Log keeping

Keeping a record of dives undertaken serves a number of purposes including:

• allowing the departure and return of divers to be monitored so that missing diver situations are detected quickly
• assisting in decompression management
• providing dive profile information in the event of an emergency
• serving as a record of experience for divers and persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU)
• allowing the PCBU to monitor and review the dives undertaken by dive workers.

Dive safety log

For occupational diving (high risk diving work), a record of each dive must be kept by the PCBU in accordance with the requirements in AS/NZS 2299.1: 2015 Occupational diving operations – Standard operational practice.

For occupational diving (general diving work) the dive safety log must be kept by the PCBU and contain the required information about all dives undertaken. After a dive, each diver must verify their return from the dive by signing the dive safety log entry as soon as practicable after returning from their dive. The dive supervisor must also verify that the dive safety log is complete. The dive safety log must be kept for one year.

For recreational diving the dive safety log must be kept by the PCBU and contain the required information. After a dive each diver must verify their return from the dive by signing the dive safety log as soon as practicable after returning from their dive. The dive safety log must be verified by the dive supervisor, and if conducting diving from a vessel it will need to be verified by the skipper as well. The dive safety log needs to be verified prior to leaving site. The dive safety log must be kept for one year.

Diver's log

Divers should make a record of their own dive experience. Generally, the diver's log should contain similar information to the dive safety log which will then form a personal record for the individual diver.