Come on, really...how many dives have you logged? No, I didn't ask how many dives you have made...I asked how many you've logged. That is an entirely different question. I see divers all the time who casually wave off the logging chore...with the vague promise that they always log their dives before bedtime (or on the plane ride home, or every New Year's Day.) Right!Logging is as simple as date, time, depth, and surface interval between dives. But far too many of us do not see the value in even this most basic of documentation. Besides the fact that dive operators may rely on your log as proof of experience, the logbook is essential to medical professionals should you have any diving related mishap. An accurate log of your recent dives may be the difference between several trips to the chamber or a diagnosis of a cold coming on.
But beyond these basics, your logbbok can be great fun years later as you revisit the excitment you enjoyed on a particular dive. Some divers use their logbook to record new fish and coral citings, others keep detailed records of air consumption, photos taken, equipment reviews or other minutiae. Whatever the info you decide to keep in your logbook, at the very minimum commit to keeping date, time, depth and surface interval.
"So...how many dives have you logged Jane?" I know that's the question you are thinking and I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't taken my own advice...at least not very consistently. Sure, I dive with a computer (and a backup computer) and it logs my dive which I then download to my laptop or PC. The problem here is that I don't usually cart my laptop around to show to dive operators. Most are willing to accept that my wallet full of instructor certifications probably means that I have adequate experience. But not having logged consistently means I really can't tell you how many dives I have done. I conservatively estimate the number at around 1500, but the cold hard truth is I really don't know.
When I am at my best and most creative I enjoy writing a travelogue or journal as my log to augment the computer generated dive particulars. In the middle of winter, when I desperately need some salt water in my regulator I go back to the log to revisit a special trip or particulary eventful dive. The following is an excerpt from my log of a trip to Egypt and the Red Sea. I hope you enjoy it!
Day 3
Up early for a 6:00am departure time (the bus got packed with luggage secured on the roof. Our divemaster for the week, Osama introduced himself and led the way as we trekked out of Cairo, under the Suez Canal and down the Sinai Peninsula towards Sharm el Sheik. We expected to make it to Sharm and get a dive or two in that day. It is a long trip and most folks sleep in between rest stops. The choice of rest stops is important in this part of the world. As the group would soon learn, not all toilets are created equal. We see everything from a hole in the floor to some hardware that would almost pass muster at a gas station on the Eastern Shore. It is hard to remember to have a pound or two to pay the attendant, hell its hard to get small change anywhere in Egypt…the loo attendants have it all! For a few pennies you get a few squares of 1 ply toilet paper and you count yourself lucky at that. We get used to keeping paper napkins in our pockets for emergencies.
Up early for a 6:00am departure time (the bus got packed with luggage secured on the roof. Our divemaster for the week, Osama introduced himself and led the way as we trekked out of Cairo, under the Suez Canal and down the Sinai Peninsula towards Sharm el Sheik. We expected to make it to Sharm and get a dive or two in that day. It is a long trip and most folks sleep in between rest stops. The choice of rest stops is important in this part of the world. As the group would soon learn, not all toilets are created equal. We see everything from a hole in the floor to some hardware that would almost pass muster at a gas station on the Eastern Shore. It is hard to remember to have a pound or two to pay the attendant, hell its hard to get small change anywhere in Egypt…the loo attendants have it all! For a few pennies you get a few squares of 1 ply toilet paper and you count yourself lucky at that. We get used to keeping paper napkins in our pockets for emergencies.
After surrendering our passports and an interminable wait at the dock in Sharm (the security official had apparently gone on a walk about) we finally got clearance. It should be noted that everywhere we went was recorded with the tourist security police and we had a personal and well armed body guard at all times. We started our dive week with a very short boat ride around the point to a site called The Temple. [64 feet for 79 minutes] The night dive was also at The Temple. Hunting with the lionfish was the major sport. Shine your light on a nearby potentially tasty morsel and the grateful lionfish rewards you by stalking it, cornering it, and finally making the lunge to eat the hapless fish. John and Jane could be heard screaming encouragement through their regulators. Most of the group also saw the illusive Spanish dancer although she was too shy to put on a floorshow. No worries…we had lots of dives left to see her twirl her skirts. [61 feet for 68 minutes] We spent the night anchored at the mooring at The Temple.
