wet notes???? what to write?

so I just got my first set of wet notes and I am looking for ideas of some good info to put in them. I know they are for taking notes during a dive and to communicate. But what is some other good info to "jott" down so far I have
emergency contact info
blood type and allergies

and a bunch of deco tables in the back from 90'-115' from :30-:75 I figure anything outside of that I will plan the dive out and have that table seperate, Like the one for orange grove sink. these are basicaly "dead computer" deco tables. i guess some gas matching quick reference guides would be good?? any ideas?

You can always pre-draw some hangman contraptions to keep that deco time from being so agonizing :/

But by "pre drawing " something isn't that counter productive and defeating the purpose of passing time?

I use it for logging during the dive, not before. I have used it before to note time and pressure at landmarks on the swim back during simulated bailouts or scooter failures. I've also used it to discuss changing of dive plans with my buddy during a dive. I find it nicer to use than the slate, probably because my pencil keeps breaking :)

By the way, for the tables, you could always print them out on waterproof paper and keep them in the wet notes all folded up.

Cheers,
Jeff

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Originally Posted by icestac

I use it for logging during the dive, not before. I have used it before to note time and pressure at landmarks on the swim back during simulated bailouts or scooter failures. I've also used it to discuss changing of dive plans with my buddy during a dive. I find it nicer to use than the slate, probably because my pencil keeps breaking :)

By the way, for the tables, you could always print them out on waterproof paper and keep them in the wet notes all folded up.

Cheers,
Jeff

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I do the same logging pressure before and after dives. Noting psi usage under work load and deco etc. Part of my log is a running SAC rate per that dive Converting used PSI to cu divided by time and ave dept.

My buddy and I usually use them at deco to discuss the moronic things we've seen on the dive... and we're usually tops on the list of conversation...

All good advice. But I am looking for things to put in them as reference

If you need to reference it during a dive, other than tables, should you really have to write it down. Lost line step one...

Only neat thing I've seen was copies of cave maps and even those where just users to pass time during deco and facilitate passing notes back and forth between games of connect the dots or laughing at students laying line for the first time.

I have used my tables once when I had a computer failure and It'd say that's a must have (for the gas you're breathing).

That kind of what I was thinking. But what about a pre dive check list? Or. Like I stated some gas matching cheat sheets for before the dive? Things like that

I keep a table of tank factors in mine, for easy gas matching. And I have stick maps for a lot of caves, with little notes passed along from people with experience in them. (I collected so many, I had to put a table of contents in :) )

Tank factors? I know what they are kinda but can you elaborate? That what I am looking for. Easy gas matching..

The last thing written on my wetnotes was "you can fit, fatter people than you go thru this retriction" after which he went thru. It is important to stay aware of the line while writeing. I usually go to the ceiling or if the bottoms rocky, loop my arm around the line.

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Originally Posted by adam0321

All good advice. But I am looking for things to put in them as reference

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Interesting. I always thought that the wet notes were a bit expensive and their purpose was to aid writing stuff underwater. If you are going to make references, why not use other tools and store them in the pocket with the wet notes. For instance, if you print something out with a computer, you can probably make it more legible exile using less space (at least this is my experience). Then you can laminate or just use write in the rain paper to begin with.

I will have to try printing a table out on a laser printer and just take it down with me sans protection. Any one know off hand if a laser print would run or fade after a dive or two on regular paper?

Cheers,
Jeff

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Originally Posted by adam0321

Tank factors? I know what they are kinda but can you elaborate? That what I am looking for. Easy gas matching..

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Tank factor = cf divided by rated pressure times 100. Example - 95/2640 x 100 = 3.6

This means you have 3.6cf per 100 psi.

Easier to use the rule of 10 in the water.

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Originally Posted by RN

Tank factor = cf divided by rated pressure times 100. Example - 95/2640 x 100 = 3.6

This means you have 3.6cf per 100 psi.

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And X2 for doubles. ie. 7.2 cf per 100 psi for lp-95's

I have various deco tables in mine, post dive notes, a pee valve bolt, compass and leveler for survey along with some "student" notes such as "the line is broken, please create a patch" or "your mask/fin strap broke etc"... :) In all fairness I do play a lot of hangman in mine too though!

