Smartphone Apps to Add Before the Next Dive Trip

On your next dive trip overseas, chances are you're going to experience a flight delay or cancellation, and you'll be spending some time waiting around in the airport. Ease the anxiety by installing apps on your Android phone or iPad to stay abreast of what you need to know.

Check Your Flight. iPhone and Android users should download FlightStats ( www.flightstats.com ) and/or FlightAware ( www.flightaware.com ) for day-of-travel info. Type in your flight number, airport or route to see updated departure and arrival times, gates and whether there's a delay. Business travel columnist Joe Brancantelli ( www.joesentme.com )also recommends that you load up on airport-specific apps to see what's happening at the airports you're flying in and out of. For example, Los Angeles airport's official app gives detailed maps of the terminals and parking lots, a list of all flights, restaurants and shopping spots, rental car locations and information on ground transportation options.

Enjoy the Airport. If you have time to kill between flights, it may be worth ponying up money to relax in an airport lounge. LoungeBuddy ( www.loungebuddy.com ) gives info for airport lounges in more than 500 of the world's busiest airports. Use the app to create a trip, list your home airport, and any elite status, memberships or premium credit cards you have, and the app tells you which lounges you can access for free or a one-time fee. You can even filter by amenities such as shower access. LoungeBuddy will manage your status and memberships for future flights.

Get the News and Weather. Weather patterns change quickly, so to know whether your dive trip will be affected by blowing gusts in Bali or an approaching hurricane in the Caymans, install a weather app, like one from the Weather Channel ( www.weather.com/services/mobilesplash.html ) or Weather Underground ( www.wunderground.com/micro/wundermap ). Brancantelli also recommends having a news app, because airports are awful places to find out why your plane is running behind, or if you just can't stand the blaring TV tuned to the talking heads on CNN. Try apps from Reuters ( www.reuters.com/tools/mobile ) or BBC News ( www.bbc.com/news/10628994 ).