DeepSync: Freediving App Concept Design

Personal concept project 2025 Dec – 2026 Mar

Freediving is an incredible experience—calm, intense, and deeply personal. But getting ready for a dive? That part isn’t always so smooth.

From breath training and dive timing to tracking conditions and dive buddies, there’s a lot to prepare before hitting the water. It got me thinking—how could the preparation process be simpler, more focused, and tailored to the freediver’s mindset?

Why is dive prep often so overwhelming?

Through interviews with freediving coaches and experienced divers, two recurring themes stood out — the importance of specialized diving gear and the role of community connections.

After research, I analysed the findings, and created some graphs to help understand the structure and goals of this app.

To fully grasp the freediving experience and the routines that divers follow, I decided to go beyond desk research and immerse myself in the practice by attending freediving classes. This hands-on approach gave me valuable firsthand exposure to the physical, mental, and environmental factors that divers constantly navigate, as well as the decisions they make before, during, and after each dive.

Through these classes and conversations with instructors and experienced divers, I discovered that the diving experience typically follows a structured process made up of three key stages: Plan → Dive → Review. While this may seem straightforward at first glance, each stage involves a series of important actions and careful decision-making, especially when it comes to assessing environmental factors.

One of the most crucial insights I gained was the importance of continuously monitoring weather and ocean conditions. Divers rely heavily on up-to-date information about the weather, tide patterns, and water clarity before making the decision to enter the water. Even small changes in environmental conditions can significantly impact a dive’s safety and overall experience.

A key practice I observed during my freediving sessions was how instructors would check several weather and tide apps before confirming the day’s dive. They paid close attention to identifying Slack Tide — a short window of time when the water is relatively still because the tide is neither rising nor falling. This calm period can lead to clearer, safer waters, making it the ideal time for divers to enter the ocean.

However, finding this information often required switching between different sources and interpreting data from multiple apps.

This experience highlighted a clear opportunity for Deepsync to simplify this process for divers. By integrating reliable, real-time weather updates, tide charts, and notifications about optimal dive windows like Slack Tide, the app could become a central tool that helps divers plan their dives more efficiently and safely.

DESGIN

Each dive site page offers users key information needed for safe and efficient dive planning. The most important details are presented upfront in a simplified, color-coded format for quick and easy scanning. Supporting information, such as different map views, diver ratings, and site reviews, is positioned lower in the layout, allowing users to dive deeper into the site’s specifics as needed.

Kai can easily share his dive plan using the app’s export feature. The shared plan includes key details about the dive spot and what kind of dive buddy he’s looking for. This makes it simple to connect with the right partner through social media or dive groups.

After each dive, a pop-up shows key details from the session. Users can review stats, notes, and explore a 3D visual of their dive route, generated directly from their watch data.

During dives, the watch switches between modes: Dive Mode (current depth & time), Surface Mode (surface interval countdown), and Buddy Monitor Mode (shows your dive buddy’s position).

BRANDING

In freediving, harmony between body, mind, and the water is everything. “DeepSync” reflects that perfect alignment—where your breath, movement, and surroundings all move in sync as you descend into the blue.

The name captures more than just depth—it speaks to connection. Connection to your own rhythm, to your dive buddy, and to the underwater world. It’s bold, clean, and memorable—just like the kind of dives DeepSync is built to support.

That’s a wrap. See you in the deep end 👋🏾