(Editor’s Note: This story has been updated at the bottom with more info on the revamped COSMIC Smart Dive Computer, now called the COSMIQ+.)
Hard on the heels of our review of Deepblu’s new COSMIQ+ Smart Dive Computer, we met up with their Associate Community Editor Ryan Patrick Jones at DEMA 2016 to talk a bit more about their new social media platform.
After complimenting them on their inspired name, we got down discussing the Deepblu social media platform which is just about to launch beta testing. While it was engineered to pair seamlessly with the COSMIQ+, the app and website are available to all divers. Free and beautifully executed, it looks poised to become the Facebook of diving.
On the home page there are three news feeds to keep you engaged when you’re not underwater. The Trending tab delivers ads, news, and curated comment, while the Following tab is a lot more like the Facebook newsfeed users are accustomed to. You’ll get content based on your connections, from buddies to pages you’ve liked. The final tab is Deepblu logs and features their collection of public dive logs, so you can see where and how other users are diving.
The Digital Logbook is an an amazing feature that allows you to upload the details of your profile directly from your computer. If you have a Deepblu COSMIQ+, the BlueTooth connectivity makes transferring the data a snap, but if you have a computer from another brand, or if you use gauges and tables, never fear. Logged dives can be manually recreated on the site, and if you have a computer with a cable connection, you can upload your dive profile to the Subsurface open-source digital divelog and import it into your Deepblu log.
After its smashing success at DEMA 2016, Deepblu has been approached by many manufacturers to discuss syncing BlueTooth protocols, so before long you might be able to upload wirelessly from a variety of dive computers.
The interactive Digital Dive Log allows you to track dives, integrate photos and video, and  post your log to the community. Syncing the dive profile data from computer with the time stamps in your photos and video, Deepblu creates an interactive log entry that will show you when in the dive you captured your media so that you can scroll through a thoroughly modern representation of your dive and an accurate record of your underwater memories and even share them on Facebook.
Other key innovations on the site include a Community area where you can form public or private groups to have discussions around your favorite dive topics. From top destinations to coral farming, Deepblu puts you in touch with divers who share your interests. In the Planet Deepblu section, you can access an interactive dive map of the world. Planning a trip? Find your destination on the map and get instant access to notable dives sites, businesses in the area, as well as reviews, pictures, and dive logs from other divers who have experienced them. Is the trip purely aspirational for the time being? Save it to your Bucket List and keep all the research until you’re ready to start planning.
Planet Deepblu is also a great place for dive businesses. Shops, liveaboards, instructors, and more can create their own customizable profile to let customers know who they are, what they do, even pricing and itineraries.
Check out the website at deepblu.com to see what a difference this powerful new platform can make to your dive experience.
UPDATE 23 November: Though you can use any dive computer with Deepblu Web, the best way to maximize your experience is with their own COSMIQ+Â wrist computer. Available in two lines with five colors between them, you have the option of Cosmic Black and Lava Red in the Noir collection, or under the Lumin banner choose between Lilac Purple, Ocean Blue, and Steel Grey.
Each features three modes:Â Scuba, Freedive, and the updated Bottom Timer setting (formerly Gauge mode) which makes the COSMIQ+Â an ideal choice for tech divers looking for equipment redundancy. With a bright 2.2-inch LCD screen, rechargeable lithium ion battery, and instant Deepblu Web integration, it’s a steal at US$299/283 Euros.
They’re talking pre-orders now, and North American divers can expect a Black Friday release. The rest of the world, unfortunately, will have to wait until December. In the age of smart phones and interactive media, it’s time to take your dive logs off the page and bring them into the future.
