Lost Logbook How Do I Restart? #scuba #askmark @ScubaDiverMagazine
Marcus Squintess
Hi Mark! I am very appreciative of all your content as it has been top notch, especially your Apeks & Shearwater gear reviews. My question for you is this: Several years ago, during a move from one home to a new one, somehow my dive log went missing. While my certification cards were in my log binder, those are easily replaced (for the appropriate fee of course). However, its the dive information that I am truly missing, as I have no way of reproducing any of that information. While my number of dives has not been numerous (under 50), it is annoying none the less as I want to go divemaster in the near future. What would be my best course of action? Just start over at dive #1 or start at the #X I know I was at, which would likely less the actual number of dives. Thoughts? Thanks for your time and keep up the great work. #ASKMARK
#scuba #scubadiving #scubadiver
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I am happy being a occasional recreational diver and I stopped logging dives in the late 90s. While living in Hawaii , SoCal, and Florida I would do shallow 30 to 40 foot dives 4 to 5 times a weekend every weekend but logging became a hassle and I didn’t see the need for it. Now that I live in the middle of the country my gear has collected spider Webbs and dry rot and my tanks are just art work since the are aluminum.
I just had the same problem. I was so upset when I lost all my dive books i had since 1989. I kept them all in one small bag just after me and my ex separated. God, I hate that woman even more now, I didn’t know what to do, so I finally bought a Shearwater dive computer 2 years ago which I should have done before this happened, so I could have saved all my logs in my computer. God, you kids now a days have it so easy. I am now up to date with all the latest gadgets and gear. It’s just up settings after so many years of diving I lost it all in one day, and it’s not that I needed to prove anything to anyone. Just like I lost a part of my life in those log books. Dive safe to everyone. 🇺🇲👌🏼
I would may do it similar, so if I would remember I had for sure 30 dives and I know, I dive at least once a week, I may would count the weeks, since I lost my logbook and I would start counting at 34, because I know it was 30 dives and I lost my logbook about a month ago, but I would write the number with a pencil, so if I would find my logbook again, I were able to fix the dive number.
I lost a logbook with 100 dives (I don’t care about the number, only the notes I took!)… I went out, got myself an Mk2i descent, a bit drastic but needed an excuse :), and now have my dives logged automatically (and loving the automatic entry and exit geolocation). By the way, as a dive instructor, I really only need to see your certifications. I don’t care if you say you’ve got 500 dives.. I won’t check them, I wont care if they are stamped or not, I WILL be able to tell at which “real” level you are depending on what course you want to take. If you are an “advanced” OWD but don’t have perfect buoyancy control, sorry, you’ll propably be booking dive to practice rather than advance your certification.
This is exactly why I use generic non-manufacturer dive software. In my case MacDive. Also tracks inventory and tracks equipment service. Most brands are supported.
I gave up a dive log about 30 years ago. It was a great idea in the beginning because you learned things that rereading the log brought them back to current memory. Now it would only be a list of places visited.
i only use my logbook as a souvenir for dive shop stamps and my weighting. your dive computer should show your logged dives as well.
#Askmark
Hi Mark. Great video again. Personally I’d hate to lose my log book, so I’ve been keeping a record of my dives both on paper and in an app on my phone like you suggested.
I have a new question for you. :)
I don’t need any lead anymore when diving with my steel bp/w, a steel tank and my 5mm wetsuit in fresh water. However, if I don’t carry any lead, obviously I won’t be able to dump any in case of an emergency. On my most recent dive I accidentally pulled out the bottom dump valve of my wing, which I probably hadn’t screwed back in properly after cleaning, so I suddenly had a big gaping hole in my wing. I immediately turned upright so air could no longer escape, and could slowly ascend without any problems, but it made me think. What would you recommend? Don’t take any lead and manage with body position or even use my SMB for additional buoyancy when a valve or the bladder itself fails, or switch to an aluminium backplate or find some other way to add some buoyancy so I can start carrying some dumpable lead?
I’d swap that steel backplate for a lighter aluminium one. The biggest benefit of a steel backplate is the weight. But, when you don’t need that extra weight then it becomes a hinderance. I’d rather carry a small amount of lead that I can drop if I need to than drop my backplate and everything that’s attached to it.
Lift bags and dSMBs can be a secondary buoyancy device, they’re not the easiest to control. A redundant bladder wing or a drysuit are a better secondary buoyancy device that are easier to control.
@Scuba Diver Magazine Thanks! I was leaning towards that aluminium backplate as well. I guess that would mean I’ll use the aluminium one with maybe two kilograms of lead back home when diving in fresh water, and the steel one abroad for diving in salt water. Though, wouldn’t that be the exact opposite of your recommendation for travel gear? 🤣
#AskMark
Good evening Mark,
I am looking to do a sidemount course, and I am still confuse about the options from XDeep. I would like to know more about the differences between the Classic and Tec, and why should I choose one over the other one. And also how is assembly the bladder from the classic on the harness.
The idea will be more for wreck dives and maybe in the future Cave.
Thanks a lot.
The main differences are the protective upper section between your shoulder blades that protects the bladder from scraping on the ceiling and the buoyancy. The Tec has +3kg of lift.
The Classic is a bit of a legacy design, most divers chose the Rec or Tec for the extra buoyancy, trim position and protection for overhead environments.
Steve Martin has done a great comparison on his site:https://www.sidemounting.com/lesson/xdeep-systems-comparison-review-7-min/
☹️Yea I have many dives in the past that I never logged. Now I wish I could go back to them!
I gave up logging dives after around 300 back in the late 90s. Other than being reminders of where I’d been, depth, gas used etc, it all seemed pointless. Especially when I was unlikely to get anyone else to sign for them.
Lost all my log books (3) when I lived n the south pacific (Samoa). One of my dive bags was stolen. I started diving in 1972. I would have had over 560 dives at that point. Still have the old cert cards from NASDS & a newer PADI Nitrox card. Will get a PADI cert this year. Not sure what courses I will want to take that require a log book.
Any good instructor will be able to watch you dive and see how well you handle yourself. That’s the real barrier. I can cheese a log book by doing 6 dives in a day just by surfacing and hanging around a 20 foot platform on one tank.
The numbers aren’t a big deal. It’s how you handle yourself
The dives would still be on his computer. That way he can find his actual number
A dive computer might log additional dives even if you just surfaced for bearings or came close to the surface for a little while though. Personally I don’t log those separately, but count them as one. I’ll log a second dive only after completely exiting the water for a surface interval and usually that means switching cylinder and at least partly reassembling my gear.