Tripadvisor for Diving

[Nicky Ong]

I am an app developer/amateur diver who is interested in creating an app that allows divers to research on dive sites similar to how tripadvisor lays out attractions to travelers.

The main purpose of the site is to showcase the types of underwater features that are available at each site.

Does anyone have any idea what you would want in an app like this? I have checked out similar apps and found

DiveAdvisor | A Social Scuba Diving Network

to be similar to what I want to create. However, their site seems to have no good feedback and users on it.

Please do let me know what you think

 

[Malpaso]

I would read the reviews on dive shops on TripAdvisor. They have always been very comprehensive when I have researched them. That said, between TripAdvisor and ScubaBoard, I don't know if I'd need/use another platform.

 

[Pedro Burrito]

PADI also has an app and website called Scubaearth. https://www.scubaearth.com

LOG DIVES, SHARE PHOTOS, FIND BUDDIES, DIVE SITES, DESTINATIONS & MORE!

 

[Skulmoski]

I would like to be able to enter month and water temperature, and a list of world-wide ranked dive sites would be generated.

Good luck with development.

GJS

 

[northernone]

With sufficient data yes. But my concern would be the similarity to scuba earth and the difficulty to launch it with adequate motivation for users to generate content.

Breath in, breath out, repeat...

 

[jonhall]

This is a tough one. I looked at the link to DiveAdvisor (thanks for that BTW) and really liked the ease of navigating through it. You are right about the feedback, which is extremely limited. I suppose one of the problems is getting people to respond.

I would read the reviews on dive shops on TripAdvisor. They have always been very comprehensive when I have researched them. That said, between TripAdvisor and ScubaBoard, I don't know if I'd need/use another platform.

My problem with TA is that too many reviewers write of personal experiences of why they liked a shop, such as "the DM was so patient with my teenage daughter; I will definitely go back," or that, "this is the best" dive shop. Some give the info I'm looking for, such as boat type/size, does DM allow divers to go under on own or wait as a group, where are surface intervals done, does the shop do what they say they are going to do, etc.. Some reviewers do a good job, others not so much. Sometimes it's hard to get a response about specific dive shops, for whatever reason, on SB.

I would like to be able to enter month and water temperature, and a list of world-wide ranked dive sites would be generated.

Regarding a dive site, or area, this would be the type of info I would be interested in, but would like to search a specific site/location that I knew I was traveling to. Other helpful info regarding a site might be if it is a drift dive, if a wreck dive is penetrable, max. depth, possible life in the area, and formations like canyons and if there are swim throughs.

With sufficient data yes. But my concern would be the similarity to scuba earth and the difficulty to launch it with adequate motivation for users to generate content.

So my far fetched idea to generate sufficient data would be to get input from divers right after a dive. Dive shops would provide the opportunity to input data in some type of survey form. Knowing that's not possible, the user of the app would input data on their smartphone/tablet after completing dives. As motivation, provide some incentive for those who frequently provide input. For simplification (thinking of myself), have a limited amount of data that can be input.

Good luck!

 

[Malpaso]

My problem with TA is that too many reviewers write of personal experiences of why they liked a shop, such as "the DM was so patient with my teenage daughter; I will definitely go back," or that, "this is the best" dive shop. Some give the info I'm looking for, such as boat type/size, does DM allow divers to go under on own or wait as a group, where are surface intervals done, does the shop do what they say they are going to do, etc.. Some reviewers do a good job, others not so much. Sometimes it's hard to get a response about specific dive shops, for whatever reason, on SB.

Since that is driven by the contributors, how would you stop that on your site? Would you hard code information data with drop downs? I agree with your assessment of reviewers, just wondering how you would control it. My favorite reviews are the ones that blame the dive op for poor weather!

 

[RJP]

There seems to be no shortage of people who are offering what they consider "tripadvisor for diving" these days. Most are more about dive ops/resorts than dive sites though.

Can't imagine I'd have any interest in an app with dive site reviews.

 

[jonhall]

There seems to be no shortage of people who are offering what they consider "tripadvisor for diving" these days. Most are more about dive ops/resorts than dive sites though.

Can't imagine I'd have any interest in an app with dive site reviews.

Got me thinking about this topic again. I think there are a lot of SB readers who avoid sites, ops, resorts, and locations because of what's written here.

How is it that people write on SB to not go to this place or that? Have they experienced it themselves or are they now just passing along what they've heard. Usually the recommendation comes with no reason as to why other than "don't go here, the diving is not good."

Have often found myself looking for and reading print material about site specifics when on a trip. Think an app that provided some info such as depth, susceptibility to currents and their strength, wreck dive, etc. might be helpful to the diver who wants to know what they could ask for from their dive shop, either to do or to stay away from because of their ability.

I don't usually research dive sites before a trip although I might stumble across a few. Could see myself, while on a trip, using an app that had some basic info about a site.


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[Searcaigh]

I have had a quick look at the DiveAdvisor site with respect to my own locale.

Reports are very biased and well out of date.