Logging Dives - why exactly?

[maniago]

So don't flame me for asking this. I'm newly minted card carrier now, and diving is strictly a for-fun-hobby. I have no intention of making it an occupation. As a pilot, I have to log flight time as its an FAA regulation ie its the law. But why am I logging for diving, lets say after 100 dives? Or even after AOW?

I can see boat operators wanting to see it, if you are first time on the boat I guess. Or on the serious outside chance I decide in the long future to pursue Dive Master (for self edification). But why else? I'm an educator, but I have no desire to teach diving.

What am I missing here?

 

[tahqa]

There are many reasons to log dives. Theoretically you're logging water temps, dive times, weights used and visibility among other things. All of the listed things can be valuable to you for future reference. I frequently refer to my dive log to help determine what exposure protection to wear, for instance. Or to track whether my air consumption is getting better or worse. Or to help dial in how much weight I should wear for what conditions.

Also, some dive operators will not let you dive with them if you don't have a log with a dive in some period of time.

 

[Scuba_Noob]

I log dives so that I can track my progress (e.g, air consumption, dive time, etc.) and dive information (e.g., weight, temperature, etc.). These are just interesting and can lead to detecting patterns with local dive conditions. Also, I usually write a little bit about what occurred and with whom I dove (good/bad buddies), just in case very unique things happened. It's cool to look back.

After 1000 dives, I might stop recording them all, except for the unique traveling dives...but for now, it's a nice record of how far I've progressed.

 

[offroadr1]

I make lots of notes about what equipment or setup I used, how much weight, water temp etc. I also note if I was comfortable, what I liked or didn't like about the dive. Notes about my dive buddy that day, how they enjoyed the dive, how they acted or reacted at certain times. Just info I might want to look back on. As a long distance shooter, its very similar how I log rounds shot. Taking a record of conditions so you know how to kit up for those conditions in the future.

 

[Peter_C]

*Shrugs* I don't log dives. Never been asked to show a log book, but have been asked when the last time I dove was. To each their own. Keeping a log book has lots of pluses, just not enough for me to keep one.

Many people use electronic versions these days.

FWIW I will gladly sign someones log book if they ask me to.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Because the Scooba PoPo are bad ass and will kick your arse if you don't.

---------- Post Merged at 02:07 PM ---------- Previous Post was at 02:06 PM ----------

I did not log a whole bunch of dives but have started again because some dives I do require dives of a certain depth or time of year.....that sort of thing so I just started again. Otherwise for me....ain't no reason to

 

[maniago]

Do boat operators accept, in general, the log off your dive computer - ie not a paper form, but a scroll through your computer?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Do boat operators accept, in general, the log off your dive computer - ie not a paper form, but a scroll through your computer?

I actually have my computer log dumped from my Cobra and saved as a PDF and saved on my iPhone so anybody that wants to see it, is welcome to. So far I have never had to show it. The dive that caused me to starting logging again will likely be the first time I have to produce it so we will see.

 

[OldNSalty]

I use to log dives, then I stopped..didn't really know what to record...then I started again to try and get my equipment squared away...then I stopped...If you find it useful then do it. If you find you need a log book to go on a dive (and you are truly qualified to go on the dive) then you could...

a. Explain to the capt or instructor that you don't log your stuff anymore. I did this, they asked some questions and gave me the green light.

b. buy a new log book, start the first page at dive#126, add about a dozen dives and give it to them...tell them your first 125 dives are in the books at home.

I might start logging dives again now that my wife will be getting certified soon

 

[BDSC]

I use to log every dive but quit. I mean how many times do you need to log a dive at Karpata on Bonaire or The Mixing Bowl in Little Cayman. What I do now is after a trip, I will more or less log the trip in one page. I pretty much just write where I stayed, when, and how many dives I did that week. I will be a little more detailed if it's a first time adventure to a new place. Otherwise it can be done with just several sentences if it's a repeat place. I find that to be more than enough info.

I know some people are really into their dive count but I'm not one of them.