The Bottom Breathers Dive Club meeting covered upcoming events, buoyancy tips, and trip information. Upcoming events included dives in Mermet Springs, Key West, the Florida Keys, and Quarry BBQ. Buoyancy tips focused on Boyle's Law, proper weighting, body positioning, using breath control, and taking training. Information was provided on trips to the Florida Keys in July 2017 and Socorro Islands in June 2018 aboard the Nautilus Belle Amie liveaboard.

1. Bottom Breathers Dive Club
Meeting: 2-Jun-2017
Today's topics:
Top Buoyancy Tips

2. 2017 Events (1)
• Next meeting – July 7
• Mermet Springs trip #1 – June 10-11
• Vandenburg Key West Dives – July 10-12
• Florida Keys Local Diving – July 12-17

3. 2017 Events (2)
• Quarry BBQ – Aug 12
• Mermet Springs trip #2 – Sep 8-10
• Underwater pumpkin carving – Oct 14
• Pizza party – Nov 18
• Club party – Jan 27, 2018
• Socorro Islands Liveaboard – June 11-19, 2018

4. Florida Keys 2017
Trip Info
Trip information
July 11-16, 2017

5. Trip information
• Wreck Trek (7/11-7/12): Dive wrecks from Key
Largo to Key West and back again over 2 days
• Local Diving in Key Largo (7/13-7/16):
– 2 tank morning boat to wrecks and deep sites
– 2 tank afternoon boat to reefs
– 1 tank night dive (one time during the trip)
• All dives optional, a la carte, up to 17 dives
• Pricing varies based on dives selected, $1044
for 17 dives including room, tanks, weights

6. Trip information
• Accommodations: Ocean Pointe Suites in Key
Largo (MM 92.5 oceanside), sharing 2 BR condos
with laundry and full kitchens
• Diving: Florida Keys Dive Center (MM 90.4
oceanside), full service, rentals, 46’ Newton boats
• Plan: Fly in on 7/12 (7/10 if doing the wreck trek),
dive 7/13-7/16, fly out in PM on 7/17
– Share rental cars where possible from FLL or MIA
• Questions/Reserve at info@bottombreathers.org

7. Philippines Trip
• March 9-19, 2018
• Round Trip airfare from Chicago
• One night hotel in Manila
• 8 nights at El Galleon Beach Resort
• 3 meals per day
• Up to 4 boat dives
• Government hotel taxes
• Price: $2,495

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

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

10. Trip information
• Pricing:
– Premium - $4295 - main deck – 1 berth left (male)
– Superior - $3695 - upper deck – 2 berths available
– Stateroom - $3195 - lower deck
– Single stateroom - $3993 - lower deck (single
room)

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

12. Trip information
Sun Deck
Upper Deck:
Superior Suites

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

14. Trip information
Lower Deck:
Staterooms + single staterooms

15. Buoyancy Tips
• Boyle’s Law
– Relationship between pressure and volume
• Proper weighting
– Less is more sometimes
– Boyle’s Law attacks again
• Adjust weight for conditions and gear
– Wetsuit, gloves, hood, different BCD, etc.

16. Buoyancy Tips
• Buoyancy checks aren’t just for beginners
– Checking at beginning is good (account for a tank)
– Checking at end is better
• Body positioning
– If not horizontal, kicks will send you up or down
– Trim pockets: really, they are Good Things™

17. Buoyancy Tips
• Get familiar with your BCD
– Trim pockets: really, they are Good Things™
– Dump valves aren’t just for emergencies
– More than 10% of accidents are due to BCDs
• Use your breath control
– Lungs as a mini-BCD
– No BCD adjustment needed if you use the lungs
– Exhale fully. R-E-L-A-X.

18. Buoyancy Tips
• No t-rex or butterfly arms
– The helicopter effect will be evident for sure
– Wastes air too
• Take some training
– Peak Performance Buoyancy is a good course
• Log your dive (with all the information)
– Include exposure suit, weight, BCD
http://scubadiverlife.com/ten-tips-better-buoyancy-control/

19. FOR SALE
• Last meeting included a swap meet/garage
sale
• Many items left unpurchased
• Great gear still left – feel free to send a note
to the list (just don’t overwhelm it) with what
you have left

20. 2017 Events (1)
• Next meeting – July 7
• Mermet Springs trip #1 – June 10-11
• Vandenburg Key West Dives – July 10-12
• Florida Keys Local Diving – July 12-17