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There great for a variety a reasons. For instance, logging how much lead weight you used. So next time you dive it’s not just guessing. In addition, you then can manipulate where the weight is to achieve proper trim in the water (horizontal position). There multiple other applications to logging dives.
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Some Dive Location operators may require a log as proof of experience. I know logs can be faked but that’s still on the diver. I use a log I built and it allows me to log more quickly and with more detail. It also does all the SAC calculations for me.
Dive computers are now getting good at holding lots of details so manual dive logs may become a thing of the past.
As Justin stated having information about a dive location maybe beneficial to you when coming back to the location or to a similar one.
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Wow... I could go on for days.
As mentioned, keeping track of exposure protection and weight. Especially important for someone like me who dives everything from a swim suit to a dry suit with several different wetsuits in between.
Recording your memories of dive trips so you can go back years later and look at them. I regret the 10 or so years I stopped logging. Those memories are mostly lost.
Keeping track of favorite dive sites, depths, locations, conditions. You may want to go there again or recommend it to someone else.
Contact information for dive buddies- I try to get an email address for differ
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Contact information for dive buddies- I try to get an email address for different people I dive with and information for shops and boats.
It is a great way to show your experience if anyone ever needs to see it.
I maintain a paper log with basic information and I also get signatures from students in my paper log.
Most of my detailed logging is done by my computer and then I upload everything into Subsurface where I can type in all the details I didn’t have room for in my paper log and I can even attach photos and GPS coordinates.
You will never regret logging a dive but you may regret it some day if you don’t.
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My log is more of a journal than a log but it’s always been a good source of info on when I wore ( ) wetsuit with which BP&w this tank and that pony what weight did I wear.
I have 3 wetsuits plus hooded vest, 4 different tank sizes, cold and travel size back plates and wings so sometimes I need to look at the log to refresh my memory.
My paper log got out of hand and now I just keep a digital log
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gps - 12/29/2019 9:51 AM 
Thank you guys, very good info. It all makes sense. Very practical stuff. GPS.
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As a photographer I like to note the depth of certain features on a wreck to help plan future dives and decompression obligations. Sometimes I’ll run a reel between two common points and take a compass heading to use for future dives. I won’t likely remember them all unless I write them down. As someone else mentioned, my logs are more of a journal: What cool stuff I saw, ideas for future shoots, what I should add to my camping supplies, etc. I also write down where I was wearing my lead... I mostly dive steel 100 doubles and a drysuit and my trim is good unless I carry two deco bottles. Then I’m slightly head down unless I put a weight in each pocket on my drysuit. There are so many reasons to keep track of your dives.
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...for all the reasons already stated, plus I recently applied for a security clearance, I needed the countries and dates for all travel outside the US for the past 10 years. My log books had all that info ready for me.
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From Brian_V: I recently applied for a security clearance, I needed the countries and dates for all travel outside the US for the past 10 years. My log books had all that info ready for me.
Ditto, my passport showed a lot of travel, my divelog showed what I was doing there :)
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A pelican stole mine and dropped it in the ocean.
I was able to save my contact info for my dive instructor, and my early dives, by writing everything down on some hotel stationary before the paper dissolved. I was tempted to keep it as a dried out paper blob, just to laugh at boat operators trying to stamp it.
My computers logs will have to do from now on. I’m not carrying a journal ever again. I’m going to get my advanced soon, to make up for it. Would like to try fundies as well.
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eat more fish so your brain can store your memories...not a log book:)
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no reason what so ever. some people like to log dives, some people like to write diaries, but some people like to live and enjoy their lives and dives instead of writing it down:)
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I know you said you were non pro. Many of us started that way. I had no intention of going beyond the basic recreational diving statues... then one day I found myself signing up for the SSI DiveCon course. They required dive documentation, so am glad that I had been tracking my dives. Good luck to you! #HappyBubbles
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MDW - 4/10/2020 11:38 AM
So should your passport, and it would also include trips on which you did not dive.
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MDW - 4/10/2020 11:40 AM
From Brian_V: ...for all the reasons already stated, plus I recently applied for a security clearance, I needed the countries and dates for all travel outside the US for the past 10 years. My log books had all that info ready for me.
So should your passport, and it would also include trips on which you did not dive.
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....you’re assuming that your passport documents ALL your international travel, but it does NOT. I drive to San Carlos Mexico to dive at least twice a year, those trips are not documented in my passport . The border guards just look at your passport, but it is not stamped. So when I fill out my security clearance documents, it wants ALL international travel, so that’s where my dive log comes in handy.
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