Android
Can an Android Phone Be a Dive Computer?
Short answer: not on its own. What a phone can and can't do underwater, the Wear OS and housing options that exist, and the setup we'd actually recommend.
No, an Android phone can't be a dive computer on its own. A phone has no depth sensor you can rely on, can't be used at depth without a housing, and a dive computer is safety equipment that has to be built, tested and worn for the job. Android is excellent at everything around the dive (planning, logging, checking conditions, learning) while a dedicated dive computer does the diving. A few Wear OS apps and external sensor housings exist, with real caveats.
- Phone alone
- No
- Safest setup
- A dedicated dive computer
- Android's job
- Plan, log, conditions
- Exotic options
- Wear OS apps, sensor housings
It's a fair question. The Apple Watch Ultra became a dive computer with the right app, so surely Android has an equivalent? The answer is more complicated, and because it's about your safety at depth, it's worth being completely clear.
Why a phone alone doesn't work
- No dependable depth sensor. Phones measure air pressure for weather and altitude, not water pressure at depth.
- Not made to be used at depth. Even in a housing you can't read it at a glance, and the touchscreen won't work through the case.
- Dive computers are safety equipment. They're designed, tested and certified for one job. A failure at depth is dangerous, which is why many divers carry a backup.
The options that do exist
| Option | What it is | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| A dedicated dive computer | A purpose-built wrist or console computer | None: this is the recommended route |
| Wear OS dive apps | Apps for rugged Wear OS watches, some open source and built on Bühlmann ZH-L16C | Need a watch with a pressure sensor and a dive-rated case, and they're community projects, not certified products |
| External sensor housings | Kit such as Diveroid mini, DivePhone and Kraken systems that send depth data to a phone app | Specialist kit; check the maker's claims and depth ratings |
| Garmin and Suunto watches | Dive watches with their own phone apps | The phone app reviews dives; the watch does the diving |
If you ever dive with anything other than a recognised dive computer, learn exactly what it measures, how it fails and what your backup is. When in doubt, use a computer from a dive brand and carry a backup or tables.
What Android is brilliant for
Diving Standard on Android is built as a companion to your dive computer. It plans the dive with no-stop, nitrox, gas and deco planners, logs it in ten seconds with a depth profile and 3D replay when the data is there, shows live sea conditions for your site, teaches you with seven illustrated courses, and connects you with sea lovers near you. It doesn't measure depth or run a dive, and it says so.
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If you have an iPhone
On iPhone, Diving Standard's Apple Watch app works as a recreational dive computer on an Apple Watch Ultra. See the best dive computer apps for Apple Watch Ultra. On Android, pair the app with a dedicated computer.
Plan, log and learn on Android
A free companion to your dive computer: planners, a logbook, live conditions and courses. Download Diving Standard from Google Play.
Get it on Google PlayFrequently asked questions
Can I use my Android phone as a dive computer?
No, not on its own. A phone can't measure depth reliably or be read underwater. Use a dedicated dive computer and an Android app for planning and logging.
Is there a dive computer app for Wear OS?
Some community and open-source apps exist for Wear OS watches with a pressure sensor and a dive-rated case. They aren't certified products, so understand their limits before relying on one.
Can an Android app plan my dive?
Yes. Planners give no-stop limits, nitrox mixes, gas needs and deco schedules to study before a dive. In the water, follow a dive computer.
What is the best way to log dives on Android?
Use a logbook app such as Diving Standard, Subsurface or DiveMate, and import data from your dive computer where you can.