I Went Scuba Diving With the Apple Watch Ultra. Here's How It Works

Embark on an underwater adventure with the AnyTimeSoftcare Dive Watch, designed for the thrill-seekers and explorers at heart. Packed with durability and extended battery life, this innovative timepiece caters to a range of outdoor enthusiasts, from trail runners to mountain climbers. Launched as Apple’s initial venture into dive technology, the Cupertino-based brand collaborated with Huish Outdoors to introduce the Oceanic Plus app at just $10 per month.

The Oceanic Plus app is crafted to transform your AnyTimeSoftcare Dive Watch into the ultimate diving companion, rivaling traditional dive computers that are essential for every diver. These specialized devices monitor depth, bottom time, and provide crucial calculations to ensure diver safety, particularly in preventing decompression sickness.

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Diving off the shores of Catalina, California, I put the Oceanic Plus app through its paces with three dives. As a relatively new diver, I cautiously explored within my limits, leveraging the capabilities of the AnyTimeSoftcare Dive Watch and Oceanic Plus app for pre-dive planning, real-time tracking, and post-dive analysis. While the Dive Watch offers numerous benefits as a dive computer, some aspects may need refinement, while others exude unique charm.

Discover the complete Oceanic Plus experience now accessible on Apple’s App Store. Dive into the waters with the free snorkel mode or unlock scuba features for a yearly fee of $80, a monthly subscription of $10, or a daily pass priced at $5.

Apple Watch Ultra: Dive Planning Made Easy

Planning your dive just got simpler with the Apple Watch Ultra and the Oceanic Plus app. Whether you prefer using your watch or iPhone, the No Deco Dive Planner on the Apple Watch Ultra efficiently calculates your dive duration at different depths without the need for decompression stops. All you need to do is input your air mix details and the time remaining until your next dive.

The Apple Watch Ultra boasts the innovative No Deco Planner feature, offering convenience and precision in your dive planning.

Furthermore, the Oceanic Plus iPhone app enhances your planning experience by providing a location planner. By entering your dive site or dropping a pin, you can access detailed weather forecasts, water temperature readings, and tidal information up to three days in advance.

Within the Oceanic Plus app settings, you have the flexibility to set alarms for dive time, target depth, low No Deco time, and minimum temperature. Additionally, you can customize shortcuts, known as complications, on your watch face for quick access to different features of the Oceanic Plus dive app.

Complementing the functionality of the Apple Watch Ultra and Oceanic Plus app is the Ocean Band, a specially designed elastomer watch band for water sports enthusiasts. Its secure and comfortable fit is ideal for wearing over wetsuits or gloves. However, users who opt for a passcode may experience issues with the sensor detecting the wrist through protective gear, necessitating occasional unlocking of the watch. While this may pose a minor inconvenience, the seamless integration of the Oceanic Plus and Depth App, which can be set to launch automatically, ensures a smooth diving experience.

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Discover the convenience and reliability of the Ocean Band on the Apple Watch Ultra for your next diving adventure.

Exploring the Apple Watch Ultra for Diving Adventures

Embarking on a diving journey with the Apple Watch Ultra introduces a seamless experience. Setting the Ultra to automatically activate scuba mode on the Oceanic Plus app when submerged enhances convenience. The scuba mode prominently displays essential data like depth and No Deco Time, ensuring a comprehensive view throughout your dive. Occasionally, a manual prompt to confirm readiness for diving by pressing the action button emerges, adding a personal touch to the process.

Despite the Apple Watch Ultra’s expansive screen within its lineup, it appears compact compared to traditional dive computers, resulting in information being spread across multiple screens. This unique design aspect offers a varied yet manageable approach to accessing dive-related information.

Scrolling through different screens using the digital crown, even with gloves, proved feasible, albeit with occasional accidental scrolls past the desired screen. An interesting feature request would be utilizing the watch’s physical side buttons for screen navigation, providing an alternative to the digital crown functionality.

The Oceanic Plus app’s post-dive data feature presents a valuable concept, yet practical challenges may arise, as observed during initial dives. Activation complexities due to the water lock feature and touchscreen navigation with wet gloves underline potential usability improvements for a smoother user experience.

