FROM WATER TO WEBDIVER
a DSO dream comes true
a DSO dream comes true
One of the challenges facing all Diving Safety Officers is getting divers to log their dives in a timely manner. Collecting and reporting science and training dives is one of the requirements of being a member of AAUS, so anything that allows a DSO to do this more efficiently and accurately is a valuable tool.
In 2015 UCSC transitioned to a new on-line dive logging system consisting of Webdiver and bluebuddy as this new system offers the capability to upload dive logs directly to Webdiver.
bluebuddy, a DiveNav product, is a Bluetooth wireless data logger that collects dive information such as depth, temperature and dive time.
UCSC now has a dive logging system that is both flexible and scalable; when a diver exits the water she is able to retrieve her dive data from a bluebuddy using her smartphone or tablet and the My bluebuddy app, add information required for Webdiver fields (such as diverID, location, buddy, dive group, .) and then, again using her smartphone or tablet, upload the complete log to DiveNav 's DSO cloud.
Since the communication between the bluebuddy data logger and the smartphone or tablet is via Bluetooth, it can happen at any point post dive while cleaning up or transiting back to homebase, without any other device or cables needed.
Then, once the diver is in reach of an Internet connection or cellular network, she can upload the logs to the DSO cloud by simply tapping on the upload button of the My bluebuddy app.
When UCSC 's DSO logs into Webdiver as an administrator he is able to retrieve any new dives since the last download from the DSO cloud.
Once those dives are imported they can be reviewed as a batch, looking for any violations.
UCSC indicated that the ability to analyze a dive during the dive debriefing has proved to motivate scientific divers to document their dives the same day.
In fact, UCSC used bluebuddy units during a field class (which uses SCUBA as a subtidal tool) and 21 students and 4 staff logged, almost in real time, about 750 dives and 40,000 minutes of bottom time over 30 days of fieldwork.
Thanks to bluebuddy and the DSO cloud, UCSC not only has the required dive log data integrated in their Webdiver online log system, but also the raw dive data for further analysis if needed. If a diving incident were to occur, not only can the DSO see the dive profile immediately on surfacing, this data can also be sent to DAN electronically for analysis and reporting.
The use of the DSO cloud is free for approved organizations.
