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 the right way: The Oceanic + Watch app—running on the new Apple Watch Ultra—was designed in collaboration with renowned wetsuit maker, Oceanic ( owned by Huish Outdoors). It is EN13319 certified, the international standard for depth gauges and other diving accessories.
Made for recreational scuba diving and diving to a depth of 130 feet (40 meters), the Apple Watch Ultra, loaded with the Oceanic+ app, organizes the information you need during your dive on separate crowns, accessed through the Digital Crown (redesigned to be easier on gloves). According to Apple, color coding is used “on large, bright screens to make complex information easy to understand.” As the Cupertino company pointed out, that screen is the largest (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. “The Oceanic+ iPhone app not only calculates depth and time by integrating local conditions such as tides, water temperature, and even community-provided information such as display and flow. Or simply use your watch to plan a quick and easy dive.” Needless to say, you can get data from your dive immediately after emerging — including GPS entry and exit points — and records are organized in a built-in log.
Oceanic+ runs the Bühlmann decompression algorithm, and it’s not surprising that Apple says the app provides all the safety warnings you’d expect from a dive computer—“from decompression limits to excessive speeds and safe stops”. For snorkeling or other fun water activities, the Depth app — which can be made to activate automatically when you’re submerged — provides information like time, water temperature, current depth at, the time spent underwater and the maximum 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 spring-loaded titanium adjustment ring for “a super secure fit, even during high-speed water sports.” . With the attachable strap extension, you can wear the watch over your 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 only allow snorkeling with the Apple Watch Ultra. For the full dive version with advanced dive calculator 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 23 and cost $800 with the Ocean Band.
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Huish Outdoors Launches World’s First Apple Watch Diving Calculator App
New Oceanic+ App Expands Interest and Engagement in Recreational Underwater Diving
Salt Lake City, UT, September 7, 2022 — Oceanic, a leading innovator in diving for over 50 years and a pioneer of one of the first diving computers, announced today at Apple Keynote on the official launch of the Oceanic+ native app, available for free download in the App Store this fall. The Oceanic+ app allows Apple Watch Ultra users to use their device as a dive computer.
“We designed the Oceanic+ app with all the key features for recreational divers and snorkelers,” said Mike Huish, CEO of Huish Outdoors. “The familiar user interface makes it easy to plan your dive. Even better, our dive planner does more than just calculate depth and time, by integrating diving conditions including tides, water temperature and even updates from community like visibility and flow. “
Unlike most dive computers — which require the user to learn a complex sequence of button presses to find the information they need — the Oceanic+ app uses familiar gestures to access additional screens. , such as setting compass heading. In addition, Oceanic+ offers all the technology expected from today’s most advanced diving computers, from decompression limits to excessive climb rates and safety stops.
The Oceanic+ app runs the Bühlmann decompression algorithm that continuously calculates and monitors diving parameters, so all the important information is at a glance. While underwater, your dive readings are simple and easy to read on the large, bright display using intelligent color coding, which makes complex information easy to understand — whether you an experienced or beginner diver.
Oceanic+ app users will receive dive data immediately after diving — including the user’s GPS entry and exit positions. This data automatically appears on the iPhone user’s device and can be saved in the Cloud, where Oceanic+ app users can view a summary of their dive records, organize and search for previous dives here in their diary and instantly share their adventures with family and friends. as a community.
Oceanic has a number of interesting 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 diving computer. This case allows iPhone users to take a color corrected photo while seeing their dive computer information overlaid on their iPhone and is now available for pre-order. here.
“We’re excited to partner with Apple to combine our world-renowned diving expertise with the unique ability of the Apple Watch Ultra to transform the watch you wear every day into an innovative dive computer. ,” said 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 calculator features.
Learn more about the Oceanic+ app and all its features here.
