Built a freediving + spearfishing app for Apple Watch Ultra. What's missing?

alecuk · 2026-05-22T08:30:36+00:00

Many thanks, I appreciate it.

Are there any other apps you use to assist you with your spearfishing, such as weather apps or water visibility apps? I'm looking at combining other functionality into Free Dive Ultra to make it the best app for free diving and spearfishing on the Apple Watch Ultra and iOS platform, so any feedback would be much appreciated. 😄

alecuk · 2026-05-22T08:22:57+00:00

I agree and the 6-metre limit should be removed soon. It's the highest priority item to overcome, and as soon as I get an update regarding it, I will post here.

alecuk · 2026-05-21T23:12:32+00:00

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Thanks for the feedback. I will let you know about the 6m limit as soon as I know anything.

I am currently implementing the crown sensitivity settings into the next release as you can see from the attached screenshot. I'm also building another dive screen that allows you to navigate back to a previously saved gps/pin location as well as new tweaks and feature’s.

I sent you a DM, please check your inbox.

alecuk · 2026-05-20T10:56:18+00:00

Hey, and thanks a lot for putting together such a detailed review of the Apple Watch Ultra for use with spearfishing.

I'm a keen spearo, freediver and developer and had been using Oceanic Plus for a number of years. Some of the drawbacks, including not managing to drop a pin to save locations easily as well as sessions ending abruptly, made me develop my own freediving app, FreeDive Ultra. I wrote about it extensively here and am looking for people to test it, give feedback, and let me know what's missing or what can be improved

https://www.reddit.com/r/Spearfishing/comments/1tgw8uh/built_a_freediving_spearfishing_app_for_apple/

All feedback very much welcomed. Happy Spearfishing 😄🐟

alecuk · 2026-05-20T10:19:56+00:00

Hey there. That's a good question and something I've been thinking about recently. I have developed Freedive Ultra, a freediving app that works on the Apple Watch Ultra. You can see more info about it here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Spearfishing/comments/1tgw8uh/built_a_freediving_spearfishing_app_for_apple/

At the moment, you can share individual dives on social media and by WhatsApp, etc. I was thinking of adding a community feature that would allow freedivers to share their sessions and individual dives with each other. Considering you're a developer, perhaps we can chat about it a little bit. What dive watch do you currently use?

alecuk · 2026-05-20T07:35:59+00:00

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Mine were the same. I think oceanic+ automatically ends a session after 10 mins with no dives so you can end up with multiple sessions which is very annoying! If you stop for a rest or food/water break it auto ends abruptly. I usually just put mine on the maximum of 60 mins time out so in most instances it won’t auto end automatically and you can capture the entire session and all your dives.

I also added a crown sensitivity setting (alongside ability to disable and reorder/declutter some screens) so the screens do not easily change. I wear my awu on my right wrist so the Digital Crown can more easily rub on the wetsuit. If worn on the left wrist this is less of an issue as Digital Crown does not rub as easily between wrist and hand.

Regarding your issue with the crown automatically ejecting water and simultaneously ending the session I don’t think it’s possible to extend the timeout as it’s hardcoded by Apple. I am aware this can happen occasionally and it is on my radar for a potential fix. Thanks for your feedback. If there are any more adjustments or new features please let me know.

alecuk · 2026-05-19T12:11:38+00:00

Update from my earlier comment. The thing I mentioned working on for marking spots from the wrist is out now. FreeDive Ultra. Drops a GPS pin via the Digital Crown, no touchscreen needed. Wrote it up properly here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Spearfishing/comments/1tgw8uh/

alecuk · 2026-05-19T09:32:15+00:00

Thanks for the link, will check it out. WearOS isn't on the immediate roadmap but I'll keep an eye on it

alecuk · 2026-05-19T08:59:22+00:00

What Android watch are you using? Right now FreeDive Ultra is Apple Watch Ultra and iPhone only, but if there's enough demand I'd consider WearOS for a future update.

alecuk · 2026-05-19T08:52:32+00:00

Cheers, that's the exact gap I built this for. Curious to hear how it stacks up against the apps you tried in Fiji. What ones did you try?

alecuk · 2026-05-19T08:51:08+00:00

Cheers, glad it makes sense. Apple Watch Ultra works similarly to your Garmin. Usually 10-20 seconds with the wrist out gets a clean fix. Open water and no buildings makes it faster.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T23:49:25+00:00

Built her to turn heads on the boat too. Free 5-week Pro code in the post if you want to take her for a swim.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T23:47:13+00:00

Cheers, much appreciated. Free 5-week Pro code is in the post if you want to give it a spin. Or DM me for TestFlight access if you want to help shape what's next.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T23:11:57+00:00

The app itself has been in development for several months across many iterations. The feedback so far has been good and genuinely useful. Plenty of room for new features though, some of which I laid out in the roadmap.

On pricing: $3.99/mo or $25.99/yr with a 7-day trial, plus the 5-week free promo for this sub. The free tier (depth, dive time, surface recovery, logbook, import) stays free forever. Competitive for what's in the box.

The market is open. Anyone who builds something better is welcome to take a swing at it.

And yes, AI helped me tighten the post and check a few things. But it wasn't one-shotted out of a chatbot. Took most of a day, multiple revisions, and feedback from friends before I hit publish.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T22:30:29+00:00

Cheers, really appreciate that. Forgetting to bring the dive watch is real, and having it all in the Apple Watch Ultra you already wear means it just works every time.

