Dive log question for certification

[Beefcake]

Some agencies require a certain number of dives for upgraded certifications. Do they really care if the dives are signed off by your dive buddy? I started out using the logbook / binder that came with my shiny new C-card last year, but I ran out of pages. Insead of buying refills, I bought a new log book that suits me better, and I'm sitting down tonight to clear the recent dives out of my computer. The funny thing is that the new logbook doesn't have a line for "Instructor / DM / Buddy" signature, which is fine with me since I don't really want to harass my dive buddies for signatures every day. Will this cause me any problems in the future getting upgraded certs? Obviously, anyone could forge a logbook anyway, and my LDS said he can tell who is lying by their skills so he doesn't require signatures; I just want to make sure this won't bite me later.

[CompuDude]

The only dives that should (technically) be signed off by an instructor or DM are certification dives (like OW, AOW, Rescue). All other dives just need to be logged in some way. And that's only for people who count dives.

[navyhmc]

Your log serves two distinct purposes IMHO:

1. To show that you have completed your training dives-in some cases, a DM/instructos signature may be desired.

2. To record your dives as you see fit. Your log is 90% for you. It let's you recall dives and helps you improve your diving in those aspects that you want to record. Personally, I use a paper logbook as well as a computer log that I download my dive computer to and then annotate it with the information I want to track: The where, when, how, who and sometimes why, PSI/cu ft used, depth, temps, conditions and most important to me what gear I used, what the plan was and what to change next time.

I did go a good number of years w/o logging dives, but these days, any charter you go on wants to know you've done some diving recently for their safety-another reason to log dives. Also, some specialties require a specific number of dives and the instructor for those specialties may want to see the log.

For the most part, the log is your's keep it as you want.

[WaScubaDude]

Your LDS is pretty savvy, as the best way to asses a divers ability is to watch them dive. Many dive ops in the tropics will take divers new to them on an easy first dive to see how good a diver they really are. Often you wont even know this process is taking place.

I have dove with divers who supposedly were instructors but their dive skills were lacking, so the show-me policy seems like a good one.

Lastly, Being a really good diver, ie; Arriving early with all your gear in order, setting up quickly, helping others as needed, listening well to dive briefs, exhibiting excellent buoyancy and dive skills, being able to shoot your own SMB, being really good on air etc, brings privileges. You may likely get to dive your own profile and wont have the dm baby sitting you on your dives.

[Beefcake]

Thanks for re-affirming what I was told. I wrote down who I was with on each dive, but I don't plan on getting signatures for every stinkin' dive unless its mandatory. Maybe I'll just have each of them autograph the front of my book once for posterity?

[fire diver]

I log dives for my own reference. I have had instructors and dive ops ask me how many dives I have made, but none have ever asked to see my log book.

[navyhmc]

I've had a few ask to see my log. When I had stopped logging for those many years, I would just show them my AOW card (1984) and tell the truth: I stopped logging dives years ago. Never had a problem.

[rayaa3]

I recently had to buy a new book because I filled my old one...

My wife is my buddy for 90% of my diving, and I never have her sign.

For the record, I have only seen one outfit ask to see log books. It was an outfit in Puerto Vallarta, who wanted to see you had 50 logged dives before they took you on a trip that was considered advanced (I can't remember the name of the dive site).

At any rate...I have no idea if they would get prissy about no signatures, but I can't imagine it.

[Tekdivr]

My wife and I actually had Sandals Grand Bahamas ask to see our log books. After viewing the last entry and our certification level we were able to bypass their little pool skills test. I kept telling her if they made us get in the pool before diving I was going to pretend to melt down during a mask removal drill just to see their reaction. Lucky for her that didn't happen. I stopped logging dives once I was in the 300's. Maybe I should at least continue jotting down the dive number and locale, just in case.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by Beefcake

Thanks for re-affirming what I was told. I wrote down who I was with on each dive, but I don't plan on getting signatures for every stinkin' dive unless its mandatory. Maybe I'll just have each of them autograph the front of my book once for posterity?

Logging your dives is a very good thing. I keep a very detailed log and I'm very glad I do. I reference it frequently. Last time I dove a site, depth, what I saw there, who I was with, what exposure protection, how much weight, SAC tracking... all of these things are handy to have. For ME. Not for someone else.

I haven't been asked to see my logs in a long time, but I HAVE been asked to see it before.

My log is all electronic, however (outside of my first 50 dives or so where I kept paper logs). No signatures. No problem. This includes my dive number verification for DiveMaster and pro-level courses.

Get them signed if it's convenient and if it tickles your fancy. There's absolutely no requirement to have them signed, though, so it's not worth worrying about. I highly recommend keeping a log, however, signed or not.