Safe diving,

Rich

Yeah I need all the cheat sheets I can. I can't do calculus in my head like some people... right rob???

I keep some gas matching stuff in mine, as well as a short neuro exam reference for dcs. Neither of which get used too often ;)

http://www.quarrycommando.com/tankbuoy.html

Article on tank factors and buoyancy thereof.

a checklist of all kind of bad things you could do at your buddy while at deco is something good :)
other than emergency use, or to take notes is not much, I use them for survey, writing to my buddy after too many attempts without understanding, to put deco tables, to BS with buddies, to make drawings during survey, and that's about it, ah also could write how good and tasty those shrimps look after 3+ hs underwater :).

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Originally Posted by stairman

The last thing written on my wetnotes was "you can fit, fatter people than you go thru this retriction" after which he went thru.

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I resisted adding my two cents, but you egged me on. Here are a few notes from my OW wetnotes:

"I totally misread Todd's. He still has 1500."
"Ron is tired."
"When do we turn around?" "Soon."
"You almost always see butterflyfish in pairs."
"Swimming with your hands is inefficient and wastes energy."
"I'm thinking only one dive?"
"We're going to make another loop."
"Just carry it." (A diver was underweighted and I gave her a four pound weight - she didn't have a place to put it.)
"Did you know we're at the end?"
"Cheryl's low on air."
"Wow! That sucked!"

thats not very usefull sludge... and you forgot "look adam is carrying an anchor"

An acquaintance made a Ouija board on his wetnotes. I guess he wanted to communicate with the ghost in the White Room

hmm can he fond the guy in vortex with it?

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Originally Posted by adam0321

you forgot "look adam is carrying an anchor"

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That's because nobody wrote it down. We all just pointed and laughed.

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Originally Posted by OneBrightGator

My buddy and I usually use them at deco to discuss the moronic things we've seen on the dive... and we're usually tops on the list of conversation...

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Hey now, I resemble that remark! I think the last thing I wrote was something like "Sorry, that was stupid" after I did something stupid a few minutes before.

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Originally Posted by adam0321

hmm can he fond the guy in vortex with it?

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Weird, I sense nothing is there.... suprising?

You needed a board for that?

How about a dive plan? A sketch of the portion of the cave you plan to dive, a table listing the T's and jumps (in case some old guy steals your arrows...). It becomes my log with turn times and pressures and depths at particular points in the cave. Noting where (if) you encountered a halocline, change of cave color, etc. might help reorient you if you lost a line (use your imagination here). I note if I had a buddy and who it was… How to get a key, directions to the cave, cost to dive.

Yes, my wetnotes have so many stick maps, I had to make a table of contents for them!

The last note I wrote during a dive was, "Where's the boat? HJ can't drive it . . . "

Long, multi stage dives I write the dive plan down with projected PSI at certain footage, jump or station. As I reach those checkpoints I write in the psi and time. Awesome for dive planning. I usually do this on my wrist slate if I have the space.

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Originally Posted by icestac

I will have to try printing a table out on a laser printer and just take it down with me sans protection. Any one know off hand if a laser print would run or fade after a dive or two on regular paper?

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Jeff, you can print on wetnote paper using a laser printer. It will be good for a few years. Looks great.

To the OP. On my wetnotes, the permanent stuff I used to have was emergency contact info, a bunch of homemade backup deco tables for cave and some cave maps. Printing your own backup tables is great since you can make them to liking (most common BG/deco gas, safety factors, etc.).

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Originally Posted by adam0321

Like I stated some gas matching cheat sheets for before the dive?

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Sidetracked but useful.

While during classes most folks use tank factors to calculate their total gas amount and do the lowest third stuff, it's much easier to assume that there is 10% volume difference between 85, 95 and 104s (or their E series equivalent). That way there is no need for tank factor, multiplication, etc.

So if you are diving 85s with a third of 1000 PSI then the guy in 95s should be diving third of 900 PSI and the guy in 104s third of 800 PSI.

now thats marine math, i can handle that...maybe

I only use mine to take survey notes.

