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#22
Logging pool dives?
BruceH - 12/18/2019 11:10 AM
Category: New Diver Q&A
Replies: 6

Just certified as OWD. is it proper to log any pool dives I do now for practice or gear testing?
#20308
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Smithsgold - 12/18/2019 1:30 PM
it’s your dive log, log away !!!!!!! I log mine
#5597
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wgr21 - 12/19/2019 2:17 PM
You could always log them separate, down the road if you don’t want to include them to your total then don’t but if you decide that you want to count them then you’ll have a good record of what you did. I personally don’t include my pool dives but I have included the 2 aquarium dives that I have done and some people don’t feel that those should be included. It also depends on the pool, the worlds deepest pool is over 100ft deep so that is a dive I would log. In the end it’s your dive log so it’s your decision.
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Eric_R - 12/21/2019 6:18 PM
I don’t do all of mine but my just combine them into one. It depends on whats going on. It might be a dive that I want to make sure I have details for instead of trying to remember.
#699
Scott_R - 12/28/2019 9:18 AM
Log every dive.
I only number open water dives so when I log a pool dive it occupies a page but doesn’t get a dive number written in. Some people will get upset thinking you are trying to falsely inflate your experience by logging pool dives so just don’t number them. It is still a hyperbaric exposure with possible medical implications so it should be logged.
It should especially be logged if you are testing gear or doing weight checks or anything were you would want the results recorded for future reference.
Most of my pool dives are with students so it is absolutely critical I log those. I log student names, skills covered, and any issues that may have occurred or if someone had outstanding performance.
Anyone who tells you not to log pool dives is letting their ego do the talking and someone you should not take advice from. The most experienced divers will tell you to log them, and most divers in general will tell you it’s your book, log what you want. Lots of divers don’t log anything.

It sounds like you want to log pool dives so you should do that. Just be aware they won’t count toward experience for higher level certifications so I would suggest dating them but don’t give them a number so you can keep an accurate count of your open water dives.