Faking Logbook Entries Fact or Fiction?

[daniel f aleman]

The shop they used in Hawaii to do their OW cert dives sent back favourable responses.

Well taught, no doubt.

 

[PhotoTJ]

I'm gonna tell you a story. About logbooks, training, and diving.

There was this diver I knew, we'll call him Vern, who's cousin taught him to dive in a pool back in 1978. Now, Vern had read everything he could get his hands on about diving since he was 6, watched Sea Hunt, and Jaques Cousteau. So, his cousin taught him to dive, even though he wasn't an instructor. Vern joined the Navy, and had lots of shipmates who were divers, that would take him diving with them. No one ever asked to see a C-card or a log book. He was stationed in Hawaii, (lots of dives), and he did a couple WestPac cruises. The Phillipenes, Guam, Diego Garcia, the sea of Japan, Oman. Everyone took him diving. He went to Antarctica, and did a couple of dives there. He moved to California, and dove all the time. Then he went to Mexico, to work at Club Med. Photographer. He spent the season there, and then, at the end of summer, (he had made 190-odd dives at the Club), he was offered a job teaching diving at Club Med. Imagine their surprise when he told them he was not certified. They certified him, and sent him on his way. Every cert Vern recieved was gotten in pretty much this manner. Vern does not know how to work a dive table. Now, Vern is back in California, in Divemaster class, and is planning on taking instructor. It's much harder for him, as he had to re-construct a dive log, plus, he has to really learn the skills, so he can teach them, rather than just doing them.

The moral of the story? Short cuts can hurt you, whether you were trying to take them or not. Don't fake dives. 15 at 15 is not a dive. A 4000 dive book that is pencil-whipped does not make you a good diver.

 

[Manta Aria]

Why in gods name would ANY diver fake their logbook?! Pardon my lack of PCness, but that seems a pretty #*@%ing stupid thing to do!! Not only are they possibly endangering their lives but their fellow divers lives as well, because WE'RE going to be trying to save their bacon if something goes south!!
To fake log entries is like telling the Fates, " Hey I know the situation is dangerous but I'm so numb I think I'll jack the odds a bit more against me, is that OK?". Do these folks have a deathwish? Man, this blows my mind!!
I have no problem with folks being ignorant involuntarily ( ie, they have never been exposed to or taught such and such..), they simply need to be educated. But I have absolutely no tolerance for willful stupidity!!! Especially when it endangers others. If someone wants to risk their lives in foolish way, please do it alone. Not only are you messing with your life, your messing with ours!! Be honest, dive safe. Nothing in this sport is worth yours or anyone elses life, not certs, not depth records, nothing...

Whheewww!!! Sorry about this rant guys!! Had to get it off my chest....WOW!! I DO have a more mellow question though. I don't have a computer yet, all my logs are in an actual logbook, which can be easily produced when needed or requested. How does a computer diver who has all their logs on their comp. show an operator or instructor these logs when they're out in the world? I mean if a diver shows up for a wreck dive and an operator wants to verify their diving experience ( aside from C-cards I mean), what do they do?

 

[ArthurGerla]

How does a computer diver who has all their logs on their comp. show an operator or instructor these logs when they're out in the world?

They bring a printout.

Actually, some of the printouts I've seen are pretty nice, showing things like the dive profile (bucket, yoyo, etc), variations in air consumption, etc.

Art

 

[Manta Aria]

I suppose this method is also much neater and accurate than our chicken scrawl all over the place...

 

[nyprrthd]

Stupid is as stupid does.....

I guess I'm getting old, and don't feel the need to fake my dive log book. I've actually scared DM's, because I usually announce to everyone on the boat that I'm a new diver, so if I do anything wrong, or something that goes against diving/dive boat courtesy, please let me know. A couple of DM's have told me that my skills were good enough that I don't need to make the announcement, but my learning curve is still pretty steep. It does cause experienced divers to give me a wide berth during a dive. No fins in my face!

I've been transferring dive data from my computer to the log book. Computers have been known to crap out, and lose data.

 

[DEEPLOU]

ArtI've been transferring dive data from my computer to the log book. Computers have been known to crap out, and lose data
.

They bring a printout.Actually, some of the printouts I've seen are pretty nice, showing things like the dive profile (bucket, yoyo, etc), variations in air consumption, etc

.

In addition, those dives are in the log mode of the dive computer, so you can scroll through the dives for someone. You cannot fake those entries!

 

[Rick Murchison]

Why in gods name would ANY diver fake their logbook?!

Same reason nine out of ten "Navy Seals" you meet aren't.
Same reason half the "Special Forces" soldiers you meet aren't.
Wannabees are everywhere, and they are shameless.
Rick

 

[Hank49]

Here's an example of a student I'm watching in his 3rd confined pool session. I'm on the left. This same student did a mask removal & replacement at 8ft horizontally and didn't change depth more than a foot or so during the exercise. Not everyone did that well, but none were bad.

You can see another student in the background (blue fins) that is doing well also.

It's surprising to see how well students can do when you set and demonstrate a higher bar for them.

And a fine bunch of students that is. Seriously. But as you said, it's their third session and they're in the deep end of the pool. The FIRST session is really just seeing how the student feels breathing from a reg under water, get the weights adjusted etc etc. And if they don't like it they can stand up, which I've seen many do on the first mask clearing try. I'm all for the horizontal method but with 8 students it may be a little tough getting them all in that position the first try.

 

[Hank49]

You jest? Either way, you of course can vent in 4 ft of water and even if they don't maintain neutral buoyancy to start off, kneeling UW is hard and it's a wast of time learning it because it doesn't have anything to do with diving.As I said before, I think the important thing is that you have them doing skills in a real diving context before it's all over. I can't argue every teaching method because I haven't tried every one and all the good ones I have are those I blatantly stole from other instructors. I haven't invented a single thing related to diving.

Believe it or not, mask clearing and reg recovery are two of the very skills that I think are often taught completely wrong. You do not need to look at the stars to clear a mask and you don't need to do it in one breath and the last thing you want to do is to take BIG breath in preperation to clear it. The first thing you should do if you do lose a reg is grab your backup...and not start blowing bubbles while you practice yoga. All you need under water is something to breath. Get the air and then solve whatever other equipment problems you might be having.

I think we're dicussed this before Mike. I believe anything you do underwater will benefit your skills. It's all about getting the "feel" to where you can do WHATEVER you want because you're in control. Just as you practice many skill is other sports that you dont actually demonstrate in a game. And there may be some time where you may NEED to kneel. Who knows?