Divester contributor McCand sent me some information recently concerning electronic dive logs. I guess he was looking for services for himself, and he managed to dig up three good-looking sites. Electronic dive logs are good if you don't like fooling with carrying your log book everywhere; with electronic logs, you carry them with you virtually. Plus, most of them let you look at others' logs, too, so you can compare experiences, or check into new destinations.

First, he mentioned My Dive Book, a site we’ve mentioned before. My Dive Book, which offers a free registration, lets users browse others’ dive logs; browse dive sites and reviews; and search for dive buddies worldwide. It also allows you to look at others’ underwater photos, which I think is cool.

Second, he pointed out Dive Record, another site we’d mentioned before. Users can browse dive sites by location and, as a member, can upload photos and manage dive information electronically. Between the two of them, I think Dive Record seems a bit more professional.

Third, he alerted me to Earth Dive, which I’d never heard of before. Some of its features are free – including electronic storage of you own personal dives – but to take full advantage of the site, or to view other members’ dives, you have to pony up an annual membership fee of GBP10 (about $17). According to their website, Earth Dive wants to be an electronic citizen scientist service of sorts: they feature a unique database into which divers and snorkellers log sightings of key indicator species and human-induced pressures via online logbooks. So, if you want to record your dives AND try to make a difference, then this might be where you want to head. Seventeen bucks is nothing. In fact, it makes a very nice stocking stuffer.

[Thanks, McCand!]