The Bottom Breathers Dive Club meeting provided upcoming event details and random diving tips. Events included trips to Florida Keys in June, Turks & Caicos liveaboard in July, and a Socorro Islands liveaboard in June 2018. The meeting also included random diving tips such as caring for gear, preparing for repetitive diving, using sunscreen, having spare parts, and logging dives. Details were provided for the Socorro Islands liveaboard, including dates, boat information, cabin classes, pricing and payment schedule.

1. Bottom Breathers Dive Club
Meeting: 3-Jun-2016
Today's topics:
Random Top Tips

2. 2016 Events
• Next meeting – Aug 12; NO JULY MEETING
• Florida Keys Trip – June 16-20
• Turks & Caicos Liveaboard – July 23-30
• Monthly Club meeting – Aug 12 (not first Friday)
• Club BBQ – Aug 13
• Mermet Springs Trip – Sep 9-11
• Underwater Pumpkin Carving – Oct 8
• Pizza Party – Nov 12
• Annual Club Party - Jan 28, 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 (7 spots remaining)
– 1 premium suite berth (male)
– 4 superior suite berths
– 2 single staterooms
• 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 - SOLD OUT
– 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. 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 (7 spots remaining)
– 1 premium suite berth (male)
– 4 superior suite berths
– 2 single staterooms
• 30 divers total
• Reserve at info@bottombreathers.org

11. Top Tips
Random collection of
tips and tricks

12. Top Tips
• Take care of gear
– Fins: hang them if possible. If not hanging, ensure
they are laying flat.
– Use clips or keepers for all hanging gear
(STREAMLINE!)
– Clean new masks with cheap paste toothpaste
• Day boat trips: Check both tanks before
leaving the dock
– Are they full?

13. Top Tips
• Take care of ears
– For repetitive diving, dry out ears at least once a
day
– Make your own solution: ½ white wine vinegar, ½
alcohol
• http://www.diversalertnetwork.org/medical/articles/M
ore_On_Swimmers_Ear
– Hold drops in ear for a few minutes each ear
– May use less alcohol if irritation occurs

14. Top Tips
• Sunscreen between dives
– Sometimes a PITA, but worth the effort
• Cover your head (even if you have hair)
– When topside, use a hat
– If clear water, lots of diving, consider a do rag or
hat underwater
• Hydrate
– Often hard to notice dehydration when in water
all day! (especially if you are indulging in evenings)

15. Top Tips
• Always have spares (save-a-dive!)
– fin strap, mask strap, fin buckles
– O-rings: tank, camera housing, regulator hose,
computer (if hose-mounted)
– snorkel keepers (as octo holders and many other
uses!)
– Rubber bands
– batteries: lights, computer, wireless transmitter

16. Top Tips
• Don't be shy
– If it's your first time diving a site or type of dive,
say so.
– If you're diving with new equipment, say so.
– If you don't feel good or don't feel up to the dive,
call it off.

17. Top Tips
• Don't wear yourself out gearing up
– Start early enough to be able to take time, but…
– When the dive leader, buddy, or instructor is
gearing up, so should you (but maybe not before)
– Use scuba socks or plastic bags on your feet to
ease the wetsuit on (then remove the bags if you
use bags)
– On hot days, keep wetsuit at least half off until
you're ready to dive

18. Top Tips
• Camera tips
– Keep temperature close to the same to avoid
condensation;
• use a cooler if you're diving in cold water
• keep on camera table or dive deck if in warm area
– Grease the o-ring regularly
– Rinse the housing in fresh water after each dive
– Learn to use manual white balance

19. Top Tips
• Log all your dives, on paper
– When on a repetitive dive trip, log at least daily.
– Keep notes on weight you used, exposure suit
– Write notes about the things you saw on the dive
– Collect autographs and boat stamps/stickers
– Helps track history if computer dies and/or DCI is
suspected

20. Top Tips
• Descending on a line
– After descending a line, note the depth where it
ends.
– When looking for the line at the end of the dive,
finding the right depth is a clue you're close
– On a wreck or where there are multiple lines, note
which one you arrived on
– If you ascend on the wrong line, don't swim/drift
to the right one - surface, then let the boats work
out how to get you back to your boat

21. 2016 Events
• Next meeting – Aug 12; NO JULY MEETING
• Florida Keys Trip – June 16-20
• Turks & Caicos Liveaboard – July 23-30
• Monthly Club meeting – Aug 12 (not first Friday)
• Club BBQ – Aug 13
• Mermet Springs Trip – Sep 9-11
• Underwater Pumpkin Carving – Oct 8
• Pizza Party – Nov 12
• Annual Club Party - Jan 28, 2017
• Socorro Islands Liveaboard - June 11-19, 2018