Data sources & methodology
Last updated: October 2026
Our approach
DivePlnr combines open scientific and community datasets into one place, so you can see where a site is, what has been recorded there and what conditions are like through the year. We credit every source below.
Sources
| Data | Sources | How we use it |
|---|---|---|
| Dive sites | OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikivoyage, OpenDiveMap, Reef Life Survey, NOAA and EMODnet wreck records, and public dive-site and dive-centre directories | Locations are merged and de-duplicated. Depth, difficulty and site type come from the source records where available. |
| Marine life | OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF occurrence records; WoRMS for taxonomy; IUCN Red List for conservation status | Species are matched to sites and regions from occurrence records nearby. A record means a species has been recorded in the area, not that you are guaranteed to see it. |
| Ocean conditions | Copernicus Marine Service and Open-Meteo marine and archive data | Monthly averages per diving region (for example sea temperature). Month ratings are calculated by DivePlnr from these averages. |
| Protected areas | Protected Planet (World Database on Protected Areas) and UNESCO World Heritage marine sites | Used to show marine protected areas near dive sites. |
| Locations and geocoding | OpenStreetMap and Nominatim | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence. |
| Images | iNaturalist and Wikimedia Commons for species photos, under each image's licence | Some destination and site images are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs. |
Descriptions
Site, area and dive centre descriptions are drafted with AI from the data above. The editorial policy explains how they are written and checked.
Limits
Open datasets have gaps and errors. Some sites have little data, species records depend on where scientists and divers have recorded sightings, and conditions are long-term monthly averages, not forecasts. Check current conditions with a local dive centre before you dive.
If something is wrong, please tell us through the contact form and we will correct it.