Top 10 reasons for not keeping a dive log
5 October 2007 – 6:251. no-one ever looks at them anyway
It’s true that most of the time when you go diving, a cert card is all you need to get you on the boat. But on the other hand our world is changing and dive resorts need to check a little deeper to be sure their insurance will cover them if the worst happens. Don’t be upset if they ask for a dive log, its the primary evidence of your diving experience.
2. you never intend to go pro
We’ve all said that! But some day soon you may just wonder what it would be like to unchain yourself from the desk and dive every day. Without a log book you will have to do a whole load more verified dives before you can start to change your career.
3. once you’ve done a 100 dives then they are all much the same
Is diving really so same-same? You might dive the same site on a regular basis but there is always something new to see. Whether you take structured training or learn as you go along, over time your diving will improve and it is reassuring to see this in the journal of your dives.
4. you always wear the same kit so theirs no need to refer back
Regular divers can recall what their kit set up from one dive to another. Maybe it is all packed in one box so never varies! But many of us dive only on vacation using rental gear with months out of the water. If you can look back at the last similar dive and read off what you need it makes that kit up time in the shop so much smoother and means you can get in the water quicker!
5. all your dives are on your dive computer
Just pray the battery doesn’t give out when you start your big diving trip! Dive computers are great for storing your dive profile, temperature and times but they don’t record your location or your dive buddy, or the funky fish you saw on the dive. If you want to remember that kind of stuff you need to keep a separate dive log.
6. its work, you don’t have time to dive and log
It’s difficult to argue that one. Dive pros need to keep up with so much paperwork already, one more thing just seems impossible. How about making it part of the dive debrief. As you talk with your students and guests about the fish, corals or nudis they saw you enthuse them about diving more. You are going to sign their log books, so why not give them yours in return. It will make their day.
7. its just for fun, you don’t log ski runs so why log a dive?
Come the long winter months just as you look back over photos of your last vacation, it can be fun to look over the dives you did as well. If it brings a smile to your face when it is snowing outside then it has to be worth it!
8. you’re not into fish spotting / identifying
A dive log page is a great place to sketch or write notes about fish you could not recognise on the dive. You can show your squiggle to more experienced divers and not only find out what it might be but also learn tips on how to identify fish and get better for next time.
9. the paper always gets wet and its easy to forget when you get home
Fact: water is wet. Fact: paper is not waterproof (at least not yet!) You could leave the dive log at home and write it up in the evening but even the smallest boat has a dry cubby hole for sunglasses, maps and purses. A small investment in a sealed bag (lots of sailing stores sell them as well as dive stores) will mean your dive log is there to write in with dive information – hot (or wet) off the press!
10. stats are just not your thing
Some folk love’em, some folk hate’em. The deepest, longest, coldest, hottest, some folk just have to know it all. Others like to know how many hours of their life they have been underwater (its never enough!) For anyone who has curiousity about their diving history, a dive log is a must.