Dive Logs.. Where to buy?

[Scuba_Noob]

I keep a small scuba binder and after every four or five dives, I'll put all the information into a Dive Log Excel spreadsheet that I have. That way, if I lose any one, I'll still have logs.

For the binder, I just use packets of logs (around 50+ dives) that I buy from my LDS for around $7-$8. Not a big expense for that many dives.

For the logs, I include max depth, average depth, time underwater, surface interval, water temperature, weight, cumulative time underwater, dive site, date...and so on. The most important part of the log, I feel, is the notes section, where you could write about unique things you learned (or that occurred) during a dive, as well as your dive buddies.

 

[exposure]

+1 for MacDive but as I like to keep a paper version with the local stamp and signature, I am using one from Dive-Logs.com - Scuba dive log refill packs, logbooks, log book stamps, and accessories. You can customized it and even have a "rite in the rain" version. Personnally, I use the Nitrox Computer version even for Tech Dive because you have a lot of free space (half the page).

On the field I am writing everything on paper with stamp and signature, then back home I synchronize and enriched MacDive, it's like you review your dive 2 times. If you want to do your own with Excel or Word, at least you can look at their examples.

From the paper to the software, at some point, they are supplementary. For instance, I write on the paper the main element of the dive including the run time and gases for tech dive plus a list of fishes and interesting thing about the dive while I am using the software more for a statistic purposes where I log all important element like Gases, gear configuration but not necessarily the fishes.

 

[doctormike]

I find that with a digital log, I record a lot more of my thoughts and observations about the dives (the comments section) than I would with a written log. Just easier to type, etc.. I also cut and paste wreck descriptions from online sources, so that I can review an old dive on my phone without Internet access.

Maybe my experience is limited, but I haven't really heard a lot about people not being able to do training or dives or whatever because of the lack of signed paper documentation. I would rather store things like email addresses and phone numbers of new dive buddies than their signatures...

 

[milbournosphere]

I've been very happy with this log so far. Lots of space for notes and plenty of space for conditions, site info, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B6539S/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

I think you can also get them from Barnes and Noble.