Dive Log

[EzRidA]

I recently moved and in the process it seems as if my dive log has disappeared. I've spent the better part of 3 hours today looking through everything trying to find it. My question is, what sort of situation does this put me in? I've been OW certified since April 2001 and have probably logged around 150 dives. I was going to get my advanced ow this summer, but I don't know how that will work out now. Basically I just want to know if I'm screwed or if there is anything I can do in regards to this situation? I appreciate any help that can be given.

-Dan

 

[Xman]

Depends on the agency you are getting Advance Open Water through. PADI will have no problem with you doing advanced open water, but I can't see that it would be of much benefit to you after 150 dives.
As far as other agencies, I am not sure how they would deal with the loss of your log book, but I would hope that there is some way to deal with it that doesn't prevent you doing what you are wanting to do

 

[Charlie99]

I appreciate any help that can be given.

If you have 150 dives experience, then AOW probably will not have much value for you. OTOH, Rescue Diver is a very useful course. IIRC, it requires AOW or equivalent experience as a prerequisite.

Talk to an instructor about your diving experience, and take the Rescue course.

If your motivation is to get the "card" to avoid hassles on diveboats when going to advanced sites, you will find that the Rescue card works as well as AOW for that purpose. And it is a really good learning experience.

Charlie

 

[EzRidA]

I haven't really had an issue with dive boats, since I did the majority of my dives off my parents boat. Unfortunately they sold it a few months ago, but it really hasn't affected me much as I haven't had time to dive being away at school.

I was OW certified through Padi and wanted to do the AOW, so I could move onto wreck diving. That's basically where I'd like my diving to take me. Take it slow through the rec side of it, then hopefully move on to the tech side.

I was looking up the rescue diver and it seemed as if I needed my AOW before I could do it. Taken from the Padi site, "You can enroll in the Rescue Diver Course as a certified Open Water Diver and participate in the Rescue Diver knowledge development and rescue training sessions, in confined water only, while working on your Advanced Open Water Diver certification."

Perhaps I'm reading it wrong? Either way I appreciate the suggestions and help.

-Dan

 

[scubatoys]

Log books don't mean a whole lot... most will never ask or care, some will glance to see what you've done lately. And no one is going to carry a pile of them if they have hundreds of dives, so I'd say, go buy a new log book, try to remember the last half dozen dives or so, and put them in as dive # 144, 145, 146 etc to reflect your actual experience.

Anyone will be able to pick out instantly if you are an experienced diver and not give you any kind of hard time. Heck, today with downloadable computers, a lot of people just have their log experience on a computer - and no one makes them bring in a laptop to show them.

The only time you really need a certain number of dives of a certain type is in instructor stuff... For example, to teach night diving, you are supposed to have done 20 night dives.

As a great example of how important this is.... when I became an instructor back in the 80's, I was 12 dives shy of the Padi requirement... and the instructor examiner looked at my book, then said.. "Uh, you are about 12 dives shy here... You probably just forgot to write some down... so why don't you give me your check, and while I process your paperwork, you can sit down over there and try to remember those 12 dives and write them in... OK?

Maybe that's why I now teach Naui... but either way, no one much cares about seeing all your dives in a log.

 

[scubatoys]

Oh, and on the going straight into rescue thing... I'm not current with Padi, but I know with Naui, we can give credit for previous experience and training. I'm pretty sure in that 150 dives, you've had a night, deep, etc....

 

[alcina]

There are weird exceptions to every rule: there is a dive here that requires you show a logged dive within the past 12 months beyond certification dives. A logged computer dive is not enough UNLESS it also displays the date. It's a rule the dive centres have no control over.

So, not a big deal, but just be aware that there is always an exception.

I'd do what was suggested above - start a new book. I doubt you'll have any problems going on to AOW. Rescue without AOW might be a problem as you don't have the log book detailing your past experience. Talk to your shop &instructor.

Good luck!

 

[Bubble Blower 479]

Everyone knows all you need to log dives is a pen and some paper (this may or may not include actual dives, just kidding). There is really no way to verify them. The main purpose for a logbook is for your own benefit. If someone wants to check out your logbook how will they know the dives are legit. Without some formal verfication process we can only trust that that you are honest.

If you need the logbook for proof of experience, just record what you can from memory as mentioned above. Remember to change your writing style and pen color to look like you recorded them on different days. This way the "scuba police" won't try to pull your c-card.

 

[alcina]

. This way the "scuba police" won't try to pull your c-card.

:rofl:

 

[EzRidA]

I appreciate all the advice and tips. I'll also be looking into what NAUI has to offer.