Diving with a watch. How to keep track of times?

[OrangeBlood]

Hello,
I'm brand new to Scuba and to the forum. 1st Post (besides introduction)! I haven't purchased a computer yet, so I'm still using the tried and true watch and tables method. My dive watch has a rotating bezel and stopwatch function so I can track 2 times at once. The problem I am having is keeping up with my Bottom Time, Max Depth and Surface Intervals when doing multiple dives if I can't log them immediately. For instance, if I did a dive to 60' for 28 minutes, stayed at the surface for 35 minutes, went back down to 45' for 25 minutes and then ended my day of diving, by the time I get back to my log book all of the numbers are running together and I don't feel 100% about what I'm logging. I've thought about getting a slate to write this info down on until I can log it, but that's about the only solution I've come up with until I can purchase a computer. Anyone else have this issue or any suggestions?

Thanks!!
Chris

 

[danpass]

I'm new, just recently certed, but the first thing that came to mind is that the dive plan has already been written down so you have the numbers.

I would reset my bezel for each time frame, including the SI.

 

[ekremer]

Why can't you write down your numbers for dive one during that 35 minute SI? If you are hanging out in the water during the SI, then a slate or wetnotes would probably be very handy.

 

[00wabbit]

get a slate. They are cheap. You can even find slates with log info printed on them. Dive-Logs.com - The Ergo Planner Scuba Diving Slate

 

[skankpile]

I think you answered your own question.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

Get a slate. Use the bezel for accurate recording of bottom time. Rest for every dive. You can, with a slate, even record time at different depths and calculate pressure groups after the dive as a multilevel dive. bottom time. Or you could just get a computer. Servicable items without a lot of special features start at just a few hundred dollars.
DivemasterDennis

 

[exposure]

Like already said, the slate. And more than your bottom time, there is no limit of what you can write on your slate and, when, you'll buy a computer you'll keep the slate to write fish name or just to talk with your buddy. That's a tool everybody should have. I have a wrist one and a standard one in my pocket at all time.

 

[rhwestfall]

Seeing you have the bezel and the timer, set the bezel for the plan, and track with the timer.

Oh, and as everyone has said, get a slate. Plan the dive, dive the plan. Document the plan before and record/update it with the actual afterwards. Later, put it in your log book....

 

[Rhodesaz]

I agree, get a slate. Invalueable now and later.

 

[TMHeimer]

A different take: For deeper dives I use the computer, but the watch would do there too if need be. My method:
No use of bezel (don't have one -their more expensive)
I have a small square sheet of paper that has boxes for the usual stuff- bottom time, SI, max depth, avg. depth, etc.
I check the time when I descend and memorize that. Check the time when exiting. Now I can write down my first dive bottom time. There is a "box" for "out". I write that in, so later I will be able to figure the SI, because I repeat the process for dive #2. Max depth & PSI remaining are on my analog console--don't forget to "reset" the max depth gauge hand-- (Of course, I also want to remember the water temp, viz, etc. and do, though those stats are way less important). I keep the small sheet of paper in a jar, so it won't get wet (especially on a boat). I keep my log book in the car and get it signed at the dock, so that won't ever get wet. If a solo dive, the "jar" stays in the car and the book stays home.