The diving world has been buzzing about the Suunto Ocean lately. With Garmin dominating the smart dive watch market for years, Suunto has finally entered the ring with their own take—and at a significantly lower price point. But is it actually a viable alternative? Let’s dive in.

The Quick Take

At around $800, the Suunto Ocean packs a serious punch. The AMOLED display is stunning, battery life is solid, and the Buhlmann algorithm with customizable gradient factors is a welcome upgrade over Suunto’s older models. The built-in topographic maps and improved underwater compass make it a well-rounded option for recreational divers.

Of course, it’s not perfect. There’s no desktop or web interface for dive logs, customization of dive screens is still somewhat limited, and the max depth is capped at 60m—so tech divers will need to look elsewhere.

What’s New?

Suunto has clearly been listening to diver feedback and has rolled out updates that improve both usability and functionality.

• Diving Features:

  • Enhanced compass with a bearing lock function
  • NDL planner for better dive preparation
  • Pre-defined conservatism levels for gradient factors
  • User-adjustable NDL alarms
  • Surface alarm for freediving

• General Features:

  • Live tracking with ZoneSense
  • More customizable data fields on watch faces
  • Improved map zooming up to 20km
  • Compass calibration fixes
  • Sleep tracking

How It Performs as a Dive Computer

For recreational divers, the Ocean gets most things right. The display is super easy to read underwater, the button navigation is intuitive, and air integration works seamlessly. The introduction of conservatism levels and an NDL planner makes it even more practical for those who want a bit more control over their dives.

The Trimix Debate

There’s been a lot of debate around whether the Suunto Ocean supports trimix. Some sources have suggested that it does, while others indicate otherwise. From what we’ve seen, trimix isn’t officially supported, and if you’re planning to get into technical diving, this simply won’t be the computer for you. The Garmin Descent Mk2i (or even Garmin Descent MK3) and Shearwater Perdix AI remain the better options for mixed-gas diving, thanks to their robust planning tools and deeper depth ratings. That said, for a purely recreational diver, trimix support is irrelevant, and the Ocean’s feature set is more than enough.

A Note About Decompression Algorithm

One thing that's generated a lot of discussion is the Ocean's implementation of the Bühlmann algorithm. Suunto has moved away from their traditional RGBM (Reduced Gradient Bubble Model) to what they call "Suunto's Bühlmann 16 GF dive algorithm" based on the ZHL-16C model.

The default settings (40/85 GF) tend to be more conservative than some other computers. For context, at 25m/82ft on air, you might see 5-7 minutes less NDL time compared to computers like the Mares Puck. This isn't necessarily a bad thing—more conservative algorithms provide an additional safety margin—but it's something to be aware of.

While you can adjust the Gradient Factors, there's been some debate about how Suunto has implemented the algorithm. Some divers report that you might need to set slightly higher GF values on the Ocean to match the same conservatism level as other computers (for example, 45/90 on the Ocean might roughly correspond to 40/85 on a Shearwater).

Real-World Performance

Divers report solid real-world usage: the screen remains readable at depth, the compass is finally reliable, and the fit is comfortable even with thick exposure suits. The dive planner updates make it easier to prepare for dives, and the improved battery efficiency helps stretch out longer trips.

The Competition

vs. Garmin Descent Series:

• The Ocean is far cheaper.
• Garmin still leads in advanced dive planning (including trimix support).

vs. Apple Watch Ultra:

• Ocean has better native dive features and no subscription fees.
• Battery life is significantly better.

Should You Buy It?

Go for the Ocean if:

• You want an all-in-one device for both diving and fitness tracking.
• You primarily do recreational diving.
• You want to save money compared to Garmin alternatives.

Skip it if:

• You need technical diving capabilities (trimix, deeper depths, deco planning).
• You prefer extensive dive log management on a desktop.

The Verdict

Suunto has done a great job refining the Ocean into a real competitor in the dive computer market. It’s an excellent choice for recreational divers who want a high-end display, solid battery life, and useful planning tools without dropping over a grand on a Garmin.

That said, if tech diving is in your future, you’re better off investing in a Shearwater or Garmin model from the start. But for the vast majority of divers, the Suunto Ocean is a fantastic option that balances features and price exceptionally well.

One area where it could improve? Dive logging. The built-in app works, but it's pretty basic. If you're serious about tracking and analyzing your dives, you'll want something more robust. We've built DiverPlus with that exact idea in mind—whether you're using a Suunto, Garmin, or any other dive computer, having a dedicated, independent logbook can be a game changer for tracking your diving journey.