There are advantages in using computer software to generate and maintain your dive log: If you use a dive computer there is a lot of information that is not easily transcribed into a written log. A log on a computer can be reprinted should it be lost. Over a course of months we searched the internet and found a few dive log programs, but none that interested us enough to buy them
We have Aries computers so we purchased the Aries download cable and software. While this served as a means to store the data it is clunky and did not provide the functionality that we wanted in our dive logs. The Aries software stores the data in Access database format. Our version of Access is out of date and has compatibility problems with XP. We weren't about to spring for a copy of Access (ouch.) We extracted the data into Excel and played around with different reports a bit, and were thinking of writing a CGI program when we came across a recommendation for Scubase on one of the discussion boards. We downloaded a free trial copy that is good for 10 dives.
Scubase is a database and report generator application tailored to the needs of the recreational diver. The software keeps track of information for divers, dives, locations and trips. These can be sorted and displayed in a host of ways by using the software's report generation functions. For example, we set ours to display calculated specific air consumption (SAC) values so that when we list our dives by date, we can track our SAC trends. Textual fields (such as weights, tank material, buddies, dive location) display previous entries, allowing easy duplication. The software is fairly easy to use, however, if you have no experience with databases and report generators, we would recommend you only load a few records at first and concentrate on using the report generator functions before filling in all your data.
The software is capable of importing dive data from a lot of sources. We imported the data from our dive computers files. Along with the dive computer data, information that we had placed in the Aries files, such as dive location, buddies, etc. was also imported.
In addition to the normal dive log information, there is a section for fish sightings. This is tied in with the Reef Fish Survey www.reef.org . There is some preloaded fish identification information but it is for salt water species. A hot link will pop up a fish database from which additional entries can be created.
All of the data can be printed. The output formatting uses the handy (7x9 inch) 3 ring binder size. If you are using 8.5x11 paper you can use the larger binders, or cut it down to fit the smaller binders. The software also allows you to export dive data in HTML format (example). Unfortunately, it does not seem to be able to export the dive graphs. The diver's name can not be printed on each page. While not a problem for an individual diver, when a family uses this software one has to write each diver's name on each sheet to prevent mix-ups. I have contacted the software vendor and this and will be corrected in the next release.
For our purposes the software works well. The $50 price includes all future updates.
