GoDive user guide¶
GoDive is a dive log for iPhone. It helps you import dives and snorkels from your dive computer or MacDive, browse a marine life field guide, explore dive sites on a map, keep trips and buddies organized, and connect with friends via QR or invite link — all on your device, with optional friend sharing you control per activity.
What you can do¶
| Area | What it’s for |
|---|---|
| Home | Featured photos from your dives, lifetime stats, top buddies, and a Notifications bell for buddy events, likes, comments, and mentions |
| Logbook | Your full dive and snorkel list (Me), Buddy Feed of friends’ shared activities (Buddies), import, and trip grouping |
| Field Guide | Browse a marine life catalog; tag species on dive photos |
| Explore | Map or list of dive sites; add your own sites |
| Search | App-wide search across dives, snorkels, sites, species, buddies, trips, gear, and more |
| Friends | Connect via QR code or shareable link (no public people search); browse friend profiles and shared media; likes, comments, and @mentions on shared activities; share a trip copy with a GoDive buddy |
| Profile | Avatar on Home; buddy-style blue sheet (tagged media hero); blue ⋯ beside your name edits profile; side menu for trips, certifications, gear, buddies, Settings, plus Invite a buddy (QR) at the bottom |
The main tabs¶
GoDive opens to tabs at the bottom of the screen:
- Home — dashboard, highlights, and Notifications
- Logbook — your activities (Me) and Buddy Feed (Buddies), newest first
- Field Guide — species catalog
- Explore — dive sites
- Search — unified search (magnifying glass; morphs into the search field when selected)
Tap a tab again while you’re at the top of a list to scroll back to the top.
New activities stay local only until you choose to share them. Friends connect from Profile → menu (☰) → Buddies (QR or link) — see Friends.
Data on your device (and iCloud)¶
Your dive log, photo references, buddies, equipment, and certifications are stored in GoDive’s on-device database. When you’re signed into iCloud, that dive log can sync across your Apple devices via CloudKit (Wi‑Fi or cellular; also in the background when iOS allows).
Sign in with Apple links your profile to your Apple ID. Firebase holds a social directory and, when you use Friends, invite/friendship records plus friend-visible dive details you choose to share (notes and media stay opt-in). Your private dive log still syncs through CloudKit on your devices.
Optional network features (maps, fish identification, catalog refresh) and the full Privacy Policy are in Privacy Policy.
Bundled catalogs, 3D models, SDKs, and cloud services are credited on Acknowledgments & external resources.
Getting help in this guide¶
Use the search box at the top of any page, or follow the sidebar:
- New to GoDive? Start with Getting started.
- Importing from Garmin or MacDive? See Import dives.
- Want to tune units, tanks, or photo attach? See Settings.
Screenshots
This guide describes current app behavior. Screenshots will be added in a future update — if something on your phone looks different, the written steps are the source of truth for MVP behavior.