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• Problem / Solution
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The Problem / The Solution

The Problem

Standard Slates

Though there have been many attempts at improving Dive Slates over the years they still have very limited capabilities. Some of their limitations are:

• The diver is limited to the amount of writing or drawing space that can fit in a BC pocket or be clipped to it.
• Slates can be very difficult to erase underwater. Slate erasing is an inefficient use of precious dive time.
• Though some slates have printed templates it would be impractical for a diver to carry several of them if he /she were multitasking such as drawing a map and keeping a photo log, then relating the photo locations to the map.
• Most slates are made of white plastic that is ether smooth or slightly textured. These types of surfaces are inappropriate for use with pencils or graphite because there is no texture or "tooth" to the surface to hold the graphite particles. This results in lines that are faint at best and difficult to read in limited visibility underwater.
• Most slates come with an attached "bowling" pencil . These provide the diver with about a 16" of an inch of lead before they must be sharpened. Pencil sharpening is a waist of dive time. Oil crayons create a stronger line but can smudge and be difficult to erase even on land.
• Attempting to scan a slate is difficult or impractical.
• Saving reference material on a slate for use on subsequent dives is impractical.

Wrist Slates

Rather than clipping the slat to an attachment ring on the BC vest or storing it in a pocket, it was thought that by bending the slate into a curve, it could be worn on the wrist.

• In addition to all the problems of the standard flat slat, the diver was now forced to write on a curved surface with very limited writing space.
• To increase the writing capacity additional "pages" were added held in place with latex elastic bands. These can be very difficult to manipulate underwater especially when wearing gloves. Scanning is not an option.

Magnetic Slates

In response to the very limited writing capacity and poor line quality of Standard Slates the Magnetic Slate was developed. These slates enable the diver to have unlimited writing capacity for communication but must be erased after each use.

• They are impractical for reference work since nothing can be saved.
• After repeated use, the middle area "burns out" from over-use rendering the device useless.

Waterproof Paper

• In even a mild current underwater paper becomes very difficult to keep in place while writing and requires clips or rubber bands.
• Changing pages and securing them underwater can be problematic.

Dive Logs

Any experienced diver who has attempted to maintain a record of his/her dives over time has been confronted by a number of difficulties:

• Logs that use waterproof plastic pages cannot be written on with a graphite pencil.
• Most pens are not waterproof.
• If the log page is "stamped" by the dive master or resort, the stamp is never waterproof and most likely will not remain legible. Refer to photo #1.
• Log books that do not use waterproof plastic pages often use paper that becomes adhesive when it comes in contact with water. Once the pages dry they fuse together. Separating the pages often renders them illegible. Refer to Photo #2.
• In remote locations it may not be possible to purchase a logbook or one in an equivalent format to the type you have been using.
• Over time a disorganized assortment of logbooks and hand written notes in various formats can make organizing and referencing previous dives very difficult. Figure #3
• Exposure to the elements eventually leads to bindings disintegrating, cover tearing, water damage and pages falling out. Figure #3
• It is not possible to add notes to the log during the dive as they happen.

The Solution

The aquaSketch System

The aquaSketch system brings all the advantages and versatility of paper to extreme environments by reverting back to the ancient use of scrolls and the modern use of contemporary materials.

The aquaSketch

The use of scrolls rather than paper has several advantages:

• It becomes impossible for the wind, current etc... to get under the paper eliminating the need for clips or rubber bands.
• The scroll can be advanced or rewound with one hand.
• All written material is protected from smudging when the scroll is wound.
• The writing surface is flat though it can be worn on the wrist.
• Though the Minno can fit in a pocket or be worn on the wrist it's writing capacity exceeds the length of all existing slates.

The vellum

• The aquaSketch system utilizes a modern polypropylene vellum that goes through a sophisticated coating process rendering the writing surface of the material with a perfect texture or "tooth" for writing or drawing in any medium.
• The vellum accepts printing in waterproof inks in full color and black and white. The aquaSketch vellum is completely impervious to water, erasable with standard erasers and is reusable indefinitely.

The aquaSketch System Strengths

The combination of the plastic vellum and use of scrolls in the aquaSketch System creates many unique benefits:

• The aquaSketch has the largest capacity of any existing underwater writing device yet it is compact enough to fit in a BC pocket or worn on the wrist.
• Because of the large capacity of the aquaSketch System erasing during a dive is unnecessary.
• The aquaSketch vellum is very easy to erase above or below the surface using any standard pencil eraser.
• Vellum is available through aquaSketch that provides several various templates on one scroll creating possibilities that were never possible with standard slates.
• The depth and robust nature of the texture or "tooth" of the aquaSketch vellum yields a strong dark line easy to read in low visibility.
• The backplate of the aquaSketch Minno is made of a phosphorescent material that can back light notes or communications in low light conditions.
• The solid graphite pencils provided with the aquaSketch never need to be sharpened.
• The aquaSketch vellum works very well with scanners. Once the vellum has been scanned it can be erased and reused indefinitely.
• The aquaSketch vellum is available in a growing assortment of preprinted dive templates and charts providing divers with compact reference material that can accompany them on their dives.
• Using the aquaSketch waterproof marker, divers can also create their own templates or charts for their specific needs.
• The writing surface of the aquaSketch never wears out. One turn of the Knob and there is always a clean surface to work with.
• All note taking, drawing and page turning can be done single-handed.
• Once scanned into the computer all logs and notes can be filed or printed in the format of the divers choice for easy reference.
• AquaSketch vellum is inexpensive, so if scanning is not an option new material can easily be loaded into the device after or even during a dive.