Dive Log Software

[Wijbrandus]

I don't use a computer, I'm strictly a tables/wheel diver.

Is there a decent freeware/shareware program out there that I can log my dives into and will calculate pressure groups and minimum surface intervals? It also needs to be altitude compatible.

What do you people use? I will keep maintaining a paper log, but I would like to get the functions that a computer log can provide in terms of relative SAC and some of the other calculations.

I downloaded Vplanner, but that's way complicated, and I don't understand it well enough to want to use it. I need something more user friendly.

Thanks!

 

[rab]

I guess you really mean that you don't use a dive computer.

In any case, the tables are likely copyrighted (I know DSAT/PADI's are) and that would preclude a legal free/shareware program with the capability you seek.

BTW, you can easily compute an approximate SAC by hand or with a few formulae in a spreadsheet. However, you'd have to use MAX depth so unless your profiles really are square, they're likely to be somewhat inaccurate (underestimate your SAC). With a computer, you at least have an Average depth (i.e., my Suunto Mosquito) to give you a closer approximation.

-Rob

 

[SamDiver14]

I would suggest doing a little research and using a spreadsheet program like Excel and simply leave a field blank to fill in your information. As rab pointed out the dive tables are copyrighted but I don't think there is any problem to use a computer to calculate the tables you have already purchased. Excel would easily support just entering in the tables and then using a few reference fields to refer to the tables work off of correspondence. By using the tables there is no real "computing" going on. So there are no real formulas to write for excel. Send me an email if you would like any assistance writing what you need.

 

[rab]

The formulas are for making the correction from gas usage at depth to surface equivalent. I've printed a table of the conversions at 1ft increments and put it into my dive log binder. I've also got a spreadsheet that I use to plan dives to include gas requirements -- it's easy to plan a multi-level dive that stays within NDLs, but runs way over the capacity of an AL80 for someone with my 0.8 scfm or so rate. (Hmm.. I'll have to run that profile again against my new E8-119.)

-Rob

 

[Wijbrandus]

Thanks for all the input. I didn't realize it was copyrighted - duh. Does that mean PADI or someone does something for sale that would do what I want?

I was considering doing something like an Access database. My wife is really good at programming that stuff once I set up the relevant data for her.

Until I do, I guess I'll just do the Excel spreadsheet for now and move over as time permits.

 

[Glotsalot]

I don't use a computer, I'm strictly a tables/wheel diver.

Is there a decent freeware/shareware program out there that I can log my dives into and will calculate pressure groups and minimum surface intervals? It also needs to be altitude compatible.

Thanks!

There *is* a freeware excel table that you can use. It's based on the PADI charts:

http://www.jasonstreet.net/diving5.html

I think there is also a nitrox planner on the page, so make sure you download the correct one. I've never used it to actually plan a dive, but if I remember correctly everything is in metrics. All the dives I tried with it were the same as the PADI tables (but I'd double check them if I were you).

There's also a decent dive planning tutor on line if anyone needs to brush up on their table planning skills (and you can choose your preferred table):

http://home.flash.net/~table/table/

Best,
-devin