Tell me about a dive log.

[Colliam7]

I thought part of the requirement is for the dive shop or IDC to make sure that the candidates for DM or instructor can show proof of dives via a dive log

Yes.

and the dives in the dive log has to be verified with a signature or stamp from a DM/Instructor/Dive center.

No. There is no such requirement, at least in the PADI system

 

[CarcharodonCarcharias]

No. There is no such requirement, at least in the PADI system

Tks for the info, Colliam7.

 

[scubadivingsteve]

Remembering anything 5,10, or more years ago gets tough.
There are many diving computers that are capable of downloading the dive data, and many pc or mac programs that provide a database to store them in.
Diving is just recreational for me, but when I'm too old to dive I would like a record to be able to bore everyone with.

 

[Colliam7]

I see that people track how many dives they do and I read someone's blog which had journals from their dives. So how do you keep your dive log? Any specifics on how it is supposed to be?

It is hard to say that there is a particular way 'it is supposed to be'. People log dives for many reasons - a) documentation for further credentialing - I had to show my logbook to support that I had the required certifications (e.g. AOW) and minimum number of dives for certain courses (DM, Instructor, etc) , b) documentation for 'privileges' - the first time I dove the Spiegel Grove years ago, I had to show my logbook pages with recent dives below 80 ft. , for example. As a new diver, don't underestimate the value of logging for documentation. Failing to log may become an inconvenience - if someone comes to me to do a course - DM for example - and cannot provide log book documentation that they meet the requirements (the 'I just don't log dives, but I am sure I have more than enough' scenario), I thank them for considering me / the shop and wish them well in their training endeavors, elsewhere.

People also log for data tracking - e.g. documenting a) weight requirements with different gear configurations or under different environmental conditions, or b) SAC rate numbers, etc. I periodically re-assess my kick cycles, times, and breaths for distance measurement (for navigation), and put those data in my log book.

Some people use their log book as a personal journal, not unlike what you describe you did for your first four dives. I still look back at pages from 5 - 10 years ago to be reminded of particular experiences. I seem to go to Bonaire annually now, and I have a sheet that tracks all of the Bonaire sites I dive, across years, and rates them (1 to 5 scale) so I know what I want to dive, what I want to try that I haven't tried before, and what I will probably not spend time with.

Paper vs electronic is a personal choice. It may be a bit easier for some to have paper when needed to show 'proof' of something. Or, maybe keeping a log book on a tablet and using that is easier for others. But, how you log is up to you. I use paper, having tried multiple electronic logging platforms, and decided that paper works for me, although indexing and sorting is not easy and I have in the past kept a separate spreadsheet to document dives for future credentialing.

At this point, I am pretty much beyond needing to show numbers or types of dives for credentials or privileges. But, I still log every dive (including quarry dives). I use detailed templates in my logbook for each class I teach (each dive, what performance requirements were met, depths, times, conditions), and have student divers sign MY logbook pages, both as a personal record and just in case there is any question in the future of what we did, or did not do, and how we did it. I keep track of interesting events or encounters during dives, and I also keep a tally of cumulative dive times, so I can impress myself with how many days I have spent underwater.

 

[DCBC]

We can write down we went to 3,000 feet at a temperature of 107 degrees.

Sounds like your descending to enter the circuit prior to landing in Dubai...

---------- Post added July 31st, 2013 at 11:44 AM ----------

I keep track of interesting events or encounters during dives, and I also keep a tally of cumulative dive times, so I can impress myself with how many days I have spent underwater.

Or years... LOL

 

[DivemasterDennis]

[h=4]I've pasted my blog entry on logging dives here for those who care to review it:

Logging Dives - It's a good thing to do. [/h]by DivemasterDennis
,May 7th, 2012 at 02:15 PM (840 Views)

