An old time consuming post I authored about the history and primary reason for documenting ALL hyperbaric exposures -- From cold mud puddles to clear warm tropical water--
"It is raining in California -- and it never rains in California and when it does we Californians remain indoors- if we become wet we might shrink or even dissolve.
So I reverted to my very early AM activity reading the "board" and was attracted to your posts and the responses.
A bit of sage advice -- Log every hyperbaric exposure-- from the swimming pool and your training to mud puddles, quarries to the ocean -- It is all hyperbaric exposure -- the body cannot identify if the water is fresh clear pool water, a mud puddle or ocean salt water.
Your generation is the very first generation in the history of man to experience massive often long term hyperbaric exposure. Who knows what effects such exposure will have on health and longevity ?
Based on the very small samples of those who began diving long before the popularity of recreational diving it is possible that audio and equilibrium systems will be impacted as well as orthopedic involvement in the form of aseptic bone necrosis and yet to be identified or named diving maladies
At this junction in the very short history of diving there is no data to determine if this can or will occur
Never the less I would suggest that you log ALL hyperbaric exposures
Several weeks ago I was raining then I had a exchange with Karen a US nurse who asked a similar question
The following is my wordy response
"Welcome Karen --(My #2 daughter is named Karene --she has been diving over 45 years)
1) Logging dives has been around for a while -- The first US log book was designed in 1955 (61 years ago) by the late Dick Bonin founder of SCUBA Pro and marketed by the long gone company called "Dive Master: of Chicago.
2) The second dive log was designed by Tom Ebro in 1966 (11 years later - 50 years ago ) As a requirement for the LA County Underwater Instructors Association for use in the worlds first ADP, the LA CO three (3) month long many dives Advanced Diver Program, aka ADP and for use in the LA Co UICC, the worlds first underwater training program established in 1954, which continues as the worlds most demanding a prestigious diving instructors training program ,
3) The rest of the diving world did not immediately develop dive logs but when the did they used, aka change the cover and/or patterned their dive logs after LA Counties log book.. Now there are many diving logs in every format-- choose one
4) I am told that some organizations and resorts demand logs be maintained and presented ($$$)
5) I recommend that you maintain a dive log- and take it on every dive trip and log every dive ASAP after the dive.
Log all that encompass hyperbaric exposure -in deep pool, a mud puddle, a quarry and the ocean- always include date, place depth and time. These entries are not only for your your benefit but are invaluable as you certainly realize for the attending or treating doctor and nurses
Now you know the history of the dive log I suspect you now know considerably more about the history of the dive log that a majority of the current diving community. Perhaps you can and can share these historical tid bits with your fuzzy faced instructor...
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A) You are a nurse and live in the non diving capital of the US
B) You are aware how important a patients history is to the admitting doctor and nurses.
C) Most admits to ERs and for Hyperbaric treatment with diving related problems are
not accompanied by the important dive history.
D) Dive history is becoming better with the advent of the dive computer
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Your-- the present generation is the first generation in the history of man that has been massively and repeatedly exposed to hyperbaric environments.
** Certain protocols for safe diving are in place -- slower assents, the safety stops .etc but long term value is undetermined at this juncture in time
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Karen FYI
During the 1980s and 1990s we had a loose organization in SoCal called "The fathers of free diving and spear fishing, " which was composed of as the title describes the fathers of free diving and spear fishing -- the ones who formed basis for "recreational" diving." All began long before Cousteau arrived in the US in 1948 with his bubble machine . these were the men and occasional woman who were there in the early days of the sport , some in the 1920s, others in began in the 1930s and the youngsters in the 1940s which included me and and my companions.
We met periodically and soon noticed our ranks were thinning in numbers and those attending were advancing in age..
It was determined to have one last meeting of what was remaining of the tribe ( no disrespect to native Americans or Canadians First Nations ) but that was our accepted name --no supper duper pooper diver/instructor ...Just a member of the tribe.
2000 was the date..the last gathering of the tribe.. letters were sent, telephoned calls were made and the fathers world wide responded and attended. This was the last great gathering of a group that was privileged and honored to be a participant and observer of a series of events that occurred for a very short time and never ever will be experienced again up on this earth.
The common thread was hearing aids and orthopedic devices all indicated was related to diving
That was 16 years ago all of the tribe from the 20s and 30s have departed to the big reef in the sky and only a smattering remain of the 1940s tribe .My fellow "Fathers" who began with me in the 1940s are among those in the big reef in the sky I am now experiencing the long term effect of hyperbaric exposures -- hearing is reduced (a lot!) we all had lots of trauma to the ears, equilibrium difficulties and a minimum amount of osteonecrosis, and of course some ecpected ambulatory difficulties ....But -- I would not hesitate do it all over again !!! My dear wife and all my five children have been diving in excess of 40 years and all the grand children are on their way as divers . and we are all aware of the possible long term effects
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fyi
you might want to google
* San Diego Bottom Scratcher Spear Fishing club
* Long Beach Neptune's Spear Fishing club
* Charlie Sturgil (or my article "The Mask")
* Dr. Sam Miller 111 diver or SCUBA
* Dr. Sam Miller, IV ( use numbers in our family )
SAM IV is a NAUI (Life member) PADI instructor and SSI Pro 5000 (5000 verified dives ) as well as a ER & Hyperbaric doctor --has an impressive CV
So keep on logging dives ! Do it any ole way you desire (Well bless my heart !)
SDM
When are y'all mailing me some good ole Arkie cornbread? or a time tested recipe?
Next >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday 22 October - next day
Good gosh I am wordy-- what happens when I rains in CenCal --we Californians remain inside
Afraid the water might shrink us or melt us
Karen hope my wordy post provides you with a certain amount of guidance sdm
TTFN -- ( Ta TA For Now )
SDM "
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So log all your hyperbaric exposures and retain the records (dive log)
SDM
DD
I am, I copied it into my log book. I do down load my dives into the computer as well. No pics there...unless I can attach a file 
