Instructors - what is acceptable for a verified dive log?
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Any log can be faked. If someone is dishonest, you'll never know it. I always accepted whatever log I was presented.
Since my instructors are not on ScubaBoard, I'll speak up. :biggrin:
They gladly accepted my unsigned log sheets, making a copy of the last page of my logbook (to keep with my student records). They had no problems with my logs, even though a third or more are solo dives (which are even less "verifiable" than buddy dives). Computer logs give more profile information than non-computer-derived logs, so that poses no problems. (It's not like hand-logged pages are any less copyable. The point is not to catch "cheaters"; the point is to give honest people an idea of when they're probably ready.)
If someone asked for certification type of the buddies on my buddied dives, I'd look at them like they were asking whether I prefer French or South African shoelaces on my ice cream. I have no idea, except for my buddy-family, what certifications any of the others have. As far as certification numbers, that's even worse, considering that I have many recreational NAUI buddies, and NAUI doesn't even *use* numbers on non-leadership certs.
I suppose perhaps my LDS doesn't really need to put much faith in a logbook. The logged dives requirement is really just for the good of the student, as it gives the student a guideline to work with. (If you've got prospective students making dozens of 20-minute dives to get into a class, something's wrong.) The logged dives requirement is there to give a quick rule of thumb for when you are likely experienced enough to be able to grasp what will be taught next; the actual evaluations, on the other hand, are always done in the water.
For example, they once had a student in a Rescue class. He had problems even setting up his equipment, and when they started off with mask clearing and such, he was not capable. He was removed from the Rescue class and got to take the basic NAUI Scuba Diver course instead. His logged dives said he was ready for Rescue, but he turned out to be ready to start at the beginning, regardless of how many logged dives he may have had. (It wouldn't even have mattered if he had them all on full-dive video, complete with iris shots suitable for identification.)
They gladly accepted my unsigned log sheets, making a copy of the last page of my logbook (to keep with my student records). They had no problems with my logs, even though a third or more are solo dives (which are even less "verifiable" than buddy dives). Computer logs give more profile information than non-computer-derived logs, so that poses no problems. (It's not like hand-logged pages are any less copyable. The point is not to catch "cheaters"; the point is to give honest people an idea of when they're probably ready.)
If someone asked for certification type of the buddies on my buddied dives, I'd look at them like they were asking whether I prefer French or South African shoelaces on my ice cream. I have no idea, except for my buddy-family, what certifications any of the others have. As far as certification numbers, that's even worse, considering that I have many recreational NAUI buddies, and NAUI doesn't even *use* numbers on non-leadership certs.
I suppose perhaps my LDS doesn't really need to put much faith in a logbook. The logged dives requirement is really just for the good of the student, as it gives the student a guideline to work with. (If you've got prospective students making dozens of 20-minute dives to get into a class, something's wrong.) The logged dives requirement is there to give a quick rule of thumb for when you are likely experienced enough to be able to grasp what will be taught next; the actual evaluations, on the other hand, are always done in the water.
For example, they once had a student in a Rescue class. He had problems even setting up his equipment, and when they started off with mask clearing and such, he was not capable. He was removed from the Rescue class and got to take the basic NAUI Scuba Diver course instead. His logged dives said he was ready for Rescue, but he turned out to be ready to start at the beginning, regardless of how many logged dives he may have had. (It wouldn't even have mattered if he had them all on full-dive video, complete with iris shots suitable for identification.
)
Logs are so easy to fake i take no notice really.
You learn a lot more by talking to the student in an informal interview style than you ever will from bits of paper.
Im firmly of the view logs are for personal use to the diver alone for things such as site information, hazards,currents,notes on the site and so on and of no use to anyone trying to gauge experience.
You learn a lot more by talking to the student in an informal interview style than you ever will from bits of paper.
Im firmly of the view logs are for personal use to the diver alone for things such as site information, hazards,currents,notes on the site and so on and of no use to anyone trying to gauge experience.
Anything as long as it's a record of their dives. Dive #, Date, depth, time. Anything else is gravy. I have an online log, spreadsheet log and paper log (without signatures). I've never had a problem with it being accepted.
Walter made the point I was making on another thread with the OP. Any log can be facked ... period. You have to trust the log given you unless you have a specific, credible reason to doubt it.
Sorry ... just noticed the OP was asking instructor, of which I'm not. However, I am a DM Candidate and will be able to do Scuba Reviews, Discover Scuba and Discover Local Diving on my own in the near future, so hopefully my view still counts.
Walter made the point I was making on another thread with the OP. Any log can be facked ... period. You have to trust the log given you unless you have a specific, credible reason to doubt it.
Sorry ... just noticed the OP was asking instructor, of which I'm not. However, I am a DM Candidate and will be able to do Scuba Reviews, Discover Scuba and Discover Local Diving on my own in the near future, so hopefully my view still counts.
BlueC5Kitten
Contributor
I had actually been wondering something similar, since I was asked to sign someone else's log, but there are no places for anyone to sign my log. I thought this was peculiar. I keep both a paper log (including printouts of my dive profiles from my dive computer and others since when I first started diving, I would rent a computer from the LDS and they would print out the profile for me) and my computer log (tabular format, maintained only since I purchased my computer).
I also questioned the importance of C-numbers, since I am NAUI certified and don't have one, and wouldn't have asked any of my dive buddies, except the dive computer software has a place for its entry. :11:
I also questioned the importance of C-numbers, since I am NAUI certified and don't have one, and wouldn't have asked any of my dive buddies, except the dive computer software has a place for its entry. :11:
As mentioned above, certification number is worthless - lots of agencies dont give numbers to divers (i only got one at instructor level for example). Add that to the fact that most agencies dont have online lookup and the fact that i cant see anyone trying to verify each person exists in the log i think its pointless.
The Kraken
He Who Glows in the Dark Waters (ADVISOR)
ScubaBoard Supporter
Scuba Instructor
Divemaster
What Walter and String said . . .
A dive log can be a pure work of fiction.
As in all things, the truth will rear it's head.
the K
A dive log can be a pure work of fiction.
As in all things, the truth will rear it's head.
the K
SparticleBrane
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Dive logs can be faked easily. So I don't really look at them or put much faith in them. A person can even fake a face to face interview about their diving. So I don't put a TON of faith in what someone tells me. I can tell if someone is squared away or not when I get them in the water.
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