matt_unique
Guest
svidlano:What I meant when I said "nobody" is:
Nobody can give you a universal answer. Dive operator "one" might say "Suunto printout is OK". Dive operator "two" might ask for a signed logbook. Dive operator "three" might ask for signed logbook with some additional proof. And each and every one is right.
One thing is certain. The ocean will ask neither for cert card nor for logbook.
You said it - the ocean will demand your experience and needs nothing else. How you get there is your business relative to the demands of the ocean.
To add my .02 cents, the logbook is for you. In some situations someone else may need to read it as an added means to verify experience. It will serve only as an aid for them to take the chance on allowing you to participate in a particular dive. Any DM or instructor or boat captain worth his/her salt will watch you carefully underwater for the first dive to see if the written proof matches the demonstrated proof of skills.
I use the PADI logbook pages and record time, depth, weight used, exposure protection used, gas(es) used, total deco time (if applicable), site information including sea life or anything of interest/unusual, water temp, sometimes I will draw maps, record current, and lastly - tips for the next dive. I want to capture the feeling and complete experience of the dive not only to reminisce later but to be able to recall best practices for the site.
--Matt