Category: Uncategorized
2023 Calendar
December 2nd Meeting (2022)
Jan 13th Tentative pizza party
Jan 14-15 Travel and Adventure show.
Feb 3rd Meeting
Feb 12 Raj/Bali/Komodo
March 10th meeting
April 7th Meeting
Club meeting notes from Aug 5th.
*****Two schedule changes of note….The Sep. meeting will be pushed back to the 9th for labor day. The Nov. meeting will be pushed to the 11th while Helen is at DEMA and Jay is at an out of town wedding.
Thanks to everyone who attended Friday in person and online.
Jared Neuman presented his trip report and video from Clark’s Cay Honduras (Thanks Jared). His video links are below.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLg1XnOVMlFyB1BEba9t7eTKaJWRMEnEcV
Jeff Matson presented pics and video from his shark dives with Calypso divers in Riviera Beach Florida. These are available on the club facebook page for viewing.
Bottom Breathers July Meeting notes
Here’s Helen’s slides on Blackwater Diving.
July-Meeting-Black-Water-DivingPHILIPPINES DIVE TRIP (deal of a lifetime)
El Galleon Dive Resort- Puerto Galera 6/9/23-6/18/23
* 7 night stay






ALL INCLUSIVE from $1500.00 dbl occupancy (Poolside room)
Poolside: $1,500.00 US dbl, $1,800.00 US single
Seaview: $1,600.00 US dbl, $1,900.00 US single
** prices subject to adjustment
INCLUDED: Poolside or Seaview Room * Full Board Meals * Unlimited Diving (up to 4 dives per day) * Free Nitrox * 1 Night Dive * Tanks & Weights * Valet Service * All Transfers * Verde Island Trip (well worth it) * All fees * Fast WIFI *
NOT INCLUDED: airfare (approx. $1000.00), alcohol (very inexpensive)
* TRIP LIMITED TO ONLY 20 DIVERS *
* DISCOUNTED FOR NON-DIVERS
** $150.00 Deposit due now (holds your space)
** $250.00 due 7/1/22
** $500.00 due 12/1/22
** balance due 3/1/23
** Venmo and Zelle also accepted
Checks payable to: Bottom Breathers Dive Club
c/o Paul Stolzer
228 Devoe Dr.
Oswego, IL 60543
Add’l Info: Paul Stolzer 630-661-8544
Helen Feeney 630-854-8811
Helen.feeney@sbcglobal.net
Clarks Cay Honduras
We’ve planned a trip to Guanaja, Honduras Clarks Cay for July 9-16, 2022.
Space is very limited, we’re renting a whole island which accommodates 18 divers, we will be the only people there. It’s all inclusive with three dives a day, we can add a fourth if we want for $40.
The island is beautiful with a lazy river, the cabanas are spread out and the island is ten acres in size.I’m including the website and a map of the island, it really is special and unique, I just came back from the sister island, Dunbar Rock, had a great time.
To get there you fly to Roatan then a ferry $95 return small plane around $195 or you can charter a plane, it will carry three people and your gear.
Price Deluxe oceanfront $1995 for double diver each.One bed Cabana $1895 with three share each or double diver $2480 each this has a living room and I think a kitchen.Standard Cabana $1895 each for double diver.Two bed Cabana $2480 each for four people.These are all quotes for sharing a room, the price will dramatically go up if you be a single and don’t want to share.All do not include 19% tax.$10 park fee. Nitrox is $120 if payed in advance.I have a lot of interest in this trip, as you can imagine, at the moment if you are fully vaccinated you just need to show proof and you can enter, they will do the out going PCR test for us at the hotel.$200 non refundable deposit secures your spot, if something really goes wrong insurance is your friend and they will let us rebook no problem.Flights are around $1000.Don’t hesitate to ask any questions that may arise.
Update as of March 18 – There are currently 7 spots left.
Please contact Helen with questions
Helen.feeney@sbcglobal.net
630-854-8811
More information to come


Project Aware Thanks Us!
Please see the nice thank you letter from Project Aware. Thanks to all our members who donated their refunded dues to Project Aware! Here’s the email from Project Aware:
Dear Bottom Breathers Dive Club,
Project AWARE has changed the way we do business. As a global conservation organization, we are committed to protecting and improving the conditions of our oceans. We also understand that, given the delicate interconnectedness of our ecosystems, we must also be mindful of our effect on other aspects of our environment such as pollution, deforestation and the consumption of natural resources. Therefore, Project AWARE believes it is our responsibility to model ecologically mindful business practices.
As part of our new Supply Chain Policy, Project AWARE is committed to decreasing the use of paper products. We are now sending our donor thank you letters, an item previously printed and mailed on 100% Recycled Paper, via electronic mail.
This is just one small change in the way we do business. If you would like to learn more about our organization and receive the latest updates please visit our Project AWARE Website and create a My Ocean Profile. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Please find your official thank you letter attached to this e-mail as a PDF.
Also know to extend our thank you to each and everyone of you: Anne Poirier, Dan Norris, Rick Torres, Chris Calabria, Carol Dacko, Marty Beirne, Jay Virzi, Alison Virzi, Sam Virzi, Paul Stolzer, Barbara Stolzer, Margie Braband, Glen GilmBrore, Joe Bunn, Helen Feeney, Tom Kratzer, Amy Gaunt, Penny McDowell, Dave McDowell, Cheryl Sroga, Ray Mikelson, Michael Wareman, Zoe Wareman, Russ Dulaney, John Deluca, Chris Novak, Anne Comer, Brian Johnson.
Endless thanks for your thoughtful support. We can use more friends like you for our cause!
Best regards,
Juanita Seino
Operations Coordinator Americas, Global Communications
Thank you: Project Aware donation $$$
So many things have been disrupted this year and the dive club events certainly took a hit as well. Since most of the dive club dues paid by our members go to support events we hold throughout the year, it wasn’t right to keep all those dues and have none of the events. So, we looked at the dive club account and decided that we should just refund two thirds of each person’s dues to them.
When we sent the offer to refund dues, we also offered instead to keep the refund and make a collective donation to the PADI Project Aware to help ocean conservation for those that didn’t want the money back.
We’re very happy to report that 27 of our members elected to donate their refunded dues to Project Aware and this week, we’re sending a donation of $840 to Project Aware. The donation also includes a list of names so they will know who helped contribute. Charities and groups like Project Aware have also suffered in the last many months, so we’re especially thankful to be able to support their efforts and thanks to our members for supporting this great cause!