Dive Log Books do you keep one?Your dive log books can be anything from a factual record of dives completed, to a dive scrapbook designed to preserve the memory of each and every dive.
For these people, there are more elaborate dive log books that are more like scrapbooks. These logs have spots for pictures and an entire page to describe your dive. I have a buddy who uses one of these logs and I’ve got to say, they’re pretty impressive. Not only does he have a picture from almost every dive he’s done, he also has autographs from some pretty famous diver/explorers that we’ve met at dive trade shows. Now that’s the kind of dive log that you break out when company comes over! 
But dive logs aren’t only for reminiscing. There are many instructors out there who will flat out refuse to take you on as a student for the more advanced types of diving unless you can prove that you have X number of dives under your belt. The only way to provide that kind of proof is with dive log books. So if you plan on learning how to be a wreck diver, deep air diver, or cave diver; you’d better be logging your dives or there’s a good chance that you’ll have a hard time finding a dive instructor that will take a chance on you. Why do you need proof of your diving history?Dive instructors aren’t the only ones who will want to see proof of your diving history.Several years ago I was diving at John Pennekamp Park in Key Largo, FL. and while I was waiting to pay to get on the boat I noticed a sign posted on the right wall. While I don’t remember exactly what it said anymore, it was something to the effect that divers who haven’t dived in the past 6 months needed to do a checkout dive with an instructor before boarding, divers who haven’t dived in over a year needed to take a refresher course before they’d be allowed on board and divers who haven’t dived in more than 3 years needed to be re-certified. We’re not even talking serious dives here! All this was to get on a boat that would be diving in 20 feet of crystal clear, calm water! But the only way to prove that you’ve been diving recently is to whip out your dive log and show them. Dive log books are a great way to reminisce about past dives, but they are also proof of your experience. Make sure you get a quality dive book and log each and every dive you make. You never know when you’ll need to show your experience to get on a dive boat or take a dive class. For some more scuba accessories, have a look here. Return to Underwater Diving Equipment Home Page.
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