Another stupid question

[gypsyjim]

I asked this question ealier, in another thread. Did not really get an answer, so I thought that I'd post a thread and ask again.
My stupid question is: when did the "logging" of dives first catch on? Did this come from one agency, or maybe the Navy? I simply curious, but this is a serious question, because I remember no reference to logging of dives in our 1970 scuba course. Honestly, diving was, at least as I experienced it in the early 70's, a pretty much a no holds barred sort of sport back then. No BCD's, SPG's, etc: Navy dive tables were all there was and I never ever saw a log book! It was only as I got back into diving again in the 80's, after drifting away for a while that I began to see divers working log books, and not until I updated my own certification did I learn to do more than make simple where'd I go, what'd I see entries to show I had some current diving experience.

 

[Gary D.]

We were logging dives with both NAUI and the NAVY in the early 60's. I also know that the NAVY logged them way earlier than that.

Gary D.

 

[Barracuda2]

I asked this question ealier, in another thread. Did not really get an answer, so I thought that I'd post a thread and ask again.
My stupid question is: when did the "logging" of dives first catch on? Did this come from one agency, or maybe the Navy? I simply curious, but this is a serious question, because I remember no reference to logging of dives in our 1970 scuba course. Honestly, diving was, at least as I experienced it in the early 70's, a pretty much a no holds barred sort of sport back then. No BCD's, SPG's, etc: Navy dive tables were all there was and I never ever saw a log book! It was only as I got back into diving again in the 80's, after drifting away for a while that I began to see divers working log books, and not until I updated my own certification did I learn to do more than make simple where'd I go, what'd I see entries to show I had some current diving experience.

Hey, nice to meet someone from my era. Like many things in diving, people looking to make a few more bucks in the industry start trends like keeping log books; you're almost made to feel you are really "out of it" if your not writing down every little detail about your dive in a $15.00 log book, or dream up a whole ton of cert. courses that any average diver could self teach through experience. Now don't flame me for that comment; I am fully aware that there are legit courses out there that could really benefit in safety and technical training like ice diving. But photo cert., night diving cert., deep diving cert. to 80 ft.etc.?---com'on----most of that is practice, common sense, and experience. In 1958 when I started, I was an "orphan", and odd-ball. There were no instructors, dive shops, etc., especially here in Ohio, so I had to learn "things" through empirical learning and lots of reading. If you want to keep a log, great, but don't feel like you're out of it if you don't. If you want take all kinds of cert courses, fine, but don't feel pressured by your peers. My $.02

 

[firstdive2005]

Hi This thread intrists me. I have 60 dives. I just finished my drysuit cert at Comox B.C. Now I do record because I have been taught that some dive OPs may ask to see my log. Much like skydive logs. I have not been asked so far. But the dive OPs watch to see if I can fit my kit together on my own. I do like the log for newbie reasons but I can see it getting old in the future. Sorry about changing the original thought of this thread, I have no idea about the origin of logs.

 

[Stu S.]

Logging dives was not part of my 1977 training. NASDS never mentioned it. At the end of the course, the instructor pulled out a little book with a dive flag on the front and said "Each of you needs one of these, $5 please". (A mask at that time cost $5). Well, there was enough extra cost in his training already, so me and my friends did not get those.

I keep one now, just in case somebody asks for it. They haven't. But it might prove useful as I don't have all the latest elective certifications. An airplane pilot or maritime officer is required by law to keep a log. We know diving really does not require it.

 

[Barracuda2]

I don't have all the latest elective certifications.

The only certs. you need are for specialized technical diving: Mixed gases for deep diving, penetration wreck diving, cave diving, ice diving (not really required, but good to have), rebreather; all of the rest you can read and learn and practice on your own. But if you have it and like to spend money, by all means, take all the cert. courses you want. I took AOW just so I wouldn't be locked out of certain dive sites. It was, in reality, a waste of my time and money.

 

[DixieDolphin]

I have my father's log book from somewhere around 1977-1980. An actual little bound book, with sheets for dive info, pages to list your gear information & maint. schedules, and the naval tables & other info printed at the back.

He only logged a handful of the many dives he did in it, though. But he did tape two dimes in the front with the phrase "Know what these are for?" written under it (... for an emergency pay phone call to the nearest chamber, apparently.) He also carefully recorded all his gear information and purchase dates, which was useful information when he handed down all that gear to me a few years back!

So... diving logs had at least become common enough by 1980 to be marketed and sold as such. Even if they may or may not have actually seen much use.

=)

 

[gypsyjim]

Thanks to all. I was simply curious. I never saw a log book, or heard of one when I did my YMCA Scuba Diver certification in 1969-1970. A couple of years ago I too did a PADI AOW course , when my old and very tattered 70' c'card started drawing real close scrutiny, and an occasional " show us what you know". Since then I've done the PADI Wreck to brush up on techniques I was never exposed to before, and I plan on doing their rescue course as soon as it gets a bit warmer.
When I did my PADI AOW the course director sat down with me and we rehashed my dive history and sort of reconstructed a log. Since then I've kept it up to date if only because my teenagers were certifying and doing a lot of diving with me, and it's better if I stay away from the old "do as I say, not as I do". These days I find myself referring to my log book to double check weight and gear setups for different conditions, as the memory doesn't seem quite so good anymore.
Thanks again for responding to my question.

 

[Walter]

Thanks to all. I was simply curious. I never saw a log book, or heard of one when I did my YMCA Scuba Diver certification in 1969-1970. A couple of years ago I too did a PADI AOW course

That's a step backwards.

 

[gypsyjim]

That's a step backwards.

A PADI course takes nothing from the earlier Y course, or replaces it in any way. It adds to my skill and knowledge base, especially since my original course was over 38 years ago. I hope I never stop learning. I gained a lot of new knowledge, honed old skills, picked up some new ones and had a lot of fun doing it.
I'd gotten to know the PADI course director personally by shadowing my teenagers as they went threw their OW and AOW. and I saw how enthusiastic, safe and knowledgeable these group was and I wanted to work with them and gain new updated skills (and share in the fun they bring to their diving).
The PADI approach to teaching is certainly not the same as how the YMCA taught me; it is not as intense or all inclusive, and PADI break things down into many specialty courses, but they teach safe fun diving. I'm not going to knock any agency that teaches young divers to love the sport and do it safely. The PADI approach is profit oriented, but that is how businesses survive, and no one is forced to take the specialty courses.