Recreational Dive Planning software?

[rhwestfall]

fee its like $7 a year, and the specific computer interface is about the same (one time purchase)............

It runs basic (but useful) functions in the free version.

It was an excellent resource to teaching my daughter the "what if" scenarios, or to do some initial planning. I, as well as many others, have been tinkering with it since its inception. Many with far more diving experience have been very receptive of Alberto's efforts.

 

[stuartv]

I'm a little confused. V-planner will do almost all of what you are asking for.

Below is from my OP. I can do that with VPlanner?

What I want is software that will let me input the following things:

- tank specs (e.g. single AL80)
- starting tank pressure
- desired ending tank pressure
- desired max depth (maybe even enter multi-level dive specs)
- anticipated SAC (or RMV)
- Gas mixture (Air or FO2)
- Max ppO2 (if not using Air)
- Algorithm (at least choose between Oceanic's DSAT or Z+ - ideally something to match any/all Rec PDCs)

And then I want it to tell me how long I can stay at my desired max depth, and whether I'll be limited by my gas or NDL.

---------- Post added February 13th, 2015 at 09:48 AM ----------

fee its like $7 a year, and the specific computer interface is about the same (one time purchase)............

It runs basic (but useful) functions in the free version.

$7/year or free? I don't understand. $7/yr for the Advanced version? And what if I don't want any computer-specific interface because I just want to do planning? So far, I'm fine with using Subsurface for logging.

 

[victorzamora]

There is a free version. There are features unlocked by paying. Download it. Try it. If it works, great. If not, purchase autobahn features. Nobody is forcing you to buy computer support. As for DiveNav being spam, you really couldn't be more wrong

 

[stuartv]

There is a free version. There are features unlocked by paying. Download it. Try it. If it works, great. If not, purchase autobahn features. Nobody is forcing you to buy computer support. As for DiveNav being spam, you really couldn't be more wrong

My decision to not try it (at this time) is not because I think it's spam. It is because of the points I made earlier about HOW it is being offered. It is a commercial product that does have costs associated with full use and yet the website not only hides the pricing - it seems to have been very carefully written to avoid even giving hint that using it (all features) could involve paying anything at all. That is deceptive and I won't support it. I am a software professional and it is an issue of principle for me.

 

[victorzamora]

I've never been under the impression it's 100% free to use. The site didn't confuse or vex me. I guess I just don't understand your issues. Alberto is honest.... almost to a fault.

 

[stuartv]

I've never been under the impression it's 100% free to use. The site didn't confuse or vex me. I guess I just don't understand your issues. Alberto is honest.... almost to a fault.

If you can go to DiveNav.com and find something there that shows pricing - or even something that explains that there is a free version and a paid option that provides access to more features or support or whatever it is your money gets you, please post the link and I will be happy to publicly apologize for saying the site is deceptive. I could certainly have missed something and, if so, I would truly like to be set straight.

 

[rhwestfall]

 

[DiveNav]

...... As I was about to close the window and move on, I realized that the graphic of the divePAL logo is actually a link that takes you to a download page. Click that and I'm on a download page where I can download the software for free. .......

My engineers, that are much younger and smarter than me, told me that putting some text with "click here" is so old and the way to do is to put the link underneath the logo. As I said, they are smarter than me.

..... But, I'm savvy. I know that doesn't necessarily mean I can USE it for free. Still looking for some idea of cost and can't find it. .....

Features and prices are listen in our divePAL forum HERE and on our store HERE (Yes, for liability reason we do want users to register in order to use the advanced options of divePAL)

..... I smell fishy, fishy SPAM....

For your info, divePAL is being used by PADI in their new OW course.
Every PADI OW student enrolled in their new OW class get 1 year of free use of the Nitrox version of PADI by downloading it from this page

---------- Post added February 13th, 2015 at 07:42 AM ----------

If you can go to DiveNav.com and find something there that shows pricing - or even something that explains that there is a free version and a paid option that provides access to more features or support or whatever it is your money gets you, please post the link .....

It is in our divePAL support forum

 

[stuartv]

Thank you for responding to my issues.

My engineers, that are much younger and smarter than me, told me that putting some text with "click here" is so old and the way to do is to put the link underneath the logo. As I said, they are smarter than me.

Yep, this is not the first time young, smart engineers made a recommendation that older and more experienced engineers would recognize as flawed. The divePAL product page would make it easier for people to find the download if it actually had the word "Download" on it somewhere. Preferably as part of the actual hyperlink. I gather many people find the download link without that visual cue, but I believe any Human Factors analyst would tell you that MORE people will find the download link if you give them a little more help. As a software professional myself, and having developed a number of commercial websites, when I see a graphic of a product's logo, I would expect that, if it's a hyperlink, it would take me to the product page for that product. And in this case, I was already on the product page. Thus, I would have no expectation based on the way Web pages generally work, that that graphic would be a hyperlink to take me to a download page. In your case here, I would simply modify that graphic image to overlay a label that says "Download" on top of the product logo. 10 minutes in Photoshop and 5 minutes to update the page and you're done.

Features and prices are listen in our divePAL forum HERE and on our store HERE (Yes, for liability reason we do want users to register in order to use the advanced options of divePAL)

Thanks for the link to the forum page. It would have been very helpful to me if:

- A link to that page was on the product page itself, labeled as "Features and Pricing".

- The forum post title was "Features and Pricing", instead of just "Features".

As for the pricing itself, I can see that I would need the Nitrox version before it would be useful to me. Your price list says "$5.99". From a different forum post I read on your site, I have a feeling that the price is really "$5.99/year". Is that correct?

For your info, divePAL is being used by PADI in their new OW course.
Every PADI OW student enrolled in their new OW class get 1 year of free use of the Nitrox version of PADI by downloading it from this page

I am being completely sincere when I say congratulations! I expect that that is major milestone for your company. As a fellow software entrepreneur, I can really appreciate how meaningful that is.

 

[Lorenzoid]

DiveNav, please hire Stuart--he clearly has too much free time.