Why do you keep a logbook?

[pilot fish]

I have been thinking about this for a while and would like to ask the rest of you. Why YOU keep a logbook? Most of the dives I do are repetitive. Same 6-10 locations, unless I go on vacation somewhere. My perspective is that I do not see the reason for continuing to log every dive. I will probably do so until I have achieved the "required" number for any further certification. Please correct me but isn't the level needed for instructor only like 100 logged dives?

Anyway, whay do you keep your log?

1. Simply for personal reasons
2. For bragging rights/In order to "prove" my dive history
3. Because it is needed for further certification
4. just need the extra paperwork
5. Other?

As I already said. I keep one as necessary proof for dive ops or further certification.

I kept a log because I was told to when I started diving. Now I keep it because I want to. It tells me what my weight was, water temp, place, dive site, currents,what I did on that site, my depth, also how I improved, and any mistakes I made. It is a useful diving tool, like anything else. When I was OW I was asked for my log to dive certain wrecks to prove I could dive those depths. It also records the number of dives you have to date, no guess work or exaggeration. How would you know how many dives you've done if you did not have a record of it? I've seen guys and gals get very Biblical when it comes to the number of dives they have, but cannot produce a log to verify it.

You will also want to keep a log if you plan on any higher certs.

 

[Charlie99]

I pay attention to what I've gone back to look up, and what I wished that I had recorded, then try to record that info in the future.

I have a lot of non-standard info such as names of hotels; names, phone numbers, and mini-reviews of dive ops; as well as the standard gear, weighting, and water temp sort of info.

Often I don't look at my digital photos until weeks later, and having a log of dive sites vs. date&time helps me sort out where the photos were taken.

Multiple dives at the reef in front of my condo just get lumped together onto one page, most 2 or 3 tank boat trips are lumped together into one 4x6" page

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I also keep a 2nd, abbreviated "dive history" word document that has 400+ dives on a letter size sheet of paper. On this one, 2 or 3 lines summarize the 10-25 dives of one trip, along with water temp range, weighting, and gear changes, and SAC. This is both a nice summary of my entire dive history, and also works as an index so that I know which of several logbooks to dig into to get more specific info about a dive op, a hotel, or dive site info. This sheet also has my DAN and cert card numbers, contact and emergency contact info, etc. Only once has a dive op asked me for a logbook, and the single sheet summary was sufficient.

 

[miketsp]

I dive a variety of sites with varying equipment requirements so it helps me keep track of the equipment and weighting needed.
Also I like to correlate dive times and currents against tide tables so when I go back I know what to expect.

 

[Saipanman]

I can see why, when one dives the same five to ten spots, one wouldn't want to log dives. As an instructor, of course my official line is "Log every dive". But I can totally empathize with the poster.

Believe me when I say it's a bleak logbook that reads "Obyan Beach, OW Class" for the last 5 weekends in a row.

I log my dives as a cma, and also because many of the people I dive with on my free time become students, and they sometimes don't log their dives. So when it comes time for them to produce a logbook, most of them call me and I let THEM know when and where and with whom they have dived.

 

[EricJ]

I've been keeping it simply because that's what I've been told I should do. It doesn't seem as vital to have as I thought it was going to be, but I'm very happy I've kept it up to date.

The aspect that I've actually found beneficial is information on the equipment I've worn over the years at different locations and in different conditions.

For example, I like to remember temps along with the amount of exposure suite, along with how much weight I wore.

I've been asked to list how many dives I've done and when my last dive was, but no one has ever asked to see my log book.

BTW, I use the Ruiz Dive Log for my Palm Handheld Computer. It automatically calcuculates average dive times, depths, etc. Kind of a fun gadget, but no real advantage of the old fashioned pen and paper kind of logs.

 

[skeet]

to use for future certification, and the memories(people,places,details)

 

[steve2281]

I keep it mainly for personal reasons; having the log with a few notes, helps to refresh memories about different things that make each dive special. I also keep it for proof of experience if I want to sign up for an advanced trip, however, I have never been asked to show it.

 

[lamont]

i'm with OE2X. i've never kept a journal or diary in my life and didn't until recently own a camera or keep any photos. i logged about the first 25 dives i did and then it just started to trigger that feeling of mine which hates doing paperwork. i haven't picked up my logbook since in order to read through any of those dives. i also don't really care about the stuff that i've forgotten in my life -- i guess i'm not in it for the memories.

if there was anything from my past i wish i could remember more of right now, its just some of the harder math and physics that i've done. journals and diaries don't really help with that kind of thing, only practice.

i've thought about starting to log dives in addition to taking temperature readings (of myself) after i get out and trying to validate the theory that 'post-dive fatigue' due to not using nitrox / rapid ascents has a low grade fever component. that would be the kind of thing that might cause me to start doing some logging...

(and i'm sort of hoping that any DM that looks at my equipment will make the mistake of assuming i'm a tech diver and not ask for my logbook...)

 

[RICoder]

I keep a logbook by printing every log from my software containing all sorts of silly information including my own notes. I'd agree that unless I am on vacation, filling it out is kind of repetitive. However, the historical informatoin has proven invaluable. Improvements in air consumption, changes in my dive weight, improvements to my depth stability...and most importantly every lesson I've ever learned diving.

 

[moneysavr]

I Keep a log and think most divers do-well some dont after 2000+= dives,but Its a great place to log e-mails & Phone no#s of dive pals,dive ops,site info,the lead you use,the air you use & Mixes,and exposure suit,site locations -how to,,ect.
I use to fill my dive log out at the dive site or on boat,but they got wet and seems like most old time divers did not do it at the dive - some type of macho thing! you will find this crap with divers, So keep a log and fill it out while you still have the facts.
Brad