Every dive is a data point for ocean research.
DIVR is a free dive-logging app that turns the observations divers already make into research-grade biodiversity data for marine science. Launching end of July 2026 on iOS and Android.
Press contact: Joep Weterman · joep.weterman@gmail.com
30 sec
to log a dive, with photos, buddies and species sightings
4,300+
marine species in the catalogue, verified against WoRMS
4,700+
dive sites worldwide at launch
Free
for divers, on iOS and Android
Darwin Core
the international biodiversity data standard we structure to
~€1k
the budget one founder built the entire platform on, solo
Recreational divers make millions of dives a year and collectively see more of the ocean than any research fleet, yet almost none of what they observe is ever used. DIVR is a free dive log built to change that.
Divers log a dive in under 30 seconds, with photos and species sightings. DIVR validates each sighting against the World Register of Marine Species and structures it in Darwin Core, the international standard for biodiversity data, so it can flow to marine research organisations including Coral.org and EMODnet. Founder Joep Weterman, a scuba instructor and econometrics student, built the platform solo.
Joep Weterman
Founder
Dutch scuba instructor and econometrics master's student at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Taught and guided dives in Thailand and the Philippines before building DIVR alongside his studies, shipping the entire platform solo with AI-assisted coding.
Citizen science
The world's divers as a sensor network for the ocean. Every recreational dive is already an observation; DIVR is the pipeline that makes it usable for research.
The build
One econometrics student and scuba instructor shipped iOS, Android, web and a research data pipeline solo and AI-assisted, on a budget of about €1,000.
The data pipeline
How a casual dive log becomes WoRMS-validated, Darwin Core structured biodiversity data flowing to marine research organisations including Coral.org and EMODnet.
Need something else, an interview, or preview access before launch? Email joep.weterman@gmail.com. We respond to press inquiries within 24 hours.
DIVR is a data company that turns recreational diving into research-grade ocean data. Divers log dives, photos and species sightings in a free app; DIVR validates and structures those observations and delivers them to marine research organisations. DIVR was founded by Joep Weterman and launches in July 2026. More at divr-connect.com.