How it works
Log the dive
Site, depth, time, buddy — captured in a minute while your hair is still wet.
Name what you saw
Browse the built-in fish guide by look and add the species you met straight to the dive.
Grow your life list
Every dive builds your personal atlas: sites, stats, and every creature you’ve ever logged.
Under the surface
The Tortuba Index
Where and when to see the ocean's best-known animals — every season sourced, and rated for how likely you actually are to meet one.
whale sharks in the Philippines
November to June in Donsol, peaking February–April
Donsol, Sorsogon & Southern Leyte (Sogod Bay) →
manta rays in Australia
May–November at Ningaloo (year-round at Coral Bay); June–September at Lady Elliot
Ningaloo Reef & Lady Elliot Island →
thresher sharks in the Philippines
Daily, year-round — there is no closed season
Kimud Shoal & Monad Shoal, Malapascua, Cebu →
Guides for divers
Like a good briefing: the answer to your question first, the app only if it helps. Worth reading even if you never surface with a download.
- Best Dive Sites for Beginners: How to Choose
What makes a dive site beginner-friendly, regions known for easy diving, and the questions to ask a dive center before you book.
- How Many Dives for Advanced Open Water?
How many dives you need for Advanced Open Water, by agency — PADI, SSI, and beyond — plus why a clean dive log is your proof of experience.
Frequently asked questions
How do I log a scuba dive?
Record the essentials right after surfacing: site, date, times, max depth, and what you saw. Tortuba keeps it to a minute per dive — and unlike paper, your fish sightings become a searchable life list.
What should I record in my dive logbook?
At minimum: date, site, depth, dive time, and buddy. Add conditions, weights, and wildlife if you want your log to actually be useful on your next trip. My checklist covers what matters and what you can skip.
Is a digital dive log better than paper?
Paper logs are lovely until they meet a wet boat bag. A digital log is searchable, backed up, and can tally your stats automatically — and stamps still fit: keep the paper for signatures, Tortuba for everything else.
How can I identify the fish I saw while diving?
Note three things underwater: size, shape, and one distinctive marking. Tortuba’s built-in fish guide lets you browse by look and log the species straight into your dive.
How many logged dives do I need for the next certification?
Advanced Open Water typically requires 5 adventure dives on top of your certification, and higher ratings ask for logged experience (e.g. 50 dives for Divemaster training entry). A clean digital log is your proof.
What’s coming in the Tortuba refresh?
A brand-new UI, cloud sync across your devices, and a few surprises I’m keeping under the surface. Your existing logbook will carry over.
Your next dive deserves a better logbook
Free to download — and about to get even better.