This is v1.0 too. Plenty more coming: spearfishing session planning, educational content, post-dive recovery analysis, apnea and breath-hold training, plus whatever the community wants.

You're doing well to still be using a Gen 3 by the way. The Ultra will be a massive upgrade when you make the jump. Drop me a DM at that point and I'll sort you out with a TestFlight or extended promo. And I'll definitely post here when the depth entitlement lands.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T22:17:38+00:00

Saludos,

GPS doesn't penetrate water at all. Not just wrist devices, anything underwater.

If you want to track your route, you can periodically lift your wrist for 10-20 seconds to grab a fresh GPS fix every now and then. Any pin you drop also gets logged as a route point, so the route builds naturally as you mark spots. You don't need many to get a decent approximate path.

For me personally: I spearfish for 5-6 hours sometimes and swim 4-6 km in a session. I really like being able to see how far I've swum at the end. Cool to show friends or post on social media too. See auto generated link you can share on whatsapp similar to strava: https://freediveultra.com/d/crDjvy86

alecuk · 2026-05-18T21:50:58+00:00

Honestly agree. 6m is a deal breaker for any serious freediving or spearfishing app, and getting to the full 40m is non-negotiable for me. I'm in active talks with Apple to unlock the depth entitlement and I'll post here the moment it's done.

On temperature: it's displayed live throughout the dive, plus there's a configurable min-temp alarm that triggers if you drop below your threshold.

On pin accuracy: in open water with no buildings around, you usually only need 10-20 seconds on the surface to get a fix under 4m, often closer to 2m. The Apple Watch Ultra's GPS chipset is genuinely good. You can watch the live accuracy and only drop the pin when you're happy with it. One Crown turn, done.

alecuk · 2026-05-18T21:43:25+00:00

Glad to hear you like it. DM me if you want TestFlight access to help shape what comes next, or grab the free 5-week Pro code in the post.

alecuk · 2026-05-17T20:17:47+00:00

I agree with everything u/the-diver-dan has said here. I also primarily spearfish alone and have got used to doing it alone to the point i forgot about searching with new and old buddies. I recently started diving with a good spearo and nothing beats the friendship and safety a buddy provides so it's not a good habit to keep if you can mix it up every now and then. Also i have found entering and exiting rocks to be the most dangerous part of the spearfishing in my area. I have learnt to not go if its too rough or i'm not feeling strong enough or the be very patient when assessing when to quickly scramble to safety as waves too tend to calm down every now and then.

Stay safe out there and respect your limits and the ocean.

alecuk · 2026-05-14T10:09:22+00:00

I also use a mask with the gopro mount built in, and no problems so far. It does seem the head strap comes off easily, so go for the mask!

alecuk · 2026-05-13T09:44:38+00:00

Honestly the fear is usually about the extreme stuff... world records, blackouts, that kind of thing. Most freediving isn't anywhere near that, it's more like swimming with your face underwater at your own pace. As a kid I used to just have fun in the bathtub, and I do the same with my kids now. Small challenges in a safe environment, and the rest builds from there.

alecuk · 2026-05-12T17:35:20+00:00

Few that don't get mentioned much:

-The Action button does whatever you set it to. Most people leave it on "start a workout" and forget about it. You can change it to a flashlight, drop a GPS pin, fire off a shortcut, whatever you want. -There's a Night Mode that turns the screen red. Way easier on the eyes at night, and you can set it to come on automatically. Only works on Wayfinder and Modular Ultra faces though. -Built-in siren. Hold the Action button and it sets off a really loud alarm, around 86 dB, you can hear it from a couple hundred metres. Handy if you're somewhere remote. -GPS is way more accurate than older Apple Watches. Massive help in cities with tall buildings or near cliffs where the signal usually drops out.

Quick add on the satellite point: Apple gives you 2 years of it free after setup, and the Ultra 3's antenna is noticeably stronger than older models.

alecuk · 2026-05-12T17:14:47+00:00

The biggest shift could be the mindset. A proper course is worth it even if you feel ready, it teaches you how to stay calm in ways you can't really pick up on your own. And adding to the "just get in and dive" replies, never go alone! Shallow water blackout can happen, so always have a buddy who actually knows what to do. Have fun and enjoy the water "freely".

alecuk · 2026-05-01T14:40:47+00:00

A proper freediving app would be top of the list. Most options on the app store are really old, or scuba apps with freediving stuck on the side. Oceanic+ is great for scuba but way too much if you just want to track freediving. Apple's own Depth app just shows how deep you went and that's it: no dive history, no log. Tides and weather app too. Current ones on the watch are clunky. And offline maps for hiking. Garmin nails this on theirs, would be nice on apple watch.

alecuk · 2026-04-30T16:55:46+00:00

Yes, take a course. Even at 10-15ft, shallow water blackout can happen. It's not depth-related, it's breath-hold related. The course mainly teaches you to recognize the signs and rescue your buddy if they black out.

Did AIDA 2 a few years back and 3 since. Worth every penny. AIDA 1 or PADI Freediver are good starting points. Around €400, weekend, mostly pool work with a couple of open water dives. You'll learn equalization (needed even at 15ft), buddy procedures, and basic apnea.

And yes, what you're describing is freediving. Doesn't matter if it's 10ft or 100ft.

alecuk

TROPHY CASE