Comparison

Subsurface vs Scuba Dive Signals

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Subsurface

This application allows divers to manage their dive logs on their mobile devices. It supports editing dive data and downloading new information from compatible dive computers. Optional cloud synchronization is available for seamless data transfer with desktop versions.

Highlights
  • Mobile dive log management
  • Edit dive data
  • Download from Bluetooth LE dive computers
  • Optional cloud synchronization
  • Open-source and free
Read full description

Subsurface-mobile is an iOS dive log application based on Subsurface, the best free open source dive log application available on Windows, Mac and Linux. Subsurface-mobile allows you to access your dive log on your tablet or phone, edit the data and even download new dive information from many Bluetooth LE enabled dive computers. Using a free Subsurface Cloud Storage account you can synchronize your dive data with the Subsurface desktop application (while significantly increasing the usefulness, the cloud account is not required to use Subsurface-mobile). To get support from the developers, please use the in-app menu entry "Ask for support" Please check out the Subsurface-mobile user manual: https://subsurface-divelog.org/documentation/subsurface-mobile-v3-user-manual (also available from within the app) Subsurface-mobile is free and open source. No ads, no commercial anything. And it comes with free cloud storage (if you decide to use that - it's optional). Your data aren't used for anything, nothing gets monetized.

About

Scuba Dive Signals

Access a comprehensive list of underwater hand signals for safe scuba diving communication. Includes a quiz feature to test your knowledge of signals recognized by major training agencies.

Highlights
  • List of recognized dive hand signals
  • Signals from PADI, NAUI, SSI
  • Quiz feature to test knowledge
  • Safety communication focus
  • Creative Commons licensed images
Features
Read full description

Access a handy list of dive signals to safely communicate underwater while scuba diving. This contains a list of hand signals generally recognized by the Recreational Scuba Training Council and its member agencies (PADI, NAUI, SSI, and more). Once you've studied up, you can quiz yourself on what you've learned-- the app will show a series of five dive signal descriptions and give you a choice of four different pictures-- only one will match, so choose wisely! As always, safety is paramount when scuba diving, so be sure you are your diving partners are clear on their meanings before diving. The author of this app does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or injury, including death, caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. The information in this app is meant to supplement, not replace, proper scuba diving training. Scuba diving poses some inherent risk. Never dive without proper training and certification! The images used in this app are used via the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike licenses, and are credited as follows: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en): Original author: Thomei08 Dive hand signal-cold.plain.svg Dive hand signal-look.plain.svg Dive hand signal-tink.plain.svg Dive hand signal-ear.plain.svg Original author: Peter Southwood Dive hand signal OK 1.png Dive hand signal OK 2.png Dive hand signal OK surface 1.png Dive hand signal OK surface 2.png Dive hand signal Stop.png Dive hand signal Turn Around.png Dive hand signal Which Way.png Dive hand signal Boat.png Dive hand signal Buddy up.png Dive hand signal Hold on to each other.png Dive hand signal Lead and follow.png Dive hand signal Level out.png Dive hand signal Slow down.png Dive hand signal Give me air.png Dive hand signal Emergency Out of air.png Dive hand signal Help surface 1.png Dive hand signal Dont know 1.png Dive hand signal Danger there.png Dive hand signal Pressure.png Dive hand signal Bubbles.png Dive hand signal Cut.png Dive hand signal Safety stop.png Dive hand signal Entangled.png Dive hand signal Silt.png Dive hand signal Cramps.png Dive hand signal Reserve.png Dive hand signal Time up.png Dive hand signal Fetch surface 1.png Dive hand signal Turn dive.png Dive hand signal Stuck.png Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en): Original author: Peter Southwood Dive hand signal Ascend to stop.png The licensors do not in any way endorse the author of this app or usage.

Screenshots

Subsurface4 screens
Scuba Dive Signals4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Scuba Dive Signals at 100% against Subsurface's 63%. Scuba Dive Signals also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17). Subsurface's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 42 months) and ratings volume (48 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Scuba Dive Signals holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subsurface has 48 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Subsurface's written reviews are positive against 100% of Scuba Dive Signals's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Subsurface ships an update every 2 months, Scuba Dive Signals every 42 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Subsurface versus Scuba Dive Signals: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSubsurfaceScuba Dive Signals
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (48 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews63.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings48 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 42 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS1715.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size52 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDirk HohndelEric Hamiter

Customer experience

Subsurface

All ratings48 ratings
Positive89.6%
Neutral2.1%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive63.3%
Neutral6.7%
Negative30.0%

Scuba Dive Signals

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Subsurface

No in-app purchases

None

Scuba Dive Signals

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Subsurface free?
Subsurface is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Scuba Dive Signals free?
Scuba Dive Signals is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Subsurface or Scuba Dive Signals?
Scuba Dive Signals is rated higher. Subsurface averages 4.5 out of 5 from 48 ratings, while Scuba Dive Signals averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Subsurface or Scuba Dive Signals have ads?
Neither Subsurface nor Scuba Dive Signals shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Subsurface or Scuba Dive Signals?
Subsurface ships an update every 2 months, and Scuba Dive Signals every 42 months. Most recently, Subsurface was updated on October 14, 2026 and Scuba Dive Signals on October 8, 2026.

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