Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Oceanic+ App Dive Computer Review
A sleek smartwatch that functions as a basic dive computer if you already own it. But not suitable for serious diving.
Overall Score: 5.7 / 10
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clean, modern interface | No air integration |
| Convenient for casual vacation dives | Lacks gas tracking and dive planning tools |
| Good as an emergency backup if already owned | Subscription required for full functionality |
Why I Chose the Apple Watch Ultra 2
I already owned the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for everyday use, so I was curious how it would perform with the Oceanic+ app during diving. I tested it on both cold water quarry dives and warm water dives in Fiji. I never planned to use it as a primary computer, but I was interested in how usable it could be in casual dive scenarios. While the app works decently for tracking depth and NDLs, I found the button behavior underwater unpredictable and the feature set lacking for anything beyond tourist-level dives.
Performance in the Water
- Screen & Visibility: The screen is bright and easy to read, even in low visibility conditions. But the side buttons and crown are awkward to use with gloves and can be unintentionally triggered.
- Data & Features: Provides depth, time, NDLs, and ascent rate. No gas integration, compass, dive planning, or advanced metrics.
- Navigation & Interface: The interface is polished, but it’s not glove-friendly and requires multiple presses to access basic info.
- Durability: The hardware feels sturdy for a smartwatch, but it lacks the physical redundancy and environmental protection of purpose-built dive computers.
Verdict
If you already own the Apple Watch Ultra 2, the Oceanic+ app can turn it into a serviceable backup or vacation dive computer for guided reef dives. But I wouldn’t rely on it for anything beyond that. It’s not designed for cold water, complex dives, or long-term durability as a dive tool. I never dive with it alone as it’s a novelty backup at best.
Would I buy it again? Not just for diving, no.
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: Fine for tracking basics, but missing gas integration, dive planning, and reliability redundancy.
- Ease of Use – 6.0: The app is modern but hard to use underwater. Controls are fussy and not intuitive in gloves or cold water.
- Versatility – 5.0: Warm water only. I wouldn’t trust it for drysuit or deeper dives, and it’s useless for teaching or tech scenarios.
- Durability & Build Quality – 6.5: Solid for a smartwatch, but not robust enough for serious dive use. Better than expected for casual use.
- Value – 5.0: It only makes sense if you already own the watch. It’s not worth buying for diving on its own.
- Brand Trust & Transparency – 6.0: Oceanic has history, but Oceanic+ doesn’t yet inspire confidence for mission-critical diving.