Dive log requirements - what's necessary to show?
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In the US, Caribbean, Indo-Pacific, and almost everywhere else, "other dive operators" are essentially NEVER going to ask to see your log. Based on what people have reported here on SB, only in a very few places in the world, such as some parts of Europe and Israel, might you be asked to show a log.
Dive operators often ask either how many dives you have done in total or what was the date of your most recent dive, but they never ask to see a log book as evidence--at least outside of those few places in the world mentioned above.
If you want to enroll in a Divemaster course, you might be asked to show a log to satisfy a prerequisite of having done a certain minimum number of dives.
If you don't plan to do a Divemaster course, and don't plan on diving in some relatively obscure (for Americans) location in the world, you could easily get away with never keeping a formal log.
All that said, what's generally considered the "minimum" information to record in a log was stated by tbone: date, maximum depth reached,bottom time, and location.
+1. Or, sometimes "how many dives have you done in the last year?"
The closest I ever got to being asked to see my log book was when I signed up to take the SDI Solo Diver course. The instructor asked me "do you have over 100 dives?" I said yes and that was that. He knew me from seeing me around the shop, but I had never done any training at that shop at all.
I have never had anyone sign my logbook, either, since my instructor signed the pages for my original 4 OW checkout dives.
I stopped even writing anything in my paper logbook after about 50 dives and have been all electronic since then.
A log book can be a useful description of how much you have dived and under what conditions, how much of a variety of conditions. It can be very useful for a beginner, and both useful and a lot of fun memories for much more experienced divers. You keep it on the honor system though, so it actually proves nothing. Exactly once I had a dive op tell me we would need to show logbooks; but that phone conversation was the first and last mention of logbooks, no one ever actually checked.
Unfortunately many of us fall a little behind on the bookkeeping. I'm about 2 yrs behind at the moment
I do tend to have notes in electronic form about my dives on any foreign trip, I just haven't gotten around to printing them (these last 2 yrs or so) and attaching them to my logbook. Making even shorthand notes is worthwhile on a trip though; you can flesh the notes out soon afterwards (boring mornings once back work for example) if you have a few items to jog your memory. Do make the shorthand notes (or doodles even) because it is fun not to lose the memories.
Unfortunately many of us fall a little behind on the bookkeeping. I'm about 2 yrs behind at the moment
I do tend to have notes in electronic form about my dives on any foreign trip, I just haven't gotten around to printing them (these last 2 yrs or so) and attaching them to my logbook. Making even shorthand notes is worthwhile on a trip though; you can flesh the notes out soon afterwards (boring mornings once back work for example) if you have a few items to jog your memory. Do make the shorthand notes (or doodles even) because it is fun not to lose the memories.
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Damselfish
Contributor
New divers often ask this and worry about logs because it's emphasized in class. Like many things in class, reality can be different, especially as you get more experience. In reality your log is mostly for you and there's a good chance no one will ever want to see it. As said it's honor system so doesn't really prove anything.
It's certainly not a bad idea to log dives at least for awhile when you're new, or when you do something different enough that its worth keeping track of the info. If you've forgotten to log some of your dives just go back and do the best you can. It will get harder to remember stuff the longer you wait, which is why a log can sometimes be useful. That way you have something if you do need it for some reason. No need to obsess about stamps and signatures. (I haven't had a log signed since the last time I took some class.)
I do like knowing how many dives I have, even though it doesn't really matter anymore. My divelog has degenerated into a spreadsheet that's pretty much date and location, and easily gives me my dive count. And what trips I did when, which I find helpful because we've traveled a fair amount. It sometimes even has comments like the best rooms to get at a resort - certainly not a field in any log you'd buy but useful to me. (Or at least it would tell me all this, if my last few years weren't on the backs of envelopes and subscription cards. I should really find them and do something about that...)
It's certainly not a bad idea to log dives at least for awhile when you're new, or when you do something different enough that its worth keeping track of the info. If you've forgotten to log some of your dives just go back and do the best you can. It will get harder to remember stuff the longer you wait, which is why a log can sometimes be useful. That way you have something if you do need it for some reason. No need to obsess about stamps and signatures. (I haven't had a log signed since the last time I took some class.)
I do like knowing how many dives I have, even though it doesn't really matter anymore. My divelog has degenerated into a spreadsheet that's pretty much date and location, and easily gives me my dive count. And what trips I did when, which I find helpful because we've traveled a fair amount. It sometimes even has comments like the best rooms to get at a resort - certainly not a field in any log you'd buy but useful to me. (Or at least it would tell me all this, if my last few years weren't on the backs of envelopes and subscription cards. I should really find them and do something about that...)
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I have 5 dives written in my logbook. 4 from 1981 certification and one about 10 yrs. ago when a shop asked us to show up with a logged dive on their island to bypass having to do a checkout dive. Though I do bring it everywhere since it's the bottom of my save-a-dive kit ziploc bag.
I do keep a log online - using diverecord.com. It has the ability to print a summary. I stopped doing that about 10 years ago also when I realized no one ever asked for it.
It's not uncommon for us to use 2-3 divershops in a week for specialty dives - I cannot remember anyone asking for more than a cert. card - even on "advanced" dives. These are not the shop we're diving with but just stopping in once for their dive - usually sharks, dolphins, shore dives etc.
The best logbook I ever saw was from a Japanese lady diver in Hawaii. She brought watercolor pencils with her and spent the SI drawing the fish she'd seen in the comments section of her logbook. Excellent artist, the quality of an Audubon image if they did fish.
The only reason to keep a log (not necessarily paper) IMO is if you plan to enroll in specialty classes/programs which sometimes have a minimum dive count requirement. Otherwise, it's your log...
I do keep a log online - using diverecord.com. It has the ability to print a summary. I stopped doing that about 10 years ago also when I realized no one ever asked for it.
It's not uncommon for us to use 2-3 divershops in a week for specialty dives - I cannot remember anyone asking for more than a cert. card - even on "advanced" dives. These are not the shop we're diving with but just stopping in once for their dive - usually sharks, dolphins, shore dives etc.
The best logbook I ever saw was from a Japanese lady diver in Hawaii. She brought watercolor pencils with her and spent the SI drawing the fish she'd seen in the comments section of her logbook. Excellent artist, the quality of an Audubon image if they did fish.
The only reason to keep a log (not necessarily paper) IMO is if you plan to enroll in specialty classes/programs which sometimes have a minimum dive count requirement. Otherwise, it's your log...
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DiverAmy
Prism2 CCR Diver
If you have a computer, it probably logged the dives, just show the OP your dive history. Conversely, don't recall ever being asked to show a log. Quit keeping a written log over 700 dives ago.
oldschoolto
Contributor
It's good to hear I'm not the only lazy one.
Jim...
Jim...
My experience is a little different than others. Sandals resorts dive teams asked to see the log when I was an OW and AOW. When I did my IDC/IE I needed to provide a photocopy of my 100th logged dive. I am continuing to log but have moved to the electronic version on the PADI website.
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