Lesson 99

Lesson Two: Slates and Wet Books

Course Complete

We will talk about other types of gear

By the end of this section, I should be able to answer these questions:

1. For what four purposes might I carry a slate or wet book?

2. What options can I choose from when choosing slates and wet books?

Slates and Wet Books

It is recommended that you carry a slate or a wet book that you can write on during a dive. One purpose is communication. You can use signals most of the time, but sometimes it’s more effective to write down what you’re trying to tell your buddy(ies).

A second purpose is for your limits and backup information. Many divers like to note the dive plan limits for reference rather than rely on memory. The more complex the dive, the more helpful this can be. A third purpose is to record information during a dive, such as where you found something you want to revisit, how much air you used to reach a site, etc. A fourth purpose is the unexpected. You don’t always know what you’ll need to write before the moment arrives. Make a slate or a wet book a standard part of your kit and you’re always prepared.

You can choose mesh utility bags for many purposes with different options. Many divers have several.

Talking Underwater

It is recommended that you carry a slate or a wet book that you can write on during a dive. One purpose is communication. You can use signals most of the time, but sometimes it’s more effective to write down what you’re trying to tell your buddy(ies).

A second purpose is for your limits and backup information. Many divers like to note the dive plan limits for reference rather than rely on memory. The more complex the dive, the more helpful this can be. A third purpose is to record information during a dive, such as where you found something you want to revisit, how much air you used to reach a site, etc. A fourth purpose is the unexpected. You don’t always know what you’ll need to write before the moment arrives. Make a slate or a wet book a standard part of your kit and you’re always prepared.

More recently new underwater communication systems are emerging that are less costly and much simpler to use. Some systems don’t even require special masks or mouthpieces, and there are even dive computers that send and/or receive text messages between buddies, or between the boat and divers.

Slates, wet books and hand signals will remain important communication tools, but as technology advances, you may find yourself talking or texting more.

Slates, Wet Books and Options

A slate is a piece of rigid plastic upon which you write with an attached pencil or marker. Its main advantage is that you can reuse it (you erase it after the dive). A wet book is a compact notebook with waterproof pages that you also write on with an attached pencil. You don’t reuse wet book pages – you remove them, so you have to replace wet books from time to time. Its main advantages are that you have much more writing space, and the pages can be kept.

The main option you consider is size. Slates come in many different sizes – a larger slate offers more writing room, but is harder to stow. Choose one that fits easily into one of your pockets.

Most wet books are about the same size (around 20 cm/8 in X 10 cm/4 in). They flex and fit comfortably in your exposure suit thigh pocket. Since they have many pages, one wet book gives you more room to write than a large slate.

Slates and wet books usually have an attached pencil as a standard feature.

Quick quiz