Dive log requirements - what's necessary to show?

[Lorenzoid]

I have never understood the stamp from the dive boat thing.

Because they're fun to collect. Like the stamps in my passport. Come to think of it, I enjoy flipping through my logbook and reminiscing about all the places I have dived like I enjoy flipping through my passport and reminiscing about all the places I have visited.

 

[luscioman]

It is always advisable in the beginning to log dives. The most important reason I tell new divers is so they can log how much weight they had with there setup and have a good reference point for the future. I see people all the time that have weighting issues and they just don't remember. It's fine if you write it down and refence it later.

 

[Centrals]

I have never understood the stamp from the dive boat thing.

As a proof that you had actually visited the place.
An operator in Coron(Philippines) even has individual stamp for most of the wrecks over there.

 

[Boiler_81]

As a proof that you had actually visited the place.
An operator in Coron(Philippines) even has individual stamp for most of the wrecks over there.

OK, to each their own. I know I was there, that's good enough for me.

 

[Divegoose]

I log all my dives, and have done so since day one. I've tried the log books you can get in a dive shop, but didn't really like them. I created my own log book, capturing the information I want to capture. Important details I keep are times, accumulated dive time, air at start and finish of dive, air and water temperatures, and lots of notes. If I am at a resort, I stamp the log pages with their stamp.

While I have been asked to produce a "C" card, I have never been asked to show my dive logs.

If anyone wants a copy of my log sheet, shoot me a PM with your e-mail address, and I'll gladly send you a copy.

Dive safe !!

Divegoose

 

[TMHeimer]

You'll get a hundred different points of advice on any "dive log" thread. No one's EVER even looked at mine. But I have heard that, as mentioned above, what a dive op requires varies. My advice is use a simple dive log book (or do the computer print out thing) and fill out whatever the log sheet asks for. Add whatever you wish for your own benefit. I don't think you could ever go wrong doing this. Oh, one biggee I think is a charter boat may want to know when your LAST dive was--ie. last week or last year. I have heard of and experienced that one myself.

So, what has been said since I posted yesterday? One person said the 100 required dives was checked to do the IDC. Otherwise, just do a search for all the other "log" threads to re-read what we all say because TV tonight isn't very good.

Oh, sorry, I'll add that my OW instructor 12 years ago neglected to sign my 4 checkout dives in my new log book, so I had to go back to the shop to get him to do this because I thought it was a big deal. Like I said, because PADI said to do so and they're always right.

 

[Chavodel8en]

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.

When I was a newbie and still super-geeked on diving, I used to draw the fish (just using one color pen -- but I did label the different colors), to help me with fish ID. With info like size, color, location, etc. as if I was Darwin and I was discovering new fish species.

Sigh, I wish I was still that that geeked out over it. Locally, the fish have become familiar to me -- there's only so many portraits of various rockfish you can do. But maybe I'll start that up again.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Sketches can be handy for recording what route you took around wrecks and formations, or on shore dives to show where the best entry/exit is.

 

[AJ]

I logged about 200 dives then stopped.I now only log dives that are really special to me like my upcoming trip to Thistlegorm and the rest of the famous five. If someone wants to know if I can dive, we'll go diving.

 

[_Ralph]

I'll echo a few here.

Log the first 100 dives.
Collect the stamps.
Write about the dive (what you saw above/below).
Dive profile.
Water temp.
Equipment (rental/personal) - you never know what you may like and look back at 'I want to buy THAT one!' When the time comes.
Weights & exposure suit.
Anything AMAZING and OUT OF THE ORDINARY!

Once you have that, it's up to you if you'd like to continue.

By this point, you'll have enough logged dives for most any course, lots of stories and memories.

If you carry on logging beyond that is up to you. Most places don't require actually seeing a logbook, but for some reason really want to sign one off, especially after a course before giving you your earned card.


Me personally, I log every time I blow bubbles. Electronically and downloaded from the bottom timer.

I log who/where/what/when and the how (gear - exposure, what set of tanks, weight - lead, batteries, etc).

I enter in pressures, evaluate the profiles for later trips. One common one is, is it worth the extra $$$ for this remote location for fancy gas? Or am I going to be OK with a Nitrox/Air dive?

Same with sizes of tanks, am I OK with an 11L, or do I need something bigger?

I also write about the dive sites, where things are, what works, what doesn't. So next time I go there or someone asks, I can have an idea about where to go or what to do while there (where the octo/wolf eel den, what side of the island is better for sea lions, where is that small wreck, island cave, feature etc).

Also charter costs, gas, transportation, accommodation, locals, foods, etc.

While this may sound like I've written a novel about every dive or trip. It really isn't. The initial logging of a location or site may be more in depth than the rest, the information is there. Subsequent dives/trips just build onto what is already there. I leave that to the bloggy things and other social mediums

_R