Paper Log vs Computer Log (2026)
Your computer records depth, time and profile automatically and far more accurately than you would write. A paper log records what the computer cannot: conditions, gear configuration, weighting, what you saw and what you would change. Keep both, and note your weighting in particular, because it is the detail that saves the most time on future trips.
At a glance
| Scuba Diver Log Book | Suunto Zoop Novo Dive Computer | |
|---|---|---|
| Depth and time | By hand | Automatic and accurate |
| Conditions and notes | Yes | No |
| Weighting used | Yes | No |
| Proof for certification | Traditional, often signed | Increasingly accepted |
| Survives battery failure | Yes | No |
| Cost | Very low | High |
Choose the Scuba Diver Log Book if…
You want to remember what weight you used in a 5mm suit with an aluminium tank, which is the single most useful thing in any log. Some courses and operators still want signed logged dives as evidence of experience.
Check Scuba Diver Log Book on Amazon
Choose the Suunto Zoop Novo Dive Computer if…
The profile itself is better recorded automatically. Download it if your computer allows, since the graph tells you things about your ascent rate and air consumption that memory does not.
Check Suunto Zoop Novo Dive Computer on Amazon
Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Do operators still ask for a logbook?
Some do, particularly for more demanding dives, and some accept a computer log or a certification card plus recent experience. Carrying something is safer than carrying nothing.
What should I always write down?
Weight used, suit thickness, tank material and size, conditions, and anything that went wrong or felt awkward. Those are what you will want next time.
Is my air consumption worth tracking?
Very much so. Start and end pressures over a known depth and time let you calculate your surface air consumption rate, which is what makes gas planning meaningful rather than guesswork.
How we choose: we compare published manufacturer specifications, published training agency standards, and verified owner reviews across retailers. We do not test gear in person, and every depth rating, cylinder capacity and algorithm name quoted here is the manufacturer's published figure unless we say otherwise, so confirm it on the current spec sheet before you buy. Nothing here is dive instruction, and no calculator output on this site is a dive plan. Scuba diving carries a real risk of decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity, barotrauma and drowning. Dive within the limits of your certification, verify every plan with your own computer, and buy the training before the gear that assumes it.
Logging your own SAC rate and gas plans? The Dive Kit & Air Planning Workbook is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.