Survey Documentation:

As you begin a survey project, particularly if its to be of any length, some thought should be given to organizing your data.  Invariably, you will have to refer to the original data at a later date and have to retrieve, and possibly interpret your notes.  As a rule of thumb, I put aside two  hours for documentation for each hour I spend surveying.  This includes transcribing the information, making additional notes and sketches, logging the dive, entering the data into the computer, and cross referencing the other surveys.  Of course, you have to double check your data at each step.

It sounds like a lot of work, and it is, but its worth it when you find a problem and have to track it down, or your computer crashes and you have to re-enter the survey.  Future surveyors will thank you if they ever have to go over your notes.  

One of the more frustrating things I've run into is that a lot of original survey information has been lost or is unavailable.  A map is great, but with GPS and GIS systems becoming more commonplace, its great to have the actual survey so that the data can be corrected to accurate, real-world locations. 

For long survey projects, I start a notebook with a large supply of forms for recording survey data.  As soon as I can after a dive, I record the data on one of these sheets along with the dive team, date, location, and other notes.  I also keep the original survey in my Wetnotes (I never erase) or make a copy of the survey slate as a backup. A useful reference is the start and stop penetration distance and the name of the tunnel being surveyed.  This makes it very easy to reconstruct the survey data later.

Sketches and other information are also copied and kept in the notebook, usually arranged chronologically.  I try to make notes on all sketches about the date, dive team, and passage references in case I have to refer back later.  You can't put too many notes - they are invaluable when you come back to something after months or years.

I also make notes in my dive log on what we surveyed, where, and with whom.  Any observations are also recorded here for future reference.

I store other items that don't necessarily fit in the notebook in manila envelopes.  Backup discs, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and pictures all go into a large manila folder marked for that survey.  They also work well for smaller surveys instead of a notebook.