Ahead of the launch of the app on the Apple Watch, a few people got to try it out. The Apple Watch Ultra can be used as a dive computer for recreational scuba diving at depths up to 40 meters.
The image is from the tech site.
When dissolved gases like nitrogen in the blood and tissues form bubbles inside the body due to rapid depressurization, it's called decompression sickness. Decompression sickness can be prevented by measuring the depth and elapsed time during a dive and using an algorithm to warn you if you're going too fast.
The Bhlmann decompression algorithm is widely used in the scuba diving industry.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a nicer user experience than traditional dive watches.
The Apple Watch Ultra's huge touch-screen makes the user experience significantly nicer than on traditional dive watches, which can be pretty indecipherable from time to time. Think user interfaces that seem like relics from the 1980s Casio watch era, and you get a pretty good idea.
The app's color-coded safety warnings for no-decompression limit, excessive ascent rates, safety stop guidance, and water temperature are all praised by Jankamps.
Jan Kamps was impressed with the Apple Watch Ultra and said it was better than his dive watch.
Once in the water, there is remarkably little to say about the Apple Watch Ultra as a dive computer: It's easy to use; the crown and buttons are phenomenal as far as user interfaces go, the screens are well-designed; and the important information is clear and very easy to read.
I brought my trusty old Suunto that has been with me on many a dive to serve as my secondary dive computer for these test dives. The readouts from the two dive computers were almost identical all the way through. The small differences can be attributed to having the Suunto in my pocket while the Apple Watch was on my wrist.
Two out of 40 divers who were tested with the app had problems, but he wasn't sure if it was the result of user error or if the app malfunctioned.
The Apple Watch Ultra has new depth gauge and water temperature sensors. The Apple Watch Ultra is an "absolute bargain compared to every dive computer on the market today" according to Jan Kamps.
The Apple Watch Ultra being a smartwatch made it difficult to use. He said that most dive computers don't have a touchscreen or a water lock, and they don't require a password.
The Digital crown can be difficult to scroll through.
Scrolling through the various screens with the digital crown was doable in gloves, but I accidentally scrolled past the screen I wanted a few times. I wish I could use the Apple Watch Ultra's physical side buttons to "press and hold" and toggle through the different dive screens.
Ray Maker agreed.
About the only complaint I'd have was that the digital crown underwater seemed a bit finicky in terms of over-spinning the data pages. Getting it exactly the page I want was sometimes tricky. I'd imagine with gloves it'd be messier. It's almost like the sensitivity was…well…too sensitive. But that's a minor nit overall.
The Apple Watch Ultra can't show how much air is left in a tank like a dive computer can.
Maker liked the app.
As for the Oceanic+ app, it's a solid starting point, especially for casual divers. It includes everything pretty much any casual diver would need, and does it in a silly easy to use fashion. I mean, you literally just drop in the water and the app automatically starts. You don't even need to press anything to use the app. During the dive, it dutifully let me know when it was time to head up, as well as would have alerted me had I ascended to fast. It also kept track of my safety stop and reminded me of that as I passed up through that depth.
In an indoor diving facility, the Apple Watch Ultra's depth tracking was very close to that of the Descent G1 dive computer.
A log of most recent dives is included in the basic plan for snorkelling. For $4.99 per day, $9.99 per month, or $799.99 per year, more experienced scuba divers can get access to more features. The pricing is reasonable for casual divers who own an Apple Watch Ultra.
It requires an Apple Watch Ultra running watchOS 9.1 or later coupled with an iPhone 8 or later in order to use the app. Detailed post-dive summaries can be found in the companion app.
According to Apple, users should always follow diving protocols, dive with a companion, and have a secondary device.
Mark Evans is a scuba diver.
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