Apple Watch Ultra 2 + Oceanic+ Review

I already owned the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for everyday use, so I was curious how it would perform with the Oceanic+ app in real-world dives. I tested it in both cold Midwest quarries and warm reef dives in Fiji. I never intended to use it as a primary computer, but I wanted to see how well it handled casual scenarios. The short answer: it’s fine for shallow vacation dives, but nowhere near a substitute for a dedicated dive computer.

By Tyler Allison · Updated July 2025

Use: Local quarry and Fiji reef testing
Current role: Daily wear and fitness tracking
Still in my kit: Yes, for everyday non-dive use

The Short Version

I already owned the Ultra 2, and Oceanic+ gave me a way to try it on real dives without buying another computer. For shallow guided warm-water dives, it was usable and convenient, but its controls and missing tools did not give me the confidence I want from a dedicated dive computer. I never intended it to replace my main computer, and testing it did not change that.

Would I buy it again? Not for diving, no. I still use it every day for non-dive purposes, but I would not buy the watch specifically to use Oceanic+.

What Works

Clean, modern interface for basic dive information
Bright screen that I found readable in low visibility
Convenience for casual vacation dives when I already owned the watch
Continued usefulness for daily wear and fitness outside diving

What Doesn't

No air integration
Limited gas tracking and planning tools for my needs
Fussy underwater navigation, particularly with gloves
Side buttons and crown could trigger unintentionally
A subscription was required for full Oceanic+ functionality

Why I Tried the Apple Watch Ultra 2

I did not buy this watch for diving. I already owned it for daily wear and fitness tracking, but once I saw Oceanic+ on the App Store, I wanted to test it on real dives. I brought it on local quarry dives and a reef trip to Fiji to see how it handled different conditions. I never expected it to replace my main computer; I wanted to understand its limits.

What It Is Like to Dive

Screen and Visibility: The screen was bright and readable in low visibility. The touchscreen was unhelpful underwater, and the side buttons and crown could activate unintentionally.
Navigation with Gloves: The app looked modern, but navigation felt slow and required multiple taps to reach useful information. Controls were fussy and did not feel intuitive with gloves or in cold water.
Dive Information and Tools: In the setup I tested, it tracked depth, time, no-decompression limit, and ascent information. I did not have air integration, gas planning, a compass, or customizable display fields. Those limitations mattered more to me than the clean interface.
Construction and Confidence: It felt solid for a smartwatch and performed better than I expected for casual use. That did not translate into the confidence I have in a dedicated dive computer for more demanding diving.

Where I Would and Would Not Use It

I found it usable as a secondary computer for casual, shallow guided warm-water dives or snorkeling when I already owned the watch. That is a narrow role, not a reason for me to depend on it as my only computer. I would not choose it for cold-water, drysuit, night, overhead, deeper, or complex dives, and I did not find it useful for teaching or technical scenarios.

Those are limits on where I am comfortable using it, based on my experience. They are not a claim that the watch failed in every one of those situations. Oceanic has a history in diving, but the Oceanic+ experience I tested did not inspire confidence for the diving where I rely most heavily on my equipment.

Value When You Already Own the Watch

The combination only made sense to me because I already had the Ultra 2. Oceanic+ required a subscription for full functionality, and I would not buy the watch just for diving. Its daily-wear and fitness role is why I still own and use it, rather than its value as a dedicated dive computer.

Who It Makes Sense For

It may appeal to existing Apple Watch owners who want casual dive logging, vacation divers doing guided shallow reef dives, or fitness-focused travelers who prefer one watch for several activities. My own experience supports that casual-use case, not treating it as a substitute for the equipment I normally rely on underwater.

When I Would Buy Something Else

If I were buying specifically for diving, I would choose a dedicated dive computer. Air integration, gas planning, glove-friendly operation, and confidence in demanding conditions matter more to me than combining diving with a watch I wear every day.