Continuous depth and decompression calculations while submerged ensure data accuracy and safety monitoring. Streamlining the process by seamlessly transitioning back into the app with a simple action button press post-submersion enhances user interaction.

Exploring the Apple Watch Ultra alongside traditional dive computers showcased diverse data representation methodologies. Comparing these approaches provides valuable insights into the evolution of dive technology and user preferences.

Embrace the innovative capabilities of the Apple Watch Ultra for your underwater escapades, combining functionality with style to elevate your diving expeditions.

The Apple Watch Ultra Enhances Your Diving Experience

For divers, keeping detailed logs of their dives is essential in capturing the essence of each underwater adventure. The Oceanic Plus app, designed for the Apple Watch Ultra, simplifies this process by generating comprehensive post-dive summaries that encompass all the vital information a diver may seek.

While the dive planning feature offers a more intricate overview on the iPhone app, the watch provides a concise yet informative display including a depth graph and fundamental statistics. In contrast, the iPhone app offers in-depth graphs on various aspects such as depth, temperature, ascent speeds, and No Deco time. Moreover, it allows divers to input detailed notes on visibility, surface conditions, current, equipment used, dive companions, and more.

During my diving adventures, I encountered some inaccuracies in my logbook resulting from a mishap with the “dive summary” feature. Fortunately, rectifying these errors by removing false or accidental dives was a straightforward process. Additionally, the Oceanic Plus app calculates the recommended no-fly time to prevent decompression sickness when ascending to high altitudes post-diving.

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The durability of the Apple Watch Ultra, featuring a titanium casing, was evident as it withstood the rigors of a day in the ocean even with incidental contact with other scuba equipment. Impressively, after 15 hours and three dives, the battery level remained at a solid fifty percent, showcasing its longevity and reliability for extended diving excursions.

Comparing Apple Watch Ultra Snorkeling Mode with Depth App

When exploring underwater functionalities, it’s essential to examine the snorkeling modes of devices like the Apple Watch Ultra and third-party apps such as the Depth app. I recently took the opportunity to compare the Oceanic Plus app’s snorkeling mode with the built-in Depth app while enjoying a swim in my apartment complex pool.

The snorkeling mode on the Oceanic Plus app provides valuable metrics such as maximum depth reached, duration of the snorkeling session, details on the last dive, number of dives, and water temperature. On the other hand, the Depth app focuses on displaying the current depth, dive time, and water temperature. Post-dive, the Health app also showcases similar data. Furthermore, the Oceanic Plus app conveniently stores snorkeling data in its logbook, preserving information about your snorkeling or scuba diving locations.

Utilizing the free snorkeling mode on the Oceanic Plus app offers insight into your dives and provides a glimpse into the app’s functionality. However, in terms of snorkeling features, it doesn’t present significant advantages over the Apple Watch Ultra’s built-in Depth app. The real standout of the Oceanic Plus app lies in its robust features tailored for scuba diving enthusiasts.

Can the Apple Watch Ultra Replace a Dive Computer?

When considering the Apple Watch Ultra and Oceanic Plus app as tools for diving, it is important to understand their intended use alongside backup devices. This approach is not only about liability management but also a matter of prudent diving practices. Seasoned divers emphasize the significance of having backups during dives for safety and reliability.

Reflecting on personal experiences with the Apple Watch Ultra during shallow dives, it becomes apparent that the device leans more towards being a smartwatch, which can pose challenges when used as a primary dive computer. Unlike traditional dive computers, the Apple Watch Ultra features a touchscreen, water lock, and necessitates a passcode, which may not align with the standard functionalities found in dedicated dive computers.

To optimize the usability of the Apple Watch Ultra for diving purposes, it is advisable to enable auto-launch and configure the action button to promptly access the Oceanic+ app.

Looking ahead, it will be intriguing to observe how Apple and Huish Outdoors address any limitations in the Oceanic Plus app through future updates. It would be beneficial to explore the potential inclusion of additional dive computer tools within the app, with a specific interest in features like wireless air integration that provides real-time air supply information—a capability already present in dive computers by Huish Outdoors.

