SCUBAzen blog
Summary
The SCUBAzen blog is written by Eric, the founder of SCUBAzen and a recreational diver certified in 2016. It contains four posts, each covering a specific dive preparation problem that the author encountered and then built a feature to solve: dive shop rental paperwork, correct weighting, pre-dive anxiety, and the limitations of a paper dive logbook. Each post is first-person experience rather than general dive instruction. The features described — the paperwork generator and the weight and wetsuit estimator — are premium subscription features in the SCUBAzen app.
All posts
How I outsmarted dive shop paperwork
Published September 12, 2024 by Eric. The author arrived fifteen minutes before a Hawaii day trip, could not recall his fin size, BCD size, or weight requirement, and delayed the boat while trying on gear. A year later he arrived 45 minutes early and still did not remember his sizing. This experience produced the SCUBAzen paperwork generator, which stores equipment sizes and produces a rental form for a dive shop on demand.
Drop the extra weight for longer, easier dives
Published August 15, 2024 by Eric. The author carried extra lead for years on the assumption that heavy is safer than light. Overweighting increased his air consumption, caused fast descents that risked ear injury, and made swimming harder. It is also hazardous in an emergency, because dropping excess weights can produce an uncontrolled ascent and decompression sickness risk. This post introduces zenfinder, the SCUBAzen weight and wetsuit estimator.
Overcoming dive anxiety by getting organized
Published August 8, 2024 by Eric. The author describes persistent pre-dive anxiety after certification, including imposter syndrome and a fear of consuming air fastest in the group. Three practices reduced it: following a checklist, using a logbook as a reference for past conditions and settings, and calming the breath. Each maps to a SCUBAzen feature.
From soggy pages to a better dive logbook
Published July 18, 2024 by Eric. The author's paper logbook became damp, ocean-worn, and unsearchable, and the existing dive apps were clunky or missing features. Diving friends either tolerated the PADI app or had stopped logging entirely. The result is a searchable digital logbook that records whether a diver was over-weighted, rates dive sites, and notes how cold the diver felt.