Comparison

Caveradar vs Fathom Dive Planner

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

Head to head
About

Caveradar

Plan cave dives with detailed condition reports, weather context, and directions. Access key information offline and find local dive partners. Contribute reports to keep conditions updated for the community.

Highlights
  • Recent cave condition reports
  • Weather context for dive sites
  • Driving directions and access info
  • Offline caching of key data
  • Partner listings for instructors/centers
  • Fast, dropdown-only report contribution
Features
Read full description

Caveradar. Know before you dive. Plan your cave dives with confidence using recent, structured condition reports — plus weather context and directions — whether you're planning tomorrows' dive in Florida, next weeks' dives in Mexico or next years' trip to France. What you get: • Recent cave-condition reports: visibility + flow + hazards (structured, easy to compare) • Weather context for every site • Driving directions + access context to simplify planning • Offline caching: key info stays available at the site even with weak signal • Partner listings in-app: find endorsed instructors and dive centers Contribute (fast, no noise): • Add a report in seconds using dropdown-only inputs - no typing • Every report helps keep conditions fresh for the next team Coverage: • France: Lot, Hérault, Ardèche and Doubs (new addition!) • Germany: nationwide coverage • Switzerland • Italy: most regions (expanding) • UK: some caves, expanding • USA: Florida • Mexico: Quintana Roo • Norway • Sweden • Finland • New Zealand • Australia • Spain (new addition!) Built for cave divers, by cave divers. Important: The information presented on this platform is not a substitute for proper cave diving training, certification, personal site assessment, or professional guidance.

About

Fathom Dive Planner

Features
Read full description

Fathom is a native iPhone and iPad app for dive planning and logging. Build open- and closed-circuit decompression schedules with configurable gradient factors, then record every dive you make in the built-in logbook, and link each logged dive back to the plan that produced it. Build single- or multi-level dive plans, manage your gas mixes and tanks, and review every parameter that goes into your decompression schedule before you get in the water. After the dive, capture depth, time, gases, tanks, buddies, locations, and tags in a logbook designed for the same workflow. PLANNING • Configurable gradient factors (default GF 20/85) • Multi-level dive plans with automatic gas selection • Full trimix and heliox support, in addition to air and nitrox • Closed-circuit rebreather plans: fixed setpoints with a switch depth, and travel diluent for deep dives • Open-circuit bailout schedules computed from the worst point of the dive • Repetitive dives: tissue loading, CNS, and OTU carry across surface intervals • Custom gas mixes and standard preset catalogue • Tank and cylinder tracking with SAC and per-tank gas usage • Minimum gas (rock-bottom) reserve required to bring you and your buddy back from depth • NDL (no-decompression limit) at any depth • MOD, END, and gas density for every level, with warnings when a mix gets too dense • CNS clock and OTU oxygen exposure tracking LOGBOOK • Log every dive with depth, time, gases, tanks, location, buddies, and tags • Link each logged dive to its original plan • Browse and search your dive history GENERAL • Metric and imperial units throughout • iCloud sync across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac • One purchase unlocks Fathom on iPhone, iPad, and Mac IMPORTANT Fathom is a planning tool, not a substitute for diver training, qualified instruction, or the judgment of a certified dive professional. Always follow the procedures taught in your training agency, the limits of your certification, and your own dive computer. Decompression diving carries inherent risks. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Caveradar4 screens
Fathom Dive Planner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Fathom Dive Planner at daily against Caveradar's every 4 days. Caveradar's advantage is iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Caveradar sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and Fathom Dive Planner sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Caveradar ships an update every 4 days, Fathom Dive Planner daily. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Caveradar versus Fathom Dive Planner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaveradarFathom Dive Planner
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.1 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHarald FranzenTotal Immersion

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Caveradar

Subscriptions1
  • Caveradar Premium$1.991 Month
2 purchases

Fathom Dive Planner

Subscriptions1
  • Fathom Premium - Annual14 Days trial$6.991 Year
One-time1
  • Fathom Premium - Lifetime$17.99

Questions

Is Caveradar free?
Caveradar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Fathom Dive Planner free?
Fathom Dive Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Caveradar or Fathom Dive Planner have ads?
Neither Caveradar nor Fathom Dive Planner shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Caveradar or Fathom Dive Planner?
Caveradar ships an update every 4 days, and Fathom Dive Planner daily. Most recently, Caveradar was updated on October 7, 2026 and Fathom Dive Planner on October 16, 2026.

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