small log book organizer?

[padudle]

Does anyone know where I can buy a small dive log organizer?

I currently have one of the regular size organizers and its nice because I can keep my cards, a pen and small calculator in there with my log pages but I'm starting to resent the thing when I pack my gear.

I live in the Rocky Mountains so travel is a big part of any dive trip. Maybe I should just leave the log book at home and log dives from the computer when I get back.

Any opinions?

 

[NavyDoll]

Hi there...
A friend showed me a neat website that could use to log your dives while travelling.. so long as you have internet access while on your dive excursions!! With the site.. you can record the stuff you saw, water conditions, etc, etc.. many things that you might not remember when you get home and want to transfer your information from the computer!!

Anyway.. here's the website address... www.diverecord.com
Oh yeah... and it's free!!

good luck...
NavyDoll

 

[hantzu701]

Does anyone know where I can buy a small dive log organizer?

I currently have one of the regular size organizers and its nice because I can keep my cards, a pen and small calculator in there with my log pages but I'm starting to resent the thing when I pack my gear.

I live in the Rocky Mountains so travel is a big part of any dive trip. Maybe I should just leave the log book at home and log dives from the computer when I get back.

Any opinions?

PADI makes a mini-log. I think it's a 4x6 booklet, so it's pretty small. Just enough to jot down dive info and a few sentences. There was an instructor on a liveaboard who was using it. She said that she always tucks this in her save-a-dive kit, just in case she forgot her logbook. Well, she forgot her logbook.

I'm not a great fan of the mini-logbook. When I dive somewhere new, I like to research the dive site as well as log extensive info about the dive. I never bought a dive binder, so I use a regular 3 ring organizer which I bought on clearance from OfficeDepo. I think I paid $4. It's smaller than the dive binders, but just larger than those 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" sheets. Recently, I took one of the dive log templates off of scubaboard and printed 100 waterproof sheets. Now I just take what I need.

It's tough to keep up with your dives, but the log has been a great resource. Eg. Now that I'm back in the frozen Midwest, it's great to be able to pull out the logbook and remember some great dives. If I meet new buddies on a trip, they often scribble their contact info on the log entry or a blank page in the logbook. It's kind of nice to keep all of this info in one place.

 

[padudle]

Hantzu

It sounds like you've got the right idea. I've seen mini-organizers at Office Depot.

How did you print the waterproof pages? Is the stock available at office supply stores? Did you use a laser printer?

Thanks for the tip.

 

[hantzu701]

Hantzu

It sounds like you've got the right idea. I've seen mini-organizers at Office Depot.

How did you print the waterproof pages? Is the stock available at office supply stores? Did you use a laser printer?

Thanks for the tip.

You'll have to do a search on the thread. I used a template that I got from scubaboard.com. I added some custom info that I like to have. Then I used waterproof stock (also do another search for this thread). If your local copy shop doesn't carry it, then you can order it. Prints can be made with a regular xerox machine. I think you can also use a laser printer.

The reason that I bothered with waterproof is b/c I left my log book in a rainstorm. It was sunny when I went in. It was raining when I surfaced. I haven't tried, but you could rubberband the sheets to ur slate and keep notes/comments on the dive itself.

I'm now an advocate of those canyon drybags. Good to keep your log book, a dry towel and change of clothes.

 

[Jerryg]

I would like to think that smaller is better. However I've settled in on small(not mini) Franklin planner size. I take pictures above and below the surface, and them print them on the backside of the logbook pages. It really personalizes the log book pages. I've added everything from scenery, to fish, and dive masters photos. If the pages were too small I couldn't add the pictures with any resolution.

 

[AmyJ]

Another question...

I am brand new, so only have a few dives logged and am using the PADI log that came with my class. I think I would like something different, but am not sure what. Also, what do i do with the PADI one? Do I rip those pages out and add them to a new one? It is important to keep it all in one place?

 

[jlyle]

Scuba Pro makes a "divers passport" that is small (~4"x6") with water proof pages. I record two or three dives on each page and get more than 100 dives per notebook.

 

[Charlie99]

I am brand new, so only have a few dives logged and am using the PADI log that came with my class.... Also, what do i do with the PADI one? Do I rip those pages out and add them to a new one? It is important to keep it all in one place?

It's not important to have it all in one spot, except for a few rare cases like showing sufficient number of logged dives to start some courses. I only take my current logbook down to the boat, although when going on a dive trip I will sometimes bring old logbooks with dives from that locale for reference.

A few operators might want to see a comparable logged dive before taking you to some advanced site, but more often they just blindly rely upon what cert cards you show.

I find a 4"x6" 32 page logbook convenient. 8 of those, plus my old PADI logbook are in a binder at home. I do have a 1 page super summarized version in Word. This is kind of an index to which book I need to look at to find the specifics from some trip a few years ago.

YMMV, but my preference is to bring just my current logbook to the dive site, protected in a drybag or a ziplock sandwich bag. I jot down rough notes at the dive site and fill the log out later. Although the book I use is designed for 1 dive per page, it is easy to put a 2 or 3 tank trip on each page.

You will find that what you put in your logbook is pretty much just between you and your logbook --- log what might be useful to you later. I have things like mini-reviews of dive ops, phone numbers, departure and return times, and sometimes even hotel info in addition to the more standard depth/time/gas usage/exposure protection/weighting info.

Charlie

 

[Dee]

I print my own pages with the info I want on it. Regular pages are 5.5 X 8.5, printed front and back and in a 3-ring binder, I get 1 dive per side with plenty of room for notes, diagrams, etc.

Amy, I still have my beginning PADI book intack, it fits into my logbook. You don't need to take it apart. I've got one of the 3" thick, 3 ring binders for archives....at the beginning of every year, last years dives go in the archive journal. It holds 7 years worth. It's fun to go back through and relive special dives.

I like JerryG's idea of photos in the logbook. I could take group photos of the DM's, the dive boat, etc. print it and include it in the trip pages. Even printed on regular paper would be cool.