Do you still remember the time when you first took your Open Water certification? If yes then you will surely remember the time where your instructor taught you how to log a dive properly after you finished your dive. Most divers only came to know about a dive log when they take their Open Water course while some already have had experience with it during Discover Scuba Diving. Some of the divers still keep an active dive log after years of scuba diving. However some no longer do it as soon as they complete their course. So should you keep a dive log? and why should you keep a dive log? Have a read at the below 6 reasons why a dive log is important.
The first important reason why you should keep a dive log is as a proof that you are an experienced diver. While a certification card is enough to prove you as a qualified diver to go diving, you will need a dive log to advance to the next level. All major diving organisations require divers to have a minimum number of logged dives in order to enrol in some of their diving courses. This is especially important if you are thinking of going pro in your diving career as you will need to reach a certain number of dives before you can begin the Divemaster or Instructor course. So having a dive log is a proof that you are an eligible candidate for the course.
Having a dive card is simply not enough when you go diving sometimes. This is due to the diving conditions being a bit challenging in some places. Therefore dive shops will need to make sure that you have enough experience to do the type of diving that you are planning to do. Liveaboard’s may ask you to show your dive log before you can go on their boat.
Diving is a lifelong learning process. You might feel nervous & make a few mistakes during the first couple dives. The only way for you to improve yourself is if you keep a dive log. You can write down the difficulties that you faced during a dive and discuss it with your buddy or the guide after a dive. Those few tips from them can help you to stay longer and become more comfortable in the water in the future. You learn something different with every dive. Logging a dive will help you to identify the skills that you need to work on so that you can have a more enjoyable diving experience. From how to control your breathing, managing your buoyancy underwater to even fish identification! There is always room for improvement regardless of the number of dives that you have under your belt. Logging a dive can help you to keep track of your learning progress & become a more confident diver!
A dive log is just like a passport for a diver. It is full of different stamps from different dive shops around the world. A lot of divers love to collect dive stamps as it helps them to remember all the places that they have dived in. Each dive shop has their own unique stamps. An instructor or guide will usually sign & stamp your logbook after each dive. It’s a proof that you have gone diving with them. You can always start a conversation with your diving buddy by showing them the dive stamps that you have collected. Sharing dive stamps with your buddy is definitely a fun topic to talk about after an amazing day of diving!
Diving equipment is vital for divers underwater. The equipment can vary slightly depending on the water temperature & diving condition of the area that you have visited. The different types of diving suits that you wear can affect the amount of weight that you need. You will waste a lot of time experimenting with different weights until you obtain neutral buoyancy. This won’t be a problem if you record all your dives. By doing so, all the information in your logbook can serve as a reference for your future dives in all kinds of situations. You can make the most from your dive when you don’t need to waste time adjusting your gears for each dive.
We have to understand that there’s a limit to a human’s memory. You won’t be able to remember all the dives that you have done in the end. However keeping a dive log can preserve all those beautiful memories for you, which is why many divers use their dive log as an underwater diary. You can record everything about the dive in your logbook. For example, what did you like about the dive, what makes you feel uncomfortable under the water, what marine life that you have seen & so on. You will be able to look back all the details and great memories of each dive trip.
It is not necessary to have a dive log for fun diving, at the end it’s just merely a personal choice. But we hope the reasons above will make you start to log your dives as it definitely brings more good than harm to you and will remind you of all the great dives you have had!
And if you don’t want to carry a physical book around while traveling, try BubbleBuddy.com! You digital dive buddy!