SCUBAzen help: importing a dive logbook
Summary
Most SCUBAzen support questions are the same question: how to move years of paper or third-party dives into the app without retyping them. SCUBAzen imports a dive logbook from CSV spreadsheets. There are three templates, of which only the logbook file is required. Every column expects one of four field types, and a single mismatched cell stops the upload. Sort dives by date and time before uploading, because dive numbers are generated as the file is read. Re-uploading the same file adds duplicate dives rather than replacing existing ones.
The three CSV templates
Dives import as spreadsheets, and column headers must match exactly, so start from the SCUBAzen templates rather than building your own. Each template arrives with filled-in sample rows showing the expected format. The logbook file is the only required file. The other two are optional: use them to record what kind of dive each one was, or which gear you carried. All three are downloadable from the SCUBAzen help page.
- Logbook — the main file, one row per dive. 41 columns, with sample dives included. Covers site, date, depth, times, temperature, pressures, weight, suit thickness, tank and gas details. Required.
- Dive type — tags each dive by kind: reef, wreck, wall, drift, cave, night, training, and others. 19 columns, all TRUE/FALSE except the dive number. Matched to dives by dive number. Optional.
- Equipment on dive — records gear carried on each dive: BCD, computer, regulator, camera, wetsuit, and others. 23 columns, all TRUE/FALSE except the dive number. Matched by dive number. Optional.
The four field types
Every column in a SCUBAzen import expects one of four kinds of value. If a column's type does not match its contents, the upload will not go through, so it is worth scanning the file before starting.
- Double — a number with decimals. Example: 22.7
- Integer — a whole number. Example: 18
- String — text, letters, numbers, or both. Example: Blue Hole
- Boolean — TRUE or FALSE, and it must be capital letters. "True" and "true" will not be read.
Five things to check before uploading
Nearly every SCUBAzen import that fails does so for one of five reasons. Checking these first avoids re-work.
- Sort by date and time first. Dive numbers are generated as the file is read. Sorting dives by date and time before uploading makes the numbering come out in the order they were actually dived.
- Re-uploading adds, it does not replace. Running the upload again after dives are already in does not overwrite anything. Every dive in the file is added as a new one, so a second run of the same file produces two of each.
- Field types have to match. A numeric column cannot hold text, and a Boolean column needs capitalised TRUE or FALSE. One mismatched cell is enough to stop the upload.
- Each header can only be matched once. Two columns sharing a header cannot both be read. Remove any duplicate created while editing.
- Blank fields are fine. Not every column needs a value. Anything left empty receives a default.
Video tutorials and other questions
SCUBAzen is walked through on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQfsH0Tp99sWVgHqCiAdmQHNdxbrWMIS2, covering trip setup, the calculators, and the logbook import described on this page. For anything the import templates do not cover — including an export from another dive app in a format the templates do not match — email info@scubazenapp.com with the file. Support is answered directly by the founder, typically within a day or two. Questions about account deletion, estimator accuracy, and pricing are answered at https://scubazenapp.com/support.
Frequently asked questions
How do I import an existing dive logbook into SCUBAzen?
Dives import as CSV spreadsheets. Start from the SCUBAzen logbook template, because column headers must match exactly. The logbook file is the only required file. Sort dives by date and time before uploading, since dive numbers are generated as the file is read.
What happens if I upload the same file twice?
Re-uploading adds dives rather than replacing them. Running the same file a second time gives two copies of every dive in it. SCUBAzen does not overwrite or deduplicate existing dives on upload.
Why did my upload fail?
The most common causes are a field type mismatch — text in a numeric column, or a lowercase boolean — and duplicate column headers. One mismatched cell is enough to stop an upload, and each header can only be matched once.
Do I have to fill in every column?
No. Blank fields are acceptable and receive a default value. Only the logbook file itself is required; the dive type and equipment files are optional.
Can I import from another dive app?
Yes, if the export can be mapped to the SCUBAzen logbook template. If another app exports a format the templates do not cover, send the file to info@scubazenapp.com rather than retyping the dives.