Personalize your Logbook

Remember when you first got certified, and you opened your lovely paper logbook to the first page so that you could enter your name and say "This logbook belongs to ....". That way you knew that should it be misplaced, it would have a chance of finding you again. It was a place you could track your training and certifications and gaze upon your long scuba diving journey. It was also a place that everyone *else* knew to look to find out information about you in an emergency. Well where does that information go in Dive Log for iPhone?

We're glad you asked. If you touch the "More" tab on the bottom right of the screen, one of the items listed in the table is "Personal". If you go into that screen, you can enter a bunch of personal information about yourself. If you are not "inclined" that way, we understand. But we suggest that you at a minimum, enter the name of the person that the dives in the logbook are for. We use this name in multiple logbook support and if you ever want to have multiple logbooks on your device, this will make them easier to manage.

Also under the personal information is a place to add the usual contact information such as address, phone number and email address. Under the "Medical Information" screen, you can enter your birthdate, date of last medical, and your blood type. While this is all information that you might think is too private, or that you have listed in other places at home, this could be vital information about you that others may want in an emergency. Having it in one place where *someone else* can look it up will make it easier for everyone. And of course it goes without saying that your Emergency Contact information and notes is a necessary part of diving. If you don't wear your medic alert bracelet or there is other medical information like that, (you get the idea), this would be the place to put it. The third item on the list is just "Notes" and this is a general text area where you can put information about yourself that you think is appropriate. Like, "if something happens to me, make sure the dogs get let out and fed".

The last section is a neat feature that you can use to keep your certification information. If you have nothing entered yet, you will see just a button "Add New Certification". Here you can enter information from your "C" cards and then also take a picture of the front and back of the card. How many times have you gone on a trip and forgot to bring your Nitrox card? Just enter the info into the screens and take a picture and show that to the live aboard crew. (And your cool factor will rise substantially). Just touch the "Front" and "Back" tabs and you will be prompted to use an existing picture in your Camera Roll, or just use the builtin camera if you have an iPhone to take a picture of the front and back of the card itself. Need to be an "Advanced" diver to go on the dive? Don't happen to carry your "C" cards around with you in your wallet everyday? Are you *not* the kind of person that has the accordion pack of plastic card protectors of "C" cards? Neither are we. This is the modern age - take a picture! It lasts longer.

The personal information in your Dive Log for iPhone and iPod Touch will keep some of that scattered information you need when diving, all in one place.