5 iPhone Apps for divers by Russell Clark - Earth Periodical Magazine Avid diver? There's an App for that. In fact there are loads, we're going to take a look at five iPhone applications that can make your scuba diver life a little easier.
1) Dive Time, $3.99 Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/divetime/id341533404?mt=8 A very simple and useful app, Dive Time has the largest database of diving resources on the net with over 12,500 dive sites world wide and over 8,500 dive shops. Perfect for the traveling diver or even a local that wants more variation from their dives. Simple to use with search by area or from your current location. Integrated with Google maps and additional dive site details like depth, description and average visibility. A must have.
2) Dive Log, $9.99 Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dive-log/id301049600?mt=8 Slightly expensive for an iPhone app, but Dive Log has become a regular piece of dive kit and worth the price tag. Basically a portable logbook application than can synchronise with your home desktop Mac or PC. Add dive locations with photos, dive buddies from your contact list, dive statistics such as depth, time, gear used and conditions. Dive Log then displays all your dive statistics on one handy page; overall dive time, average depth, deepest dive and others. Easy to back up and sync and a handy tool for referencing your own adventures.
3) Scuba Exam, $2.99 Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scuba-exam/id401421397?mt=8 Whether you are new to diving or just want a fun little app to pass away time on a surface interval. Scuba Exam is a fun application, well thought out and well written. Made as an educational tool, the app offers a scuba quiz aimed mainly at beginners, a trickier dive table quiz plus diving terminology a-z and a selection of diving theory articles. An excellent study aid and great to brush up your knowledge.
4) PADI, $FREE Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/padi/id416901042?mt=8 A simple PADI dive shop locator. Type in a city, zip code, county or current location and the app will display either a map or list of your nearest PADI dive shops. Simple, easy to use and reliable. Definitely worth having in your pocket. And it's not every day PADI give something away for free!
5) iDive Nitrox, $0.99 Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/idive-nitrox/id311347452?mt=8 There are a few nitrox calculation apps for the iPhone. So far every diver with an iPhone uses a different one based on their personal preference. They all basically do the same job. I like iDive Nitrox as it's a little less clunky than some of the others and gets straight to the point. It offers a simple calculator for maximum operating depth, contingency depth, equivalent air depth and partial pressure of O2. All done by using the handy sliders. Quick easy and reliable. Sold!
Other notable iPhone apps:
London Diving Chamber http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/london-diving-chamber/id370981346?mt=8
World Tides http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/world-tides-2010/id355597847?mt=8
iDeco Pro http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ideco-pro/id329772936?mt=8
iScuba Buddy http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/iscubabuddy/id320695285?mt=8
Dive Mate GPS http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/divemategps/id415606758?mt=8
NPAA Ocean Buoys http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/noaa-ocean-buoys/id406279838?mt=8
Dive Buddy http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/dive-buddy/id318552217?mt=8 Russell Clark is a cold water diver and founder of Earth Periodical, conservation and exploration iPad magazine, available for free from the iTunes store here. Link: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/earth-periodical-magazine/id416825194?mt=8