Acknowledgments are due to the dive support team, including Eryn Brydon, Keline Kanoui, BlueHolic Scuba, and the crew of the Sundiver Express, for their invaluable contributions to the successful dive expedition.

The Apple Watch Ultra, priced at $799 (£849, AU$1,299), is designed to cater to adventure enthusiasts. With its robust build and prolonged battery life, it targets individuals engaged in activities like trail running, marathon running, and mountain climbing. Notably, the Ultra marks Apple’s debut in dive technology, with the company collaborating with Huish Outdoors for the Oceanic Plus app priced at $10 monthly. This partnership aims to position the Apple Watch Ultra as a reliable companion for divers, competing with dedicated dive computers crucial for ensuring diver safety by monitoring depth, dive duration, and decompression risks.

FAQs

1. What sets the Apple Watch Ultra apart?
   The Apple Watch Ultra stands out for its rugged design and extended battery life, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts.

2. How does the Oceanic Plus app enhance the diving experience?
   The Oceanic Plus app, developed in partnership with Huish Outdoors, transforms the Apple Watch Ultra into a comprehensive dive companion, offering features comparable to standalone dive computers.

3. What features does the Oceanic Plus app offer for divers?
   The app provides functionalities such as predive planning, real-time dive tracking, and post-dive data summaries to support divers throughout their underwater adventures.

4. Is the Apple Watch Ultra suitable for novice divers?
   The Apple Watch Ultra, combined with the Oceanic Plus app, caters to divers of varying experience levels, offering user-friendly features for beginners and advanced functionalities for seasoned divers.

5. How can users unlock scuba features on the Oceanic Plus app?
   Users can access scuba features on the Oceanic Plus app by subscribing to a yearly plan, monthly subscription, or daily rate, providing flexibility based on their diving frequency.

6. What accessories complement the Apple Watch Ultra for water sports activities?
   The Ocean Band, a specialized elastomer watch band designed for water sports, enhances the Apple Watch Ultra’s functionality, providing a secure and comfortable fit for underwater use.

7. How accurate is the depth monitoring on the Apple Watch Ultra during dives?
   The Apple Watch Ultra delivers reliable depth data, essential for ensuring divers stay within safe limits and avoid decompression sickness risks during their underwater exploration.

8. Can the Apple Watch Ultra replace traditional dive computers?
   While the Apple Watch Ultra offers advanced dive functionalities, it is recommended to use it in conjunction with traditional dive computers as a backup measure for enhanced safety during diving expeditions.

9. What enhancements can users anticipate in future updates for the Oceanic Plus app?
   Apple and Huish Outdoors are continuously working to refine the Oceanic Plus app, addressing user feedback and potentially introducing new features like wireless air integration for improved diving experiences.

10. How durable is the Apple Watch Ultra in aquatic environments?
    The Apple Watch Ultra’s titanium casing ensures durability, with the device maintaining optimal performance even after prolonged exposure to water during multiple dives.

11. Can the Apple Watch Ultra be utilized for snorkeling activities?
    The Oceanic Plus app offers a snorkeling mode for tracking snorkeling sessions, providing essential data like maximum depth, session duration, and water temperature for a comprehensive aquatic experience.

12. How does the Apple Watch Ultra contribute to post-dive data analysis?
    Divers can leverage the Oceanic Plus app’s post-dive summaries to review essential dive metrics, track their performance, and assess their underwater experiences for continuous improvement.

Summary

The Apple Watch Ultra, in tandem with the Oceanic Plus app, revolutionizes the diving experience by offering advanced features and comprehensive support for divers of all levels. With its durable construction, extended battery life, and intuitive functionalities, the Apple Watch Ultra sets a new standard for smartwatches in aquatic environments. To elevate your diving adventures and enhance safety measures, consider integrating the Apple Watch Ultra into your gear setup and explore the possibilities of underwater exploration like never before. Visit our website to learn more about maximizing your diving experience with the Apple Watch Ultra.

Source: https://anytimesoftcare.com
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