The Importance of Logging your Dives. The Advantages for new divers (and old)

How do you prefer to log your dives?


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I love logging dives with all the technical details and possibilities in Subsurface, but still I like to have a paper log book on my shelf, wich is why I export the dives from Subsurface to TeX and print those and put those in a small binder. I have been doing this for more than 20 years (with my own predecessor to Subsurface which while ago got assimilated into that program).
 
I like paper. I started with the PADI logbook I got with my OW course, then when that was full I ordered some "custom" logbook pages from divelogs.com. (They're not really customizable; they just have a lot of options and really user-friendly decision tree software that leads you to one result instead of having to scroll through thousands.)

I note total dive time rather than bottom time, and now that I have a computer that tells me the water temperature at the surface and at depth I note both, along with air temp/ weather, exposure protection, and how warm I was. I calculate and record RMV and try to make note of anything that might have influenced it; since my computer now tells me my SAC rate in real time, I also sometimes note high and low points to get a better picture of what the whole-dive average represents. I've learned that beach diving means a really high SAC rate at the start, probably from the exertion of walking from my car to the water in full gear (and often a long surface swim.) I note the critters I saw and my buddies, and anything new I learned or things I struggled with. I don't bother with signatures or stamps anymore; I write a lot and want as much space as I can get. Sometimes I spill over onto a second page.

I haven't been very motivated to upload my dive profiles from my computer. I feel like I should do that too, but it feels like a chore whereas writing by hand is somehow fun. I'm 36 and have had a personal computer in the home since age 7 and a cell phone since age 18, for what that's worth.
 
I stopped logging dives a long time ago. The time it takes to do so necessarily interferes with my post-dive beer consumption protocol. :)
 
I like paper. I started with the PADI logbook I got with my OW course, then when that was full I ordered some "custom" logbook pages from divelogs.com. (They're not really customizable; they just have a lot of options and really user-friendly decision tree software that leads you to one result instead of having to scroll through thousands.)

I note total dive time rather than bottom time, and now that I have a computer that tells me the water temperature at the surface and at depth I note both, along with air temp/ weather, exposure protection, and how warm I was. I calculate and record RMV and try to make note of anything that might have influenced it; since my computer now tells me my SAC rate in real time, I also sometimes note high and low points to get a better picture of what the whole-dive average represents. I've learned that beach diving means a really high SAC rate at the start, probably from the exertion of walking from my car to the water in full gear (and often a long surface swim.) I note the critters I saw and my buddies, and anything new I learned or things I struggled with. I don't bother with signatures or stamps anymore; I write a lot and want as much space as I can get. Sometimes I spill over onto a second page.

I haven't been very motivated to upload my dive profiles from my computer. I feel like I should do that too, but it feels like a chore whereas writing by hand is somehow fun. I'm 36 and have had a personal computer in the home since age 7 and a cell phone since age 18, for what that's worth.
I have used one of the standard DiveLogs pages for almost 16 years, 1830 dives. They are very easy to archive in available binders, I currently have 5 binders, starting on my 6th. I am so used to the pages that they take very little time to fill out and capture a lot of information. There is some duplicate data on each sheet, from both my Oceanic VT3 and my Shearwater Teric. As opposed to @Esprise Me I also download my dives and keep a spreadsheet summary :). I also use dive time rather than bottom time.

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@Scuba Lawyer I often combine my logging with my beer consumption protocol, works out very well :)
 
I have always kept paper logs because I like to go back and read about some of my older dives, but now after a few "I almost lost my dive book" experiences throughout the years, I think I might give Subsurface a try.

That is one of the many things I like about Subsurface - the free Cloud storage for my log. If I lose my phone, tablet, and laptop all tomorrow, when I get my new ones, I can install a fresh Subsurface and supply my Cloud credentials and have my log back on all my devices.

If the Subsurface Cloud storage goes away, I have a copy of the source code and the local copy of my log (1 copy on each device - automagic, via Cloud). I don't have to use the Cloud. The auto synchronization just makes it convenient.

I figure there's pretty much no chance of losing my log...
 
I note total dive time as well. With shore diving it's hard to figure traditional bottom time. I may wander from 30' to 15' and back to 30'. Not that it matters.
I find I average a little under 30 mins. per dive, due to those short 20 minute winter dives diving wet.
 
I'm surprised that nowadays paper log leads the vote. It is not what I assumed in talking with people and reading.

I'm with you on that one. I really thought the digital log book would have taken over. Could it be because none of the digital apps make data entry easy?
 
I'm with you on that one. I really thought the digital log book would have taken over. Could it be because none of the digital apps make data entry easy?

I think it's more to do with the SB crowd. We're not your "normal" divers. I think that's been shown on multiple occasions. Not a negative thing, just different...:confused::rain::):clearmask:

I find Subsurface to be pretty easy/flexible as long as your device/hardware is supported. The software that came with my DC was a bit of a kludge. All IMHO, YMMV.
 
I'm with you on that one. I really thought the digital log book would have taken over. Could it be because none of the digital apps make data entry easy?
Or it is redundant if you use a paper log. My download allows additional information, I do not use it. The download is most useful for the dive profile, checking individual points on the dive, the visual display of depth over time and the calculated values..
 
I stopped logging dives a long time ago. The time it takes to to do so necessarily interferes with my post-dive beer consumption protocol. :)
Definitely this!!! Combined with dumping photos and videos off my GoPro to share with the other divers. "Look at my log of the dive", just doesn't work as well. :wink:
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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