Oceanic+ App for Apple Watch Ultra Tested in Hands-On Reviews

[Steve686]

Thank you! Good to know. It's been a LONG time since I dipped in the sea (and I've never snorkelled or scuba dived) but am curious

Scuba Diving may actually be the reason Apple went with a Titanium casing.

Don’t be curious. It is a fantastic world I encourage everyone to see or try.

 

[thatsmeonlyme]

Using MacDive I miss an export functionality. Getting that I don´t have a problem paying for two weeks subscription.

 

[akouris]

The software is dissappointing to say the least, although I would characterize it as dangerous.

Although I have owned the watch for sometime, and I dive regularly, I had not used it as a dive watch since most of the dives I do are below the recreational level.

Recently I was at a cave site, and I volunteered to give my backup dive computer to another person since I thought I had another dive computer with me - the Ultra with Oceanic+.

This specific dive was not going to be a deep one (~20m), but it was extended (~150 minutes), and with the possibility of passing through restrictions, so to protect the watch I strapped it inside my drysuit pocket.

At some point, 60 minutes into the dive I decided to take a look at the Ultra. Instead of showing any dive information, it had a screen prompt saying "are you fit to dive?"!

I thought it was rather stupid for the watch to be asking me that after being for 60 minutes through a dive, but I pressed the button and the watch showed me the dive information.

The next day I had to dive the same location, and I followed the same routine. However I did not remove the Ultra from my pocket - not until I finished my dive.

Guess what: because I never answered the question, even though I was diving for 150 minutes, the Oceanic+ application did not record the dive, and did not offer any information for it.

I had to search through the apple watch logs in health.app to realize that the watch did record the dive - Oceanic chose not to offer information.

I have been diving for more than 10 years and own several dive computers (Suunto, Shearwater, Oceanic), and this is the first time that I have seen such complicated, unnecessary, dangerous UI prompts, and choices.

There is no explanation on why they would choose to
a) not show deco obligations just because you did not answer "yes" to their question
b) not record the dive at all

I find the design decisions of the Oceanic software team dangerous, and I would not recommend using this app to anyone. Not unless they treat this thing seriously.

 

[v3rlon]

The software is dissappointing to say the least, although I would characterize it as dangerous.

Although I have owned the watch for sometime, and I dive regularly, I had not used it as a dive watch since most of the dives I do are below the recreational level.

Recently I was at a cave site, and I volunteered to give my backup dive computer to another person since I thought I had another dive computer with me - the Ultra with Oceanic+.

This specific dive was not going to be a deep one (~20m), but it was extended (~150 minutes), and with the possibility of passing through restrictions, so to protect the watch I strapped it inside my drysuit pocket.

At some point, 60 minutes into the dive I decided to take a look at the Ultra. Instead of showing any dive information, it had a screen prompt saying "are you fit to dive?"!

I thought it was rather stupid for the watch to be asking me that after being for 60 minutes through a dive, but I pressed the button and the watch showed me the dive information.

The next day I had to dive the same location, and I followed the same routine. However I did not remove the Ultra from my pocket - not until I finished my dive.

Guess what: because I never answered the question, even though I was diving for 150 minutes, the Oceanic+ application did not record the dive, and did not offer any information for it.

I had to search through the apple watch logs in health.app to realize that the watch did record the dive - Oceanic chose not to offer information.

I have been diving for more than 10 years and own several dive computers (Suunto, Shearwater, Oceanic), and this is the first time that I have seen such complicated, unnecessary, dangerous UI prompts, and choices.

There is no explanation on why they would choose to
a) not show deco obligations just because you did not answer "yes" to their question
b) not record the dive at all

I find the design decisions of the Oceanic software team dangerous, and I would not recommend using this app to anyone. Not unless they treat this thing seriously.

Ack! That is flat out awful, and as you say, dangerous. I would expect more from a reputable company like Oceanic. None of there other computers ask that stupid question, so why does this one? Further, if you are 20 meters down, it doesn’t really matter if you are fit because you are, in fact, diving. If you are not 100%, it is even MORE important that you have good information. What does it do if you say no: tell you to get out of the water immediately? That could be unsafe if passed a deco limit or if you ascend too quickly in your haste to follow instructions.

 

[akouris]

Today I tried diving with the watch again. Activated a monthly subscription two days ago, set up nitrox gases, and when I dived the app locked and it kept showing me "sign up on your iphone" while I was diving. Good thing I had another dive computer with me.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

The software is dissappointing to say the least, although I would characterize it as dangerous.

Although I have owned the watch for sometime, and I dive regularly, I had not used it as a dive watch since most of the dives I do are below the recreational level.

Recently I was at a cave site, and I volunteered to give my backup dive computer to another person since I thought I had another dive computer with me - the Ultra with Oceanic+.

This specific dive was not going to be a deep one (~20m), but it was extended (~150 minutes), and with the possibility of passing through restrictions, so to protect the watch I strapped it inside my drysuit pocket.

At some point, 60 minutes into the dive I decided to take a look at the Ultra. Instead of showing any dive information, it had a screen prompt saying "are you fit to dive?"!

I thought it was rather stupid for the watch to be asking me that after being for 60 minutes through a dive, but I pressed the button and the watch showed me the dive information.

The next day I had to dive the same location, and I followed the same routine. However I did not remove the Ultra from my pocket - not until I finished my dive.

Guess what: because I never answered the question, even though I was diving for 150 minutes, the Oceanic+ application did not record the dive, and did not offer any information for it.

I had to search through the apple watch logs in health.app to realize that the watch did record the dive - Oceanic chose not to offer information.

