The Oceanic+ Phone Housing is a dive case designed for scuba divers aiming to bring their iPhone underwater to use it for capturing photos and videos while at the same time getting valuable data about their dive on the same screen. The cornerstone of this device seems to be the Oceanic+ App that brings dive computer functionalities to the Oceanic+ phone case as well as the Apple Watch Ultra.

Join me as we explore this innovative product in our Oceanic+ Dive Phone Case Review 2024 and find out if the hype about the product and app are justified.

Overview of the OCEANIC Phone Case

The Oceanic+ dive phone case promises to deliver a high-quality underwater case along with an app that turns the device into a full-fledged dive computer. This is the most commonly seen ‘case + app’ approach that also other manufacturers use.

The case looks futuristic and has an appealing design. The heavy weight of 2.15 lb / 975 g is a sign of robust and durable build, safeguarding your smartphone while diving. An automatic vacuum pump seals the dive case firmly and a moisture sensor will alert divers in the case any water is detected inside the case.

iPhone users insert their phone into the case and need to use the subscription based Oceanic+ app to access all functionalities of the diving case. Furthermore a blue tooth connection to the phone is required and the dive case has an included battery that needs be charged separately before diving.

Pros and Cons

In a rush? Here is a concise list of pros and cons for the Oceanic+ Phone Case + the link to buy it.

Key Features and Benefits

Excellent Build and Design

One thing is for sure: the Oceanic+ case looks cool and futuristic. The ergonomic handle is marketed to provide excellent grip underwater. With only five buttons (for directional keys and one shutter button) the case seems user-friendly and easy to understand.

The weight of 2.15 lb / 975 g justifies the use of high-quality and durable materials which in turns gives credibility that the case will protect smartphones well at greater depths.

Depth Rating

With an impressive depth rating of up to 196 feet / 60 meter, the Oceanic+ Phone Case is suitable for serious divers and snorkelers alike. This depth rating is sufficient for most occasions in which you would want to take photos and videos on a dive.

Automatic Vacuum Pump

The diving case features an automatic vacuum pump that expels air out of the case upon closure to make sure the case is leak-proof. Should any moisture be trapped inside the case the seal check will alert you of this, so you can take immediate action. These features provide a high level of confidence that the smartphone will actually stay dry.

Dive Computer and Camera In One

While the primary reason to take your smartphone underwater is likely to snap photos and videos, you can also turn your smartphone into a dive computer. This is achieved through the Oceanic+ app that displays depth, temperature and other dive metrics right on the screen. The app can be set to work with gas mixes of Nitrox with up to 40% oxygen which appeals to more advanced divers.

The Oceanic+ App is highlighted as Apple’s preferred dive app for its Apple Watch Ultra and users of this app will be familiar with setting the app up for the Oceanic+ case.

Not only does the app help keeping track of safety stops and bottom time but it also saves GPS locations of your dive site and offers a compass for navigation while diving.

Limitations

Let’s talk about the limitations and shortcomings of the Oceanic+ Phone Case.

Only for iPhone users with iOS 16 or higher

If you do not own one of the newer iPhone models, you will miss out on this dive case. Since Apple and Oceanic collaborate on the development of the app and the case works only with the app, this will likely mean that users of Android and other smartphones will not be a priority in future development cycles.

App with Paid Subscription

To use the case as intended, you really need to purchase the subscription of the Oceanic+ App. While this ads a premium on the price of the housing, it gets worse if you want to give your dive case to a partner or friend, because they will need an active subscription for the app as well on their phone.

Electronic Components and Battery

The Oceanic+ Phone Case needs to be treated like a separate device and needs regular charging. If you forget to charge the case, you cannot use it. Furthermore, I have highlighted a few times on this blog that electronic components in a dive case add more points of failure to it.

Not For Light Travelers

A very noticeable draw-back of the durable built is the heavy weight of the case with 2.15 lb / 975 g. With most airlines allowing you to bring 50 lbs / 23 kg as check-in luggage on a plane, this case alone consumes 4% of your baggage allowance.

Compatibility and Accessories

The current version of the Oceanic+ Phone Case is compatible with iPhone models from the second SE edition up to the latest models, provided they have iOS 16 installed. While this lack of compatibility with Android phones is probably owed to the collaboration of Apple and Oceanic+, it is still what it is: a lack of compatibility.

