017
• Florida Keys Wreck Trek – July 10-12, 2017
• Florida Keys Local Diving – July 12-17, 2017
• Socorro Islands Liveaboard - June 11-19, 2018