Dive Log question

[Metal man]

What preasure group am I in after a 60 minute dive when my maximum depth was 70 feet? This is an example of the problems I've been having filling out my log book, most of the dive was probably at 30 or 40 feet, so how are you supposed to work this out in the book? If I go by the chart, most of my dives were well into deco

[Joshua Smith]

FWIW, I stopped filling out my log book a couple years ago. I've been meaning to start doing it again for a long time, but I wouldn't stres about it- unless you are going to be travelling to a resort location, and need to show your logs to somebody in order to do the dives you have planned.

[Metal man]

Well I'm only at 19 now and I've heard that if you want to go on a charter dive you need to show them the log, so I might stop after 50 or so.

[JimmyEis]

My guess is you were using a computer to dive?

If so I was just taught to put CAD (computer aided dive) in the pressure group calculation section.

[coachrenz]

Well I'm only at 19 now and I've heard that if you want to go on a charter dive you need to show them the log, so I might stop after 50 or so.

Good for you for logging your dives. FWIW, I still log every single one of my dives, and I have a couple more than 19. I use the computer software logging program to log my dives. I can print out a paper copy if I need to.

It is a great practice to log your dives, even after you get to 50. It is a great way to "debrief" your dive experience and record important aspects of the dive. I often go back into my log book to look at a dive site that I dove awhile ago and am going to go back to again. For me, it is not only instructional, but it is a great way to record/remember the dives I have done. My computer logging program will also calculate a bunch of different stats that are interesting. For example, I can tell you how many dives I have at each site as well as things like how many times I have seen a GPO.

Keep logging the dives.

I know that the SSI dive logs have a different place to record information if you are diving with a computer. The key things to record are max depth, average depth and bottom time as well as SI. When my son was first learning to dive, and was using a dive computer, he would try to translate the information to the tables and more than once I heard, from the back of the room, "Dad! We are dead!" since computers give you credit for time spent at different depths, that the tables don't, you will most often go into the place on the tables you aren't supposed to go.

Assuming you are diving with a computer, then it isn't much of a problem. Now if you aren't diving with a computer and you are doing that kind of a profile, that is a different story.

[Metal man]

Lol, yeah, I'm using a computer. That 'Dad were dead' thing made me chuckle. Well I'm glad I didn't miss some crucial info somewhere, the CAD thing sounds like a good solution.

[dwashbur]

I don't keep my paper log up like I should, especially since it's in volume 3 (coming up on 200 dives), but I do keep meticulous records in the computer software. After a day of diving, one of the first things I do is upload the dive info to my laptop and record my observations and stuff for the dive. Someday when I have nothing else to do I might work on the paper log (which means it'll never happen...)

[Tangfish]

I love filling out my dive log. I designed my own logbook, designing it in Illustrator and going to Kinkos to print it out. I can look back over all the dives I did in various places and remember things I saw, people I dived with and boats I was on. Unfortunately, I don't log my dives that way here anymore, since I dive the same sites over and over and it becomes tedious to log them. However, this is the best dive log for a lazy diver:

http://reefnet.ca/products/sensus/

Gives you a lot of data and you can determine the sample rate, etc. - the battery lasts for years. It's well worth the money!

[spatman]

i still fill out my paper logbook too. not only do i use it to remind my self of certain events, it's been extremely helpful tracking my gear configurations and weightings as i've progressed as a diver. i suppose i could use a computer program for that, but the paper logbook makes it a lot easier to grab and go, especially when i need to reference something while on vacation.

[edm81363]

Hi Metal Man -

You've discovered that the tables penalize you for multi-level dives.

To determine pressure groups for these dives, you can use something like the PADI eRDP-ML or the Wheel. (rest of the board chuckles and shakes their heads.)

I assume you are diving your computers profile. If you can't compute the pressure group due to a multi-level dive, perhaps you could note the closest NDL pressure group and mark it with an asterisk. I think it's a good habit to continue determining pressure groups if possible. Someday you may be working with students and they'll ask LOTS of questions about this...

[60south]

Your dive log is for your benefit, so what you choose to log is ultimately up to you.

Occasionally some resort or dive operation may ask to see it, but they shouldn't care what you enter into it. Generally the only thing they want to know is when you did your most recent dive and a rough idea of your experience level (number of dives).

I used to have an elaborate, written log with sketches, pictures, mementos, etc. It was a work or art! Eventually it became much too valuable to me to actually take on a trip -- gawd ferbid I lose the thing. So now I use a Excel spreadsheet, it's worked great. I can calculate statistics and add columns when I decide to start logging additional types of data. When I travel, I simply print out the sections that relate to my destination and/or the gear I'm using.

glenn


Edited for bad grammar. Grrr.

[Alex]

I tried to keep up a log but I'm not a record keeping kind of a person I found that it felt more like doing homework to me than being fun so I don't do it.

Maybe one of these days when I upgrade my computer I'll start using software but as of now I'm not dealing with using a serial port on my ol' Oceanic Pro plus.

People do bring up a good point that some resort dive places can check your dive log to allow you to make certain dives. Go ahead and question my ethics if want but I can BS through a log of 50 dives if they want to "see the work".

People should know their limits and checking a log book isn't always a good indicator of skill. Maybe I'm good enough to make that dive but I BSed my log book because they asked. What if the guy I'm pared up with BSed it too but this is his 6th dive? ...better yet what if it's his 100th but he lacks certain training that I find crucial to my safety. ...I understand it's not a perfect system.

[Zen Diver]

I'm one of those Log Geeks who love filling it in, it's my favorite post-dive activity. Helps me remember it, and I often go back to check out info from dives done way back at unfamiliar sites. Helps me track new gear learning curves. And I add in all kinds of photos and stickers. It's more like a log book, scrap book and journal all rolled into one.

-Valerie
(nearly 1200 dives, still recording all of 'em in a paper logbook)