Six Reasons to Keep a Dive log

As a scuba diver, you need to maintain a diving logbook to keep track of the date, duration, depth, and location of each dive you make plus other related information such as equipment and air usage. 

After finishing a dive, it’s common to see divers recording the information in their respective logbooks as they make their way back to the shore. If you’re a beginner, you might be wondering why do you need to keep one? Here are some reasons why maintaining a dive log is essential throughout your diving career. 

Why maintain a dive log

1. Proof of your experience 

If your goal is to get advanced certifications to become a rescue diver, divemaster, or dive instructor, you are required to complete a certain number of dives before you could proceed. Your logbook will help you keep track of each descent so you can determine once you have met the requirement. 

Responsible dive centers also use logbooks to ensure that your level of experience matches the type of diving you want to do, especially when the trip involves a challenging site such as an underwater wreck or cave.

2. Reference for dives to come

One of the best things about being a certified diver is the privilege of exploring oceans in different parts of the globe. Sometimes you have to wear different exposure suits depending on the dive conditions and water temperature of the area, and thus use varying weights. 

When you maintain a dive log, you can record your equipment including ideal weights for each site to help you save time and effort experimenting with different weight amounts until you get the right buoyancy. It’s also recommended to take note of other key information such as best entry points and unique dive conditions so you’ll know what to expect if you go to the same location again. 

3. Opportunity to improve your skills

For many individuals, scuba diving is not just a one-time activity that you do on a whim but a lifelong hobby that needs constant improvement. Logging your dives helps you identify areas that you need to correct or develop to boost your diving experience. For instance, remark if you are consuming your air relatively quickly or experiencing buoyancy issues so you can improve the appropriate skills such as buoyancy control and air consumption.

4. Collect stamps and stickers

A dive log can be a nice conversation piece among fellow divers because you can show your collection of stamps and stickers from each new place you visit. It’s like a passport that you can decorate with interesting stick-ons to bring out your creative side.

5. Preserve priceless memories

A lot of divers use their dive log to write about their wonderful and exciting experiences as a way of preserving memories. It’s just like keeping a diary and jotting down the highlights of your underwater adventures including unique underwater environments and fascinating marine life sightings. If you encounter an unfamiliar species, you can take note of its characteristics and look them up once you go back to shore. Doing so will help expand your fish and animal identification abilities which you can share with other divers. 

6. A tool to build a connection

A mutual passion for diving is a strong link that brings divers together and sharing dive logs with your dive buddies is an opportunity to swap exciting stories. Don’t be surprised if a simple chat with enthusiastic divers will inspire you to pack your dive bag and take another trip.

From paper to digital 

The traditional type of logbooks are simple and prone to water damages but dive specialists have come up with waterproof versions that you can fill out even while you’re still dripping wet. In this modern world, it’s not surprising that digital logbooks have entered the scene making recording a breeze. These modern electronic dive logs also use statistics, graphs, and other tools to help you track and analyze your underwater explorations. Technology has made wireless synchronization of dive information from a dive computer to a digital dive log possible plus instructors can digitally sign your logbook.

Nemo Diving Center encourages you to maintain a dive log to enjoy the benefits mentioned above but it’s up to you whether you like the ritual of sitting down after a dive and writing in your logbook or prefer using a digital one.