Scuba diving apps
Scuba diving apps
Let’s get down to brass tacks. Whilst there are a lot of smartphone diving apps, many are badly designed and not great to use. For tech divers that list gets even shorter. Most diving apps are for dive-logging, but there are a few weather and gas blending apps that can be very handy too.
Some scuba diving apps are free, others are not, but still worth the money. Unfortunately, not all app creators have the means to put their products on both iPhone and Android. Most of the prominent diving apps are on both, but, especially when it comes to dive-planning apps, the app store wins by a mile in terms of choice and functionality.
Most dive planning used to be done on desktop PCs. If you wanted to make changes you had to go back to the drawing board. Nowadays, for many divers, a tablet or smartphone is their primary device. It’s great that there are now diving apps that allow you to fully plan a dive using your phone etc, with the same functionality as desktop software. Changes can be easily made at the dive site, perhaps due to a change in circumstances on your surface interval. This is incredibly useful. The days of logging dives in an actual log book are also on borrowed time with a huge choice of diving apps available. Though part of the fun used to be logging dives with a beer in the bar!
Please contact us if you use a diving app that is not listed here.
Apps with dive site information
Divebase
It would be a mammoth task to collate information on all the dive sites in the world and keep it updated. It would also be extremely useful to divers. Divebase is an attempt to do just that. This diving app has details on more than 20,000 dive sites and 10,000 dive operators in 170 countries.
Dive logging apps
Shearwater Cloud
Although you need to own a Shearwater dive computer to use the app, it’s easy to use, syncs to a cloud, and you can upload from multiple devices.
Once synced, you can add whatever information about the dive you want.
Divesoft.app
Very handy diving app for owners of the Divesoft Liberty rebreather or Divesoft Freedom dive computers. Has a dive planner, dive log, and checklist functionality for setting up the rebreather. You can also make notes and to-do lists. A very clever feature is that you can put the expiry dates of your O2 cells in, and it will remind you when they need replacing. It also helps when calibrating your O2 cells, by telling you the expected voltage.
Tusa Diving log
It has all the features of other dive logging apps, and allows you to sync your TUSA IQ1204 DC Solar Link. It also has a feature to allow you to easily export your dive as an image to share on social media.
Apps for firmware updates
HWOS Config- Heinrichs Weikamp
For owners of Heinrichs Weikamp dive computers (OSTC), this is the app you need to update the firmware and make other changes.
I couldn’t get my OSTC2 to connect to the OSTC companion PC program, but this app worked immediately.
Not available on the app store
Dive-planning apps
MultiDeco
It’s far inferior to other apps available on the app store, but for Android users it’s all you’ve got. The paid version works pretty well, but it’s way too expensive for what it is, especially considering that most users will have already paid a lot for the desktop version.
The developer Ross Hemingway is a very polarising figure. He was very vocal on Scubaboard regarding deep stops until he got banned. Some divers don’t care, others make a point of boycotting his product.
Baltic deco
I haven’t had an iphone for years, but remember this app as being very easy to use with a lot of functionality. Really easy to plan and add lost gas etc.
Not available on Google Play
iDeco Pro
Similar to Baltic deco, very easy to use and full functionality. Apple wins on dive planning apps.
Not available on Google Play
Diveplanner Tec and Rec
The diving app is entirely designed for use on a phone. As such, it’s very easy to use, and seems to have the same functionality as other dive planning apps.
TechDeco
Another dive planning app that’s specifically tailored for a phone or tablet. Very easy to navigate your way around.
Not available on the app store
Gas blending apps
CCR Mixer pro
The best app i’ve found for quickly messing around with what gas mixtures you want, ENDs etc. Very easy to use and I find it pretty accurate. There isn’t a free version but I have no problem with the roughly $2 it cost.
Gas blender toolkit
This app has a lot of functionality and is designed with advanced gas bending in mind. Not free.
Trimix calc
I used this app until I found CCR mixer. It shows MODs and best mix for trimix etc. But I recall it didn’t have as much functionality as CCR mixer in terms of metric/imperial.
Not available on the app store
Trimix tools
I have no idea about this app, except that it looks nice!
Not available on Google Play
DIR wetnotes- Blender/MOD/pSCR
This app has recently been updated to include what looks to be a very comprehensive gas blending function. It has good reviews, so worth checking out. You can also use their online blending page here.
Not available on app store
Video editing and camera syncing apps
Dive+
The best thing about this app is that it colour corrects photos and videos really well.
GoPro Quick
Upload and store your GoPro videos and photos to the app so you can view and edit them on your phone, and upload them to the GoPro cloud. It makes posting to social media very fast and pretty painless.
Sync for DJI Osmo Action
Not to be outdone by GoPro, DJI have a similar app to allow you to offload your content to an app. It allows you to edit and post to social media, The reviews on Google Play are considerably worse than for the app store.
AquaColorFix
Similar to Dive+, this app allows you to quickly colour correct underwater photos and video.
Weather and tides apps
Windy
Very handy for checking the weather generally, but it also includes waves, swell, and sea temperature. Has good coverage too.
Predict Wind
Similar to windy, it has similar weather models to choose from, and you can download information for a specific area.
Navionics® Boating
Not strictly dedicated to tides and currents, but the tidal information is as accurate as you can find. The app is built for marine navigation, so it’s very comprehensive in showing the depth of the ocean and any hazards that may lie below such as rocks. Actually quite handy for planning a dive. If you dive a lot in an ocean environment prone to currents, it’s extremely useful to have. Wreck coordinates may also be marked on the charts. The downside is that you have to pay a yearly subscription for charts. E.g. a chart for Norway costs approximately £20 per year. That’s around $25 or €23.
Orca: The marine CoPilot
Another marine navigation app that is very similar to Navionics, but free. The UI is fantastic and there is detailed information on the charts, including known wrecks. Local tide stations are shown with up to date information. A better option than Navionics for divers that just want to get an idea of the topography around a dive site and see what the tide is doing at a particular time.
Tides and Current
This diving app seems to have a different name on Android than on the app store, but it’s the same developer. It utilises 14,000 tide stations all over the world to provide real-time information on low and high water.
Diving agency apps
SDI TDI ERDI PFI
Access, download, and share your cert cards. Update your profile on TDISDI.com, find dive centers and instructors, and access content from their website such as blogs.
SSI
Access, digital learning materials. Track your progress through a course, and keep a copy of your digital certifications and accident and travel insurance documents.
PADI
Access, ecards and dive centers, Use checklists to help prepare for dive trips, log dives, and view useful “how to” articles
Diveraid learn to scuba app
Access courses and ecards. Find Raid dive centers, and download content for when you will be offline.
Diving insurance
Divers Alert Network
An app for DAN membership, which gives you access to your diving insurance and emergency medical contact details wherever you are in the world. You can also make changes to your membership on the app, and view educational content, much of which is only available to DAN members.
Diving magazines
Alert Diver
The app for Alert Diver magazine, featuring content on diving research, education, medical information and dive safety.
Dive Magazine
Articles from the online magazine. Subscribers can access back-issues.
Environmental apps
Marine debris tracker
Developed by Morgan Stanley, in association with National Geographic and the NOAA, this app allows you to report whenever you find litter in the ocean. The more people that use the app, the greater our understanding of marine debris and plastic pollution in the oceans will be. This can lead to better means of dealing with the issue.