I have been diving for more than 10 years and own several dive computers (Suunto, Shearwater, Oceanic), and this is the first time that I have seen such complicated, unnecessary, dangerous UI prompts, and choices.

There is no explanation on why they would choose to
a) not show deco obligations just because you did not answer "yes" to their question
b) not record the dive at all

I find the design decisions of the Oceanic software team dangerous, and I would not recommend using this app to anyone. Not unless they treat this thing seriously.

Gauges, especially dive computers, need to be checked immediately before and after entering the water, and regularly during the dive. Waiting for long into a dive to first look at any gauge/computer, including those used for backup, is unacceptably bad practice.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Unlike the added hose, because those never fail?

Correct. A pressure hose if it does fail it is by leaking and presents as an obvious string of bubbles observed at the first below-surface gear check. And even "failed" the leaking hose would still be doing its job of communicating real tank pressure air to the pressure gauge. Analog pressure gauges can (rarely) fail of course, and if they do it is a dive abort.

Plus as an instructor I strongly prefer the dangling hose with tank pressure because one's buddy, divemaster, etc. can routinely grab it and look at it, making an entire dive group more aware of everyone's air usage. If diver A has 1800# while diver B is at 900# and diver C is at 1100# that is critically useful dive info. It means we need to continue/modify the dive plan particularly watching B & C air usage, and it means we should particularly observe B & C for signs of distress or inefficient dive practices. And if I happen to be diver B I would want to think about my own diving efficiency.

IMO telemetered-only tank pressure should be restricted to well beyond sport diving level.

 

[Steve686]

Correct. A pressure hose if it does fail it is by leaking and presents as an obvious string of bubbles observed at the first below-surface gear check. And even "failed" the leaking hose would still be doing its job of communicating real tank pressure air to the pressure gauge. Analog pressure gauges can (rarely) fail of course, and if they do it is a dive abort.

Plus as an instructor I strongly prefer the dangling hose with tank pressure because one's buddy, divemaster, etc. can routinely grab it and look at it, making an entire dive group more aware of everyone's air usage. If diver A has 1800# while diver B is at 900# and diver C is at 1100# that is critically useful dive info. It means we need to continue/modify the dive plan particularly watching B & C air usage, and it means we should particularly observe B & C for signs of distress or inefficient dive practices. And if I happen to be diver B I would want to think about my own diving efficiency.

IMO telemetered-only tank pressure should be restricted to well beyond sport diving level.

Well, Diver B should just hold their breath for a while.
😂

Just kidding.

Jokes aside, I use a ScubaPro G2 wrist computer with a transmitter mounted on a 6 inch hose connected to my first stage.

Curious as to what your take on your dive plan with one diver already at 900psi? Aren’t you calling the dive there and not “continuing/modifying the dive plan” since Diver B is obviously consuming a higher rate of air and you still have to safety stop? I mean if Diver B is consuming a higher rate, you’re now going to more than likely be at or under 500psi by the time the safety stop is done depending on the depth you’re at when you start for the safety stop.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Well, Diver B should just hold their breath for a while.
😂

Just kidding.

Jokes aside, I use a ScubaPro G2 wrist computer with a transmitter mounted on a 6 inch hose connected to my first stage.

Curious as to what your take on your dive plan with one diver already at 900psi? Aren’t you calling the dive there and not “continuing/modifying the dive plan” since Diver B is obviously consuming a higher rate of air and you still have to safety stop? I mean if Diver B is consuming a higher rate, you’re now going to more than likely be at or under 500psi by the time the safety stop is done depending on the depth you’re at when you start for the safety stop.

My numbers were meant to be exemplary. In my experience much of the most interesting diving for beginner-intermediate level divers is found at shallower depths, ~5-15 meters. More light usually means more to see and visibility is better at shallower depths.

Reefs, for instance, often extend to above 5 m, so a dive profile can spend the second half of a dive slowly ascending the dive group to 5m while divers are still examining critters, doing drills, taking photos. Most of my dives (as many as possible) are configured that way.

So in my SCUBA world the example I gave typically might already have been at a relatively shallow depth, perhaps even ~5 m. There are exceptions of course (wrecks, deeper reefs, etc.) but personally I far prefer shallower diving due to better visibility, longer bottom times and inherently better safety.

 

[v3rlon]

Correct. A pressure hose if it does fail it is by leaking and presents as an obvious string of bubbles observed at the first below-surface gear check. And even "failed" the leaking hose would still be doing its job of communicating real tank pressure air to the pressure gauge. Analog pressure gauges can (rarely) fail of course, and if they do it is a dive abort.

Plus as an instructor I strongly prefer the dangling hose with tank pressure because one's buddy, divemaster, etc. can routinely grab it and look at it, making an entire dive group more aware of everyone's air usage. If diver A has 1800# while diver B is at 900# and diver C is at 1100# that is critically useful dive info. It means we need to continue/modify the dive plan particularly watching B & C air usage, and it means we should particularly observe B & C for signs of distress or inefficient dive practices. And if I happen to be diver B I would want to think about my own diving efficiency.

IMO telemetered-only tank pressure should be restricted to well beyond sport diving level.

A pressure hose DOES fail though, and, in my experience, more often because it moves around. That obvious stream of bubbles only works if it is in your line of sight. If it gives out near the first stage, you are left relying on someone else to spot it. You might hear it, but that is not a given.

All the information you want is still on my wrist, and easy enough to read. It would also be possible to set up so that you, as an instructor, could get readouts from all of your students if you were fairly close to them (as you should be). I'm surprised no one has made that 'dive instructor tablet' yet where you can read off the dive computers of say 6-8 students at a time.