Favorite Log Book

[Insta-Gator]

Diving Log 6.0 is my favorite. Easy to use, easy to upload computer data, easy to customize fields/format/layout of each dive. Provided summary charts are useful. Support has been terrific.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

Just curious. Does an electronic log count when you are going for DM certification?

I've never had anybody ask me to even show them a log, through Divemaster. I tell them my dive experience, they watch me on the first dive, and tend to trust that I'm not lying. If they do ask in future, I'd start with my electronic log.

However, YMMV. Divemaster requires what 80 logged dives or somesuch? If I said I had 81, they might be more questioning. When I went for Rescue (20 minimum?), I'd already logged a couple hundred dives and most of those were in cold, dark waters of Puget Sound and the Straits nearby. I was also 35 years old, and, well, age discrimination happens against the young I suspect. By Divemaster (just finishing), I was up to 450 dives (and 51 years old) and again, mostly in cold, dark water. I'd also supervised student marine biology divers on many of those dives, and mentioned that to the instructor. I guess the advice is if you're going to lie, lie big. But you'd better have the skills to back up your record.

 

[Snoweman]

I've never had anybody ask me to even show them a log, through Divemaster. I tell them my dive experience, they watch me on the first dive, and tend to trust that I'm not lying. If they do ask in future, I'd start with my electronic log.

However, YMMV. Divemaster requires what 80 logged dives or somesuch? If I said I had 81, they might be more questioning. When I went for Rescue (20 minimum?), I'd already logged a couple hundred dives and most of those were in cold, dark waters of Puget Sound and the Straits nearby. I was also 35 years old, and, well, age discrimination happens against the young I suspect. By Divemaster (just finishing), I was up to 450 dives (and 51 years old) and again, mostly in cold, dark water. I'd also supervised student marine biology divers on many of those dives, and mentioned that to the instructor. I guess the advice is if you're going to lie, lie big. But you'd better have the skills to back up your record.

Interesting. My rescue diver instructor said I needed to prove I had 50 logged dives in order to get the DM course. Thanks for the reply.

 

[Aloha Joe]

I’ve been asked for log book from dive shops on Big Island (Hawaii). The ‘Advanced’ boats there require a certain amount of total dives and/or a certain number of dives in the past 6 months, depending on who you dive with. Just having AOW in the system wasn’t enough to convince them. I didn’t have my log book so there were a lot of questions about when and where I’d been diving, what types of dives, etc. Mostly they want recent experience it seems.

Honestly, I wish all the dive shops here were like that. I know it would hurt business, but on Oahu they let anyone on the advanced boats, and more times than not it’s borderline chaos. Not being allowed on a boat might be annoying at first, but personally it would inspire me to learn and improve. But I get that I’m also not on vacation trying to make the best use of my time here.

Sorry for the tangent! This thread had me looking at waterproof paper for the computer - there’s special paper you can get (~$20/pack) that is water resistant. Some needs a laser printer, some works with ink jet. I thought it would ideal to design my own log book and be able to print out pages as I need them, and experiment with different sizes and stuff. That could also translate to digitally logging dives, and printing out a usable log book when you need to with the data.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

I think its lower to start than finish. I don't have my PADI instructor's manual with me, so 80 us probably wrong.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

I think its lower to start than finish. I don't have my PADI instructor's manual with me, so 80 us probably wrong. Maybe 40 to start and 60 to complete.

 

[Seaweed Doc]

Interesting. My rescue diver instructor said I needed to prove I had 50 logged dives in order to get the DM course. Thanks for the reply.

I'm curious, did they ask you to prove 20 to do Rescue? Maybe its a regional difference?

 

[Seaweed Doc]

I’ve been asked for log book from dive shops on Big Island (Hawaii). The ‘Advanced’ boats there require a certain amount of total dives and/or a certain number of dives in the past 6 months, depending on who you dive with. Just having AOW in the system wasn’t enough to convince them. I didn’t have my log book so there were a lot of questions about when and where I’d been diving, what types of dives, etc. Mostly they want recent experience it seems.

Now that you mention it, I think dive operations have been generally more curious in probing my experience prior to the first dive. I don't think they've asked to see my logbook, but they wanted to know my last dive date and how many I'd logged in total.

Sorry for the tangent! This thread had me looking at waterproof paper for the computer .

It's been very helpful to me. No need to be sorry!

 

[TMHeimer]

They didn't ask to see my log when I took Rescue in 2006. But not long after that PADI eliminated the 20 required dives count. Then they reduced the other requirement of AOW to Adventure Diver. Good moves, in my opinion. More people may then have taken Rescue, even if a little less experienced beforehand.

 

[Snoweman]

I'm curious, did they ask you to prove 20 to do Rescue? Maybe its a regional difference?

Nope. I didn't see where PADI has a # of dives requirement for Rescue.