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There, did I get your attention? In today's modern times actually writing things down has become a thing of the past. I certainly have limited ability to write things down anymore. My hand cramps after only a few sentences! I do all my writing on a keyboard. But now, even if I took my laptop when I went diving, I probably still would hand write my logs. I can get immediate access to my log notebook at any time, including sharing it with other people, and planning my next dive.
Keeping a log cannot only help you solve problems, it can remind you of important experiences. As a seasonal recreational diver I had buoyancy problems. (Okay, I still have them, but they are much less.) By referring back to my logs I was able to "remember" what weight I had the most success with under specific conditions without going through a new learning curve. Perhaps your memory is better than my pre-middle aged one, but if you only dive periodically, having a reference can make the first few dives of a vacation a lot smoother.
Research has shown that the action of writing down information helps to transfer recent occurrences into your long-term memory. So when you take time to write down the beautiful and unusual things you have seen on your dive you are also encouraging your memory to retain this information. Having a camera will also help this process. If you are taking pictures, you should keep information about all kinds of things. Knowing the kind of film, the light situation, visibility and exposure will help improve your picture taking skills as well.
After spending thousands of dollars to visit some tropical paradise, I want to take as much away from the experience as I can! Of course this also works locally. Every dive experience is a special one, to me. In some cases I want to remember special access information and any restrictions that might make the dive go better next time. Knowing that a beach you visited two years ago has a twenty-step access from one side of the lake and a quarter mile portage from the other might make a few minutes of note taking worthwhile.
Even if you visit the same place over and over, you will begin to notice subtle changes. Fish interactions, individual fish and school size, changes in vegetation, water clarity, temperature, and shifts in bottom all combine in the change of underwater seasons. Invest in a good fish and intervebrate reference book to consult in your leisure time.
Logging dive profiles is an important, and often overlooked activity, especially if you do not use a computer. A computer allows you to enter the numbers into a log or computer program at a later time (but if you wait too long your sightings and impressions will fade with time). A "touch" of decompression sickness while diving by the tables / computer, may drive home the need for more conservative diving,, topside activity, or possibly a medical follow-up. If you are going to get serious about advancing through different levels or certifications, and / or diving in more challenging environments, dive logs will be required to support your dive experience.
I like spending a few minutes remembering the positive experiences -- and the ones that might not have ended as well as they did. My log reminds of those few embarrassing times when bending the rules, miscommunication, and conditions conspired against me, and how I was able to avert a near accident. These are situations we would rather forget, but when I review my log and take the time to think about various scenarios, rehearsing them in my mind, I know that I have learned from that experience and am a better diver for it.
If you do not like the formatted logs from certification agencies, make your own. I modified one to include other things I want to keep up with, like how much weight I had on and how I felt during and after the dive. My regular diving buddy draws maps of the sites where she dives and keeps an extensive fish list. I also include who I was diving with, and their phone numbers for future dive contacts. Topside activities can also be noted; my restaurant reviews have already come in handy!
It doesn't matter if you haven't kept a log before. Start on your next dive. At the very least you can use spiral bound index cards until you find a log book that you like. Write the key info from your dive as soon as possible -- on the dive boat or just after a shore dive, before your dive group disperses. If you have a log format that you want to share with us send a copy along to drh2o@diverstravel.com.
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