Old Dive Manuals?

[Gidds]

As part of my plan to get back in the water I have been searching for my dive log and PADI OW manual (also been snorkelling). Said log and manual are AWOL in the attic I beleive. After three increasingly more detailed searches of the attic (and a lot of sneezing) I have yet to recover my log or manual but I did find some old (1984 edition) OW, AOW and Rescue manuals given to me by a friend when I was just a wee tot (i.e still couldn't lift a tank). Shall I peruse these older manuals to reaquaint myself or are they too antiquicated to be worth my time? What do I do if I never find my dive log (it has to be here somewhere, it's not like it grew legs, besides it's in that dumb blue nylon pouch that it came in so it's not like it's SMALL)?

 

[berick]

Aww, don't worry about the PADI manuals. Go read the US NAVY dive manual. It has all sorts of stuff not in the PADI manual -- like how far to get away from underwater explosions. Not very useful, but, interesting.

 

[Bill51]

Aww, don't worry about the PADI manuals. Go read the US NAVY dive manual. It has all sorts of stuff not in the PADI manual -- like how far to get away from underwater explosions. Not very useful, but, interesting.

What do you mean not useful, you ever dive in a lake with hillbillies fishing.

 

[Gidds]

Come on I was being serious :mad1: Being in New England I will keep the hicks-fishing-with-explosives thing in mind however.

 

[Bill51]

Come on I was being serious :mad1: Being in New England I will keep the hicks-fishing-with-explosives thing in mind however.

The physics is the same, but there have been a number of procedure changes that might be behind the times in the books. I wouldn’t worry too much about the log books and your certifying agency should be able to replace your C cards. If it’s been a while since diving you’ll probably want to take a refresher course and they’ll tell you what materials you need to read.

In 1984 the hicks were still using dynamite, but I think they’ve graduated to C4 now.

 

[Gidds]

I still have my C-card I just can't find my log since it is with my manual and dive table card thingy in that blue nylon pouch somewhere around here.

 

[Dectek]

Forget the Old manual and Log. I agree with the refresher coarse. even though you still have your card, a lot of the information is stuck in the cranial cob webs. You will get updated literature and after being dry for a long time you are pretty much starting over with the log book anyway. Remember ...that little number on the corner of the logbook page indicating how many times you have gotten wet is not the determining factor of what kind of diver you are.

 

[Gidds]

**Clarification** I AM taking a refresher, I want my book as a refresher to the refresher. Finding said log and book, in my mind, has absolutely NO relationship, mathematical or otherwise, to what sort of diver I am (a dry, "beached" one right now). Mainly it is niggling me that I can't find it plus my log notes have some sentimental value. I can't even remember how many dives I've logged!

*Interesting Observation*
The 1984 PADI OW Manual states that the minumum swimming requirements are:
1. swim 200y non-stop using two or more strokes
2. swim at least 40' underwater on a single breath
3. dive to 8-10', pick up a 5lb object and surface with it
4. Tread water for at least five mins
5. Float, drownproof or bob for at least five mins using a minimum amount of movement

Rather different from what I had to do although I think I can do all that stuff and I hear that now some of you weasels are being given the option of a 300m swim w/ mask and snorkel! I could swim all day with a mask and snorkel!

 

[berick]

As far as the PADI refresher, when I took one, the instructor went over the dive tables and the basics. There wasn't any swimming or water treading in the refresher. Mostly basic stuff like mask clearing, weight belt removal, bc removal, air sharing drill, hoovering, and probably some things I'm forgetting (took it about a year ago).

 

[gfisher4792]

Well, if it's for sentimental sake, I would say to just try to remember and log what you can on some log sheets (plenty of Excel or Word formats on scubaboard). Or, if you're still in contact with your old dive buddies, get them to send a copy to you.