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The dive log, rethought
A logbook leads two lives: it is a record of good dives - and it is the evidence people ask for at the desk when somebody has to judge whether you fit the dive you want to book.
When somebody genuinely looks at it
- After a longer break. "When did you last dive?" is the most common question at the desk, and the honest answer is in the log.
- Before demanding dives. Current, depth, wrecks, night: here experience counts, not just the certification.
- For the next course. Many levels require a minimum number of dives, and that has to be evidenced.
- For junior divers and on return after time away, where a centre looks more carefully.
For the judgement at the desk, four figures are enough: number of dives, last dive, greatest depth and experience with the conditions on site. Everything else in the log is for you, not for the centre.
Paper versus digital
| Paper booklet | Digital |
|---|---|
| Lovely, handwritten, full of stamps. | Always with you, even when the booklet is at home. |
| Gone is gone - water, loss, moving house. | Stored safely and recoverable. |
| Counting means leafing through. | Number, last dive and depth are there instantly. |
| Has to be shown at the desk. | Travels with your check-in automatically. |
It does not have to be either/or. Plenty of divers keep the booklet for the stamps and the figures digitally as well - that is the combination that works at the desk and in the evening.
What to look for in a digital log
- Can you get your data out? A log you cannot export is a dead end.
- Does it work offline? At dive sites that is the normal case.
- Is it tied to one agency? Then it stops fitting the moment you take a course elsewhere.
- Does it come along at check-in? That is where it actually saves you time.
How it fits together in Diver ID
Your log sits in the same profile as your certifications, medical and insurance. When you check in at a centre, they know your experience without you having to show anything - and you skip the conversation about how long ago your last dive was. Free for divers, with no app to download.
Frequently asked questions
Do divers still need a logbook?
For most recreational dives nobody asks. It comes up after longer breaks, before demanding dives, and when a course requires a minimum number of dives.
Do dive centres accept a digital logbook?
As a rule yes - what matters are the figures, not the paper. Stamps in a booklet are a bonus, not a requirement.
What belongs in an entry as a minimum?
Date, site, depth, time and the conditions. For the judgement at the desk, the number of dives, the last dive and the greatest depth matter most.
Set up your dive profile for free
Certifications, medical, insurance and emergency contact in one place - and your next check-in takes seconds. Free for divers, forever, with no app to download.