Why log dives?

[Thalassamania]

Moved from thread: Thread in order to stay on topic.

Qualification to take a class would be a reason to log dives. For example, Entry Level Trimix requires 100 logged dives.

If you're deciding to take a class, or are worried about getting into a class based on a dive or two one way or the other, well ... I think you're in the wrong sport with the wrong attitude. If the instructor you are planning on taking a class from is using numbers of dives as the primary criterion rather than a thoughtful evaluation of your skills and knowledge then either that instructor is trying to give you the brush off or lacks sufficient experience to perform the evaluation. And it's not a question of standards, waivers take nothing more than an e-mail and most standards are written with a phrase that goes something like, "equivalent knowledge or experience."

The log is also helpful for noting gear configuration (how much weight did I wear with the 5mm suit I don't use often?) or what you need to bring on a type of dive (should have brought a reel on that wreck) etc. I also use it as a diary and often go into great detail when I see something new and exciting.

Sure, that's what a log is for and that's personal, why would you care what anyone else thinks about your weighting or what you brought on a new completed dive? And as to reading your diary, well that's just not done<G>.

 

[TheRedHead]

If you're deciding to take a class, or are worried about getting into a class based on a dive or two one way or the other, well ... I think you're in the wrong sport with the wrong attitude.

I don't think that is a fair thing to say, Thal, when the agency's require proof. I want to take TDI Trimix next and I will have to show proof of 100 logged dives. If I want to become an SSI Instructor, I would have to show the same. Divers don't write the requirements.

 

[Thalassamania]

If you had say 92 dives and your instructor, in his or her opinion, felt you were ready, a single e-mail is all that it would take to get approval for you to be in the class.

Now, I'll grant you that I'm looking down the worng end of this telescope!

 

[TheRedHead]

If you had say 92 dives and your instructor, in his or her opinion, felt you were ready, a single e-mail is all that it would take to get approval for you to be in the class.

Now, I'll grant you that I'm looking down the worng end of this telescope!

Well, yes, but if I had 42 dives, then the instructor would tell me to get more experience - and we would be right! I'm not convinced that 100 dives is enough. But the point is, how can you document you have the dives without logging them? I would assume that downloading your computer would be evidence, probably better evidence than paper logs because you can't "fake" it.

 

[Land Locked]

OK, so what is a log? I have both paper and computer logs. I keep a paper
log but it does not reflect all my diving. I went for some time diving my favorite
spot, 1-2 years, where many dives were not logged. What the heck am I going
to put in my paper log, dove the same "gear" "place" "buddy" etc. etc.
I have become lax in my paper log, I have many wasted sheets with a buddy
sig and nothing filled in due to the same time same place senario!
I'm thinking of using a dual log, one for my usual place consisting of a buddy
signature and place, the other log for trips and unusual diving with more detail.
Question, would such a log be accepted in the diving community?

 

[SparticleBrane]

I have stopped logging my dives on paper and strictly use my Excel spreadsheet that I have setup--it's much more thorough than anything I would ever do on paper.
Hopefully people would accept that as my dive log instead of a sheet of paper.

 

[TSandM]

I guess Thal's question is, accepted for what?

You can go around and around about this. Written logs can be faked (I believe there was a "Lessons for Life" about this a while back). A given number of dives doesn't necessarily represent a ton of experience -- a lot of my dives have been done at two sites, which doesn't represent breadth. People have reported divers doing multiple 15 minute dives at the same site on the same day to push up dive numbers in order to get that "minimum" for some further training. Unless the instructor for whatever advanced class actually READ the log (and again, assuming it's legitimate), he'd actually have no idea what kind of diver he was going to be teaching until he got in the water with him. Which is why one instructor I know does a checkout dive with new students before his classes, so he can know how to structure the class properly for that diver.

Nonetheless, having a "minimum dive" number for a class at least might give the aspiring student an idea of what kind of experience level is expected for that class. Having somebody say, "I'm a cave instructor and I think cave training generally goes better if the student has at least 200 dives before starting it," has information value.

My log? It's mine and kept for me. It's part data recording (what gear, what weight, what distribution, how did it work) and part diary. I'm still new enough to enjoy keeping it. When I've got 1500 dives instead of 150, we'll see if I still log them all.

 

[TheRedHead]

People have reported divers doing multiple 15 minute dives at the same site on the same day to push up dive numbers in order to get that "minimum" for some further training.

Trimix requires 25 of those dives be deeper than 100 feet, but I believe you can become a PADI instructor with 50 15-minute dives and an SSI instructor with 100 of any type dive.

Both of our technical instructors questioned us in depth about our diving experience.

 

[joe rock]

I log all my dives because I like to. Like TS&M, my logs are part data and part dairy. I enjoy logging my dives and I enjoy reading my log entries as time passes.

JR

 

[BarryNL]

If you're deciding to take a class, or are worried about getting into a class based on a dive or two one way or the other, well ... I think you're in the wrong sport with the wrong attitude. If the instructor you are planning on taking a class from is using numbers of dives as the primary criterion rather than a thoughtful evaluation of your skills and knowledge then either that instructor is trying to give you the brush off or lacks sufficient experience to perform the evaluation.

Yeah, I've heard these requirement numbers quoted, but when I went for the DSAT tec course (requirement 100+ dives) they were more interested in seeing me dive than what it said in my log book before they'd take me on the course.

I think this is certainly a better attitude.