Witness for logged dives

[Panama Jones]

The main reason I log dives is to learn (weight, etc) and to record memories of the site.

The secondary reason is to have the requisite number of logged dives for courses shoul I want and potentially for operators that want so many logged dives before they let you dive a site with them.

Question is..how important is the witness? You don't always take you book to some boats/sites and it is out of the way to catch up to your divemates later.

Many times I log the dive and staple a tank rental receipt etc to the page. My computer only holds so many dives. Would a dive shop want the logs witnessed to before counting the dive to become a rescue diver or other?

 

[Superlyte27]

No one has EVER asked to see my logbook (except as a commercial diver). But in all my scuba diving, no class, no charter, not even the Instructor Trainers for my instructor certs have ever asked to see my log book.

So, the witness.... not that important.

 

[Dirty-Dog]

Consider how many of us keep electronic logs. Now ask how many of us carry a laptop to the boat. Or let our dive buddies sign the laptop case.

 

[TMHeimer]

I don't believe (PADI at least) refers to anything other than a number of "logged dives" as a course requirement. When I dive on a charter or with a buddy I always bring the book and leave it in the car. Then make sure it is signed before leaving. If I dive solo at a state park, etc. where there is a fee I get the collector to sign & put a phone number. I don't know if a solo dive counts, as I don't think that is specified. Before taking a course I always made sure I had enough buddy-signed "official"-depth, time-wise-- dives logged. Never had anyone anywhere ever look at the book, for what it's worth.

 

[Aguablanco1]

While I log all of my dives, no pages have been signed since my OW cert. I did have to show my book for Rescue and Divemaster, however, they will have to believe me. How easy would it be to fake the buddy or witness? This is pretty much an honor system in my opinion.
RichH

 

[TMHeimer]

Right--It's an honour system anyway. Not that anyone would ever have a reason to "cheat", but if you did the dive and couldn't get the buddy's signature for whatever reason and forged it, how would they know? And you would know you didn't "cheat". If there is no cert. number filled in it's because most divers don't know it by memory and don't bring the card on the dive--just to the shop for gas and to sign up for the boat.

 

[Tigerman]

I have the grand total of ONE signature in my logbook other than training dives - dive nr 100..

 

[uncfnp]

Zero signatures (i keep my log on my IPAD) and I just completed an SDI course that required 100 logged dives

 

[j yaeger]

i use a log as a personal diary,and memory jogger
as far as witness sig's-i don't require
i do require that i see the logged dives for con ed courses
i have had charters ask to see logged dives for type of dives my wife was doing with me
cold,dark,deep,current etc.
we finish our group dives here and it is ritual to sign other divers logs
i think it goes along with a recap of what went right...
or wrong debrief of the dive-always a great idea!!!!!
have fun
yaeg

 

[tplyons]

I get signatures from dive buddies that aren't part of the regular group. The rest of us dive enough to be able to vouch for each other.

I have two signatures outside of training dives.