In terms of accessories, Oceanic+ disappoints as the only accessories available are a travel box and a wrist lanyard. At least these two come with every Oceanic+ phone case, so you do not have to buy them separately. There are zero lenses, domes, filters or other accessories available. It seems as if Oceanic+ wanted to create an all-in-one dive case that does not need accessories and utilizes color correction software to replace a red filter.

My Personal Experience with the Oceanic+ Phone Case

As usual, I say straightforward whether I have actually tested a product or not. I did not try the Oceanic+ housing myself. I do think that I have a good insight into diving phone cases and thus want to give my impression from reviewing the specs and information found about this dive phone case.

I am a friend of wide compatibility and the least possible amount of extra apps, cables and batteries to charge. Unfortunately the Oceanic+ Phone Case scores badly in all of those categories. It has a battery that needs charging, it needs a paid subscription to an app and it can only be used with one iPhone. For additional phones (like that of your friends) you will need separate app subscriptions.

The upside of having a dedicated app to produce photos and videos underwater are the added features like color correction. This is indeed one of the major reasons for an additional app as it can potentially make your content look this much better, if the color correction works. Whether this is the case with the Oceanic+ case is up to the user to decide.

The Oceanic+ app appears to be in a sort of trial stage at this point, as the reviews in the App Store suggest that there is ample room for improvements. Even though I have an Apple Watch Ultra, I therefore do not use the Oceanic+ app at this point.

Despite all the critique, I do want to point out one aspect that I really like about the case: it looks very cool and solid. While this is not a reason for me to switch to this dive phone case, it is still noteworthy that Oceanic produced a device that truly stands out in its appearance.

Online Reviews

To give you an extensive view on the product showcased on this website, we always try to include independent online reviews in our articles. I intentionally never include reviews from a manufacturer’s online shop, as those reviews are easy to manipulate. Therefore this section is based on the only 14 written reviews available on Amazon at the time of writing.

The average rating on Amazon is 3.8 stars for the Oceanic Dive Phone Case.

Overall, while the Oceanic+ Dive Housing is generally well-regarded for its robust features and the integration of an app that functions as a dive computer, there are significant issues with software stability and usability that affected the user experience for some. These issues, particularly the difficulty in navigating photos and videos, were critical enough for some users to return the product.

Positive feedback centers on:

• App Integration: The Oceanic+ app, which doubles as a dive computer, was frequently mentioned as a standout feature. It offers real-time data and dive logging, enhancing safety and convenience.
• Photo Quality: Users reported excellent photo clarity and color accuracy due to features like automatic color correction and the ability to shoot in RAW, especially in challenging underwater conditions.
• Build Quality: The housing’s design and materials are praised for their durability and reliability. The sealing mechanism and vacuum pump are specifically noted for providing a secure, leak-proof experience.

Negative aspects mentioned:

• Software Issues: Some users encountered app crashes and software reliability issues during dives, which significantly detracted from the overall experience.
• Reviewing Images: One notable drawback is the cumbersome process of reviewing images on the device; users have to scroll through each photo and video one at a time to reach the latest one.
• Weight and Setup: There are concerns about the product’s heavy weight of 2.15 lb / 975 g.
• Technical Limitations: Problems like no image stabilization and difficulty editing RAW images were also reported.

Pricing and Availability

The Oceanic+ Dive Housing is priced at 489.95 USD on Amazon. While there is an official homepage with online shop, the case seem to be unavailable to buy directly from the brand. This price point places it in the premium range of dive phone cases as other brands offer their dive cases at half or less than half of this price. Added to this is the subscription fee for the Oceanic+ app which comes at 9.99 USD per month if you want to make use of the dive computer functionalities of the housing.

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

The Oceanic+ Dive Housing aims to be the flagship dive phone case for iPhone users. Through its collaboration with Apple in the development of the Oceanic+ app, the case promises to be an addition to the suit of devices of Apple users. In my opinion however, there are too few advantages and too many drawbacks to justify the price point. For Apple enthusiasts, that want to stay as close as possible to the Apple ecosystem and its devices, this diving phone case is as of now the best bet as the integration of the Oceanic+ app, the dive case and potentially an Apple Watch Ultra is likely to streamline usability.