What information is typically recorded in a dive log?

• A. Date/time, location, depth, bottom time.
• B. Date/time, location, depth, bottom time, maximum depth, gas mix, surface interval, participants.
• C. Date/time, location, depth, bottom time, maximum depth, gas mix, surface interval, participants, equipment, and notable events.
• D. Date/time and surface interval only.

Answer: (C)

Dive logs serve as detailed safety records, capturing the essential data from each dive to help plan future dives, monitor nitrogen exposure, and meet training requirements. The most complete log entry includes date and time, location, depth, bottom time, maximum depth, gas mix, surface interval, participants, equipment, and notable events. Each piece plays a role: the date/time and location establish when and where the dive happened; depth and bottom time show how long you were underwater and how deep you went, with maximum depth tracking the deepest point reached; gas mix indicates the breathing gas used, which affects nitrogen loading and decompression considerations; surface interval records the time since the last dive, influencing residual nitrogen and safety planning for subsequent dives; participants identifies who was involved, important for buddy accountability and training records; equipment notes what gear was used, which helps with maintenance and issue tracking; and notable events capture any problems or unusual conditions to inform future planning and safety decisions. This comprehensive approach supports safer diving and accurate training records. Less comprehensive options omit important details like maximum depth, gas mix, surface interval, or notes on events, which are all critical for a complete safety log.