How to Log Your Dives: What, Why, and Best Practices

Keeping a dive log is one of the best habits a diver can develop. Whether you're a new diver tracking progress, an advanced diver refining your skills, or a professional maintaining records, logging dives helps you improve, troubleshoot issues, and document your experiences.

Why Log Your Dives?

Logging dives isn’t just a certification requirement for some agencies, it provides valuable insights into your diving history and personal progression. Here’s why it matters:

• Skill Development Identify patterns in buoyancy control, air consumption, and situational awareness.
• Equipment Tuning Track weighting, exposure protection, and gear adjustments for different environments.
• Dive Planning Record conditions like currents, visibility, and temperatures to plan future dives effectively.
• Proof of Experience Some advanced courses and dive operators require logged dives as proof of experience.
• Troubleshooting & Safety Review past dives to spot trends in gas usage, depth-time profiles, and incidents.
• Personal Records Keep a history of locations, marine life sightings, and memorable experiences.

What to Include in a Dive Log

• Dive Number - Sequential tracking of your dives.
• Date & Location - Where and when the dive took place.
• Start & End Time - You can calculate RMV/SAC with total dive time.
• Depth - Maximum and Average depth.
• Gas Used - Air, Nitrox mix (O2 %), or other gas details.
• Starting & Ending Pressure - Gas consumption tracking.
• Dive Buddy & Dive Type - Who you dove with and the type (wreck, drift, night, etc.).

Recommended Details:

• Temperature - Surface and bottom temps for exposure suit reference.
• Weighting - Helps adjust for new gear or environments.
• Visibility & Conditions - Useful for future dive planning.
• Notes on Equipment & Trim - What worked, what didn’t, and needed adjustments.
• Problems & Lessons Learned - If something went wrong, logging it helps prevent repeat issues.

Best Practices for Logging Dives

• Log Promptly After Each Dive - Memory fades quickly—record details as soon as possible while they’re fresh.
• Use Digital Logs - Paper logs still exist, but they’re unnecessary in a world where dive computers sync directly to apps like Shearwater Cloud, Subsurface, or even a simple Excel sheet.
• Track Your RMV - Recording your starting and ending pressures allows you to track your Respiratory Minute Volume (RMV) over time, which is essential for better gas planning. If you don't know how, learn how to calculate your RMV
• Include Lessons & Improvements - Jot down what went well and what needs work—this is how great divers refine their skills.
• Backup Your Dive Logs - Even if you're using a digital log, don’t rely on a single platform. Apps can shut down, accounts can be lost, and files can get corrupted. Export your logs regularly and keep a backup copy in a spreadsheet or cloud storage.
• Dive Computer Integration - Some modern dive computers (Shearwater, Garmin, Suunto, etc.) automatically sync to apps. If you’re using one, make sure your logs are complete if you don't maintain your own logs elsewhere. Most auto-logs miss key details like weighting, visibility, and gear notes.