I just read the latest thread discussing logging dives. There is a new one almost every week. Some people don't log dives at all. My good friend Steve, who has been a dive pro as long as I have and a diver even longer than I have been diving, doesn't log dives. Others I know are content to retain the data their computer records, like my sometimes dive buddy Pete. Many others, like me, actually log every dive in a log book that has actual pages. I have logged every dive I have ever been on that was in a lake or the ocean. Pool dives don't get logged because they are not dives in my book. I log the date, location, dive site name, time in, time out, air consumption, gear used, exposure suit worn, weight used, and water and air temperature. I also note if the dive was from a boat or shore, and I note any current or surge or surf issues. I even note my weight, which can vary enough from from time to time to affect the weight I will use for diving. I note who I dove with, and I write down what we did and saw. I have never regretted doing this, and I intend to continue to do it. From my dive log I have created a weighting chart for various locations, gear worn, exposure suit worn, and how much weight I used when properly weighted. I also note my own weight as it can vary enough to impact proper weighting now and then. If I am diving in a fresh water lake here in Colorado in a semi-dry suit with a hood and gloves, with an 80 AL tank, I know what weight to use. I can look it up. I can do the same when planning for a dive in a 3 mil wetsuit with no hood or gloves, using a different bc, in warm salt water. In my log I also note whether I was cold on a dive, especially after the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th dive of the day, so I will know if I need to "dress warmer" next time out. My weighting and exposure suit charts are each valuable tools for planning a local dive outing or a trip to a far away dive destination.
In between dive trips, I tally total underwater time and average time per dive. I keep a summary sheet of number of dives to different depth ranges. (under 30, 30-39, 40-49, on up to 130 + ) I note the number of dives at different destinations, and other nerdy stats when I review and read my log book. I put a lot of information in it. It's also full of diver contact information and stickers and stamps from dive boats, dive shops and liveaboards around the world. I even have my own stamp to mark other diver's' logs if they want. All of those things are for my personal use. I like to read my log book from time to time, and refer to it for material when I have a public appearance or book signing coming up. I sometimes take it, actually I take "them" as I have several volumes compiled, to those appearances. People seem to like to look through the logs, as many pages are really colorful, some are funny, and others just interesting.
I also use my log to show dive operators where I last dove, and the extent of my experience, life long as well as recent, so there is no hassle over doing any given dive. This is a really good reason to keep an up-to- date dive log. Some dives require a showing of recent diving in similar conditions, or a certain number of dives. In addition, if you ever opt to "go pro," you will need to document your dive experience in this way. And once you are a pro, it's still a good idea to keep your dive log current for both personal as well as professional reasons.
Digital downloads or not, I log my dives with a pen and log sheets, and I log them every day. I get basic data off my computer, and fill in the rest while I still remember it. I encourage you to keep a log book, and fill it with useful as well as fun stuff. You will be glad you did!
DivemasterDennis
​

 

[tplyons]

I log every dive in open water.

I log them in loose leaf PADI logbook pages and record:

Date/Time/Location Information
Dive Depth/Time/Pressure Groups
Environmental Info (Viz/Temp/Current)
Wetsuit/Drysuit/Hood/Glove/Boot Info
Tank Size/Material/Contents
Starting/Ending Time/Pressure
Calculated SAC Rate per dive
And notes for each dive.

These notes include new/different gear that I'm trying, specific skills that I'm working on. If I'm shooting photos, some of my shooting info (aperture/shutter speed info). If I'm exploring a new wreck I describe it and sometimes sketch a basic map.

But I also have higher hopes; I'm working towards my Divemaster, and one day plan to move into instruction. I also plan on continuing my education into Tec diving, where I need to show so many dives, so deep, with Nitrox, etc.

Therefore, I log almost all available information. Only thing I don't bother with? Buddy signatures.

This being said, all of my information is duplicated on my computer. And the commentary is usually more drawn out with more "stream of thought" and more of a minute-by-minute recap of the dive. My paper logbook is something that always works, has all the same info (albeit briefer notes) and doesn't require batteries.

But as a diver, I also favor redundancy. I have all the same info on my Macbook using DiveLog DT and sync to the DiveLog app on my iPhone and iPad. The paper logbook travels with me on the boat, and I log everything digitally once I get back to civilization and download my info from my Luna.

 

[daniel f aleman]

I haven't logged any dives in forty-eight years of diving, for the same reason that I don't log trips to the grocery store.

 

[beanojones]

One of the best I've ever seen was a woman's from Japan about 10 years ago. She captured all the required info on the top 1/3rd. of a standard logbook page with an open area on the bottom where she drew pictures of the fish or other interesting things she'd seen in amazingly good quality - like you see on fishcards. She carried a little kit with colored pencils in the case with her book.

Oh my god Japanese log books! Now they have photo stickers for all the common tropical fish.

Although many people just take a picture of the DM's time and depth slate, and say that's their logged dive.

My thing was log the first 400 dives, since that covers all the needed dives to become basically any kind of instructor. Then become that kind of instructor, then never log a dive again.

And stop using paper log books as early as possible, or you will be sorry.

 

[Lorenzoid]

I see that people track how many dives they do and I read someone's blog which had journals from their dives. So how do you keep your dive log? Any specifics on how it is supposed to be? I just did my first 4 dives in Maui and I wrote summaries of them and put pictures with them. I also numbered the summaries for each dive number.

I understand correctly, you did a Discover Scuba Diving course, and you're not yet certified to dive. When you take a dive certification course, you will receive a log book, and the instructor will explain (or you will see for yourself, since it's a form with blank spaces) what to write in it.

After certification, it's up to you whether to continue to log your dives. I think most people do, for the reasons stated in these comments. But some people choose not to log their dives. Unless things have changed since I was certified, the certification course, however, will require you to have a suitable logbook, since the instructor will sign off on your training dives.