Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Oceanic+) Dive Computer Review
Summary
One-liner: A functional backup and casual-use dive computer—if you already own it. Not a substitute for serious dive computers.
Price Tier: $$$$ (if purchased solely for diving)
Ownership: Personally used for 20+ dives
Overall Score: 5.8 / 10
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clean, modern interface | No air integration |
| Convenient for casual vacation dives | Lacks core features like gas tracking |
| Good as an emergency backup if already owned | Subscription required for full app functionality |
Why I Tested the Ultra 2
I already own the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for daily use, so I've tested it on cold water wetsuit dives as well as warm water dives in Fiji just to see how it handled. With the Oceanic+ app, it functions reasonably well as a basic depth and time tracker, but that’s about where its utility ends. It’s sleek and modern, but missing essential diving features. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t already own the watch—and certainly not as a primary computer. It is not intuitive from a user interface perspective when it comes to button/crown presses. Also the button/crown would accidentaly get pressed underwater when it rubbed up against other items on my wrists. Highly annoying and potentialy dangerous.
Performance in the Water
- Screen & Visibility: Bright and easy to read, but button control is awkward with gloves.
- Data & Features: Depth, time, NDLs, and ascent alerts—but no air integration, RMV, compass, or dive planning.
- Navigation & Interface: The app is visually clean but buttons presses are difficult and non-intuitive.
- Durability: Hardware feels solid, but it’s not a replacement for a purpose-built dive computer.
- Battery: Good for a single day of dives, but won’t last multiple days without a recharge.
Verdict
If you already own the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Oceanic+ app makes it usable for very casual recreational dives—like a guided reef tour on vacation. But it’s not something I would ever purchase solely for diving. It lacks air integration, has minimal customization, and isn’t built with serious dive reliability in mind. I only carry it as a backup when traveling warm, and even then, it’s for convenience—not trust.
Would I buy it again for diving? No.
Would I dive with it if it’s all I had? Only on an easy, warm water guided dive.
Deep Dive into the Score
Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.
| Category | Score (0–10) | Weight | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Function & Performance | 5.5 | 30% | 1.65 |
| Ease of Use | 6.0 | 20% | 1.20 |
| Versatility | 5.0 | 15% | 0.75 |
| Durability & Build Quality | 6.5 | 15% | 0.975 |
| Value | 5.0 | 10% | 0.50 |
| Brand Trust & Transparency | 6.0 | 10% | 0.60 |
| Total | 5.675 / 10 | ||
Rounded Display Score: 5.7 / 10
Deep Dive Score Explanations
- Function & Performance – 5.5: Basic functionality. Lacks gas data, planning tools, or diving redundancy.
- Ease of Use – 6.0: App is modern but not glove-friendly. Requires subscription.
- Versatility – 5.0: Tropical wetsuit diving only. Not suitable for cold or drysuit dives.
- Durability & Build – 6.5: Strong for a smartwatch, but not a dive-specific build.
- Value – 5.0: Only makes sense if you already own the watch. Not worth buying for diving alone.
- Brand Trust – 6.0: Oceanic is established, but Oceanic+ is not a serious contender in this category.