I am a long way from survey needs, if ever

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Originally Posted by FW

I only use mine to take survey notes.

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Thomas comment on my wetnotes after one of the surveys was, "how can you make a map out of those drawings???", talking about my beautiful artwork showing the sections of the cave :)

I just purchased a wrist slate. The fingers that hold the pencil were so tight that I broke the pencil getting it out the fist time. What do you guys use to write with? The graphite pencil on mine appears to be enclosed in some heat shrink material. I like the soft nature of the "lead", but it seems a plain old #2 wooden pencil would be stronger and less likely to break.

I always write in my dive plan as in deco, so that I can haul it out for a quick look during the deco. I've also got several basic deco plans for different depths and times. Just back up in case of a comp failure. Name and address, I dropped one set once in a sinkhole and it was found and returned within a week!
I keep a copy of weighting for different configurations as well for; drysuit/wetsuit/single/twins/fresh/salt/different undergarments.
They're just a good quick reference. Plus good for that note when your buddy hasn't a clue what you're trying to say!! :?
Graphite art pencil is quite good, tho' they tend to snap easily. I wrap mine in tape to strengthen them.

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Originally Posted by gasdiver

I just purchased a wrist slate. The fingers that hold the pencil were so tight that I broke the pencil getting it out the fist time. What do you guys use to write with? The graphite pencil on mine appears to be enclosed in some heat shrink material. I like the soft nature of the "lead", but it seems a plain old #2 wooden pencil would be stronger and less likely to break.

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I usually put a deco schedule on an inner page.

On the other pages, I write notes to my buddy. For instance "I don't think this is the right way."

Cheers,
Jeff

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Originally Posted by gasdiver

I just purchased a wrist slate. The fingers that hold the pencil were so tight that I broke the pencil getting it out the fist time. What do you guys use to write with? The graphite pencil on mine appears to be enclosed in some heat shrink material. I like the soft nature of the "lead", but it seems a plain old #2 wooden pencil would be stronger and less likely to break.

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Head on over to your local craft store... I went to Hobby Lobby... and look in the art supply section for solid graphite pencils. They are solid graphite with a plastic coating so they can be used on an angle for shading, etc. I cut mine in half and then have two. I have a piece of surgical tubing slid onto the end and zip tied to a snap for storage of my arrows.

What to write on wet notes, eh?? Weelll, may I offer some modest suggestions:

1 - The complete screen play to the next great cavediving movie.
2 - Letters to state officials concerning park closures.
3 - Limericks, such as:
There was a cave diver named Paul
Who was so cold it shriveled his balls
His buddy as well, was in deco hell
Cause he had no pee valve at all.
4 - Sketch a checkerboard on the inside of the back cover, leave some nuts and washers at deco.
5 - Second order differential equations and proofs.
6 - Secret masonic symbols to be used in the next National Treasure movie.
7 - Disparaging remarks about the other divers you have seen

While I could go on, these should give you an idea of where to start.

A very experienced instructor I know logs his dives into his wetnotes while in deco. Gives him something to do, and he still has stuff like turning points/pressures, etc. fresh in his mind.

That's actually a very smart thing to do, and I'll try to get into the same habit.

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Originally Posted by Michael Stroeck

A very experienced instructor I know logs his dives into his wetnotes while in deco. Gives him something to do, and he still has stuff like turning points/pressures, etc. fresh in his mind.

That's actually a very smart thing to do, and I'll try to get into the same habit.

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I'd have whole pages full of "2400"... ;)

when I'm older and can't remember things for a few hours, I'll probably start logging dives during the dive as well :)

I go through wetnotes monthly.. at least.. the last time I used them was just a few days ago, to suggest something to a dive buddy...

http://cavediver.net/images/xt_peacock286.jpg

Close up:

http://cavediver.net/images/peacock286xx.jpg

Start practicing Japanese.

"get Denise to get one of you cave instructors...."?

Is this one of those caption contests? Winner gets a new Black Ice drysuit, right?

Who wants to go first?

Jon,

TJ was suggesting that Nathalie (the camera person) let me get a picture of her while her camera was out... Not sure about or remember what the 'cave instructors'... at the bottom meant.