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After seven generations and about 100 million units sold, Apple has finally done the inevitable: The functionality of a “full-featured dive computer” will soon be added to the Apple Watch. And in typical Apple fashion, it seems to have been done properly: The Oceanic+ Watch app —which runs on the new Apple Watch Ultra—is designed in partnership with renowned maker of all things scuba, Oceanic (which is owned by Huish Outdoors). It’s certified to EN13319, the international standard for depth gauges and other dive accessories.

Made for recreational scuba and freediving down to 130 feet (40 meters), the Apple Watch Ultra, loaded with the Oceanic+ app, organizes the information you need during your dive on separate sceens, accessed via the Digital Crown (which has been redesigned to be easier to turn with gloves). According to Apple, color-coding is used “on the big, bright display to make complex information easy to understand.” As the Cupertino company points out, that display is the biggest (49mm) and brightest (2,000 nits) ever on an Apple Watch.

As you’d expect, there’s tight integration with your phone, via the Oceanic+ iPhone app. Apple says: “The Oceanic+ app on iPhone goes beyond calculating just depth and time by integrating local conditions like tides, water temperatures, and even community‑fed info like visibility and currents. Or simply use your watch to quickly and easily plan your dive.” Needless to say, you can get the data from your dive immediately after surfacing—including your GPS entry and exit points—and profiles are organized in an integrated logbook.

Oceanic+ runs a Bühlmann decompression algorithm, and not surprisingly, Apple says the app provides all the safety warnings you’d expect from a dive computer—“from decompression limits to excessive ascent rates and safety stops.” For snorkeling or other fun activities underwater, the Depth app—which can be made to activate automatically when you submerge—provides information such as time, water temperature, current depth, duration underwater, and max depth reached.

Finally, Apple is introducing the Ocean Band for divers. The fluoroelastomer rubber band is lightweight and flexible, and features a titanium buckle and a spring‑loaded titanium adjustable loop that provide a “hypersecure fit, even during high‑speed water sports.” With the attachable band extension, you can wear the watch over a wetsuit.

According to Huish, the Oceanic+ app is expected to launch later this fall. There will be a free version of the app, but that will enable only snorkeling with the Apple Watch Ultra. For the full scuba version with advanced dive computer features, you’ll need a paid subscription: $5 a day, $10 a month or $80 annually. The Apple Watch Ultra itself will be available from September 23rd and costs $800 with Ocean Band.

PRESS RELEASE

Huish Outdoors Launches World’s First Apple Watch Dive Computer App
New Oceanic+ App Expands Interest and Engagement in Recreational Underwater Diving

Salt Lake City, UT, Sept. 07, 2022—Oceanic, a leading innovator in diving for over 50 years and pioneer of one of the first dive computers, announced today at the Apple Keynote the official launch of its native app Oceanic+, available to download for free in the App Store this fall. The Oceanic+ app allows Apple Watch Ultra users to use their devices as dive computers.

“We’ve designed the Oceanic+ app with all the key features for recreational divers and snorkelers alike,” said Mike Huish, CEO of Huish Outdoors. “The familiar user interface makes it easy to plan your dives. Even better, our dive planner goes beyond calculating just depth and time, by integrating dive conditions including tides, water temperature, and even up-to-date information from the community such as visibility and currents.”

Unlike most dive computers—which require users to learn a complex sequence of button presses to find the information needed—the Oceanic+ app uses familiar gestures to access additional screens, such as setting a compass heading. Additionally, Oceanic+ provides all the technologies expected from the most advanced dive computers today, from decompression limits to excessive ascent rate and safety stops.

The Oceanic+ app runs a Bühlmann decompression algorithm that constantly calculates and monitors dive parameters, so all critical information is just a glance away. Once in the water, your dive metrics are simple and easy to read on the large, bright display using smart color coding, the app helps make complex information easy to understand—whether you are an experienced diver or just getting started.

Oceanic+ app users will enjoy receiving dive data immediately following a dive—including a user’s GPS entry and exit location. This data automatically appears on iPhone users' devices and can be saved in the Cloud, where Oceanic+ app users can see a summary of their dive profile, sort and search past dives in their logbooks and instantly share their adventures with family and friends, as well as the community.

Oceanic has several exciting accessories in development for use with the Oceanic+ app, one of which is the Oceanic+ Smart Housing that allows your iPhone to be used as an underwater camera and dive computer. This housing allows iPhone users to take color corrected pictures while seeing their dive computer information overlayed on their iPhone, and is now available for pre-order here.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Apple to combine our world-renowned expertise in diving with the unique capability of the Apple Watch Ultra to turn the same watch you wear every day into an innovative dive computer,” says Mike Huish CEO of Huish Outdoors.

The Oceanic+ app is expected to launch later this fall. It is subscription-based and includes a free version as well as a paid subscription for more advanced dive computer features.

Learn more about the Oceanic+ app and all features here.