September 2023 meeting notes

2023 Calendar

December 2^nd Meeting (2022)

Jan 13^th Tentative pizza party

Jan 14-15 Travel and Adventure show.

Feb 3^rd Meeting

Feb 12 Raj/Bali/Komodo

March 10^th meeting

April 7^th 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.

                      PHILIPPINES 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

                                                                    WWW.ASIADIVERS.COM

**   $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

                          Paulstolzer0@gmail.com

                          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

Raja February 2023 sold out

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:

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!