Beneath the Lens: The Oceanic Housing Experience

Carlos Vadillo   Oct 24, 2024

Just How Well Does the Oceanic Housing Perform in the Wild? Our Divers Took it Out for a Spin and Reported Back!

By Carlos Vadillo and Alice Zhang

It’s no secret the Deep Ocean Explore Store has many different accessories for those who want to develop their photographic skills here at the Deep Ocean Explore Store. In the Beneath the Lens blog series, we are going to explore all of the different phone housings that allow divers to take their phones as dive cameras and computers underwater. This inaugural post is going to focus on Oceanic’s Housing and is based on the experience of a diver that regularly shoots with cameras underwater. They shared their candid experiences using it to capture stunning underwater footage, and we’re here to break down their feedback, highlighting the pros, cons, and unique features of the housing.

What Our Diver Liked

One of the standout features of the Oceanic Housing is its macro photography capabilities. Our diver was particularly impressed when they captured footage of a cilia and the rainbow lighting effect of the spot-wing comb jelly which highlights the intricate details and vibrant colors of the species. The housing's ability to capture fine detail, especially in close-up shots, makes it an excellent choice for those focused on underwater macro photography. This feature truly shines in scenarios where precision and clarity are key, offering a significant advantage for divers aiming to capture the smaller wonders of the ocean.

Another positive note was the convenience of file management. Our tester mentioned, "Everything that I captured is already in my dive log, and it’s also on my phone, so there’s no need to transfer." This seamless integration with the dive log and pictures makes it easier for divers to review their footage without the hassle of multiple transfers, making post-dive evaluations smoother. Another impressive feature of the Oceanic Housing is its integration with dive logs. This allowed the diver to track exactly when and where they encountered marine life, making it easier to review their footage and photos post-dive. With this feature, divers can effortlessly pinpoint the location and timing of their best shots, providing valuable insights into their underwater exploration and making it easier to organize and share their experiences.

What Can Be Improved

Despite the promising features, the Oceanic Housing did not come without its frustrations. One of the biggest pain points was the weight and handling of the device. Multiple divers found the setup heavy and cumbersome, especially compared to GoPro and other action cameras. The bulky nature of the housing was a concern, particularly for divers who prioritize ease of movement and minimal gear interference. Additionally, some of the divers were concerned that the housing could damage the environment by either bumping into coral or dragging along the floor.

In addition to the bulky nature of the housing, another challenge noted was the complex setup process for diving. In order to set up the phone properly there are many different screens that the diver needs to go through. There’s the additional nature of not being able to get the interior of the housing wet, and also setting everything up with the built in vacuum pump. Out in the water, there were times when key photos were missed because the settings of the phone were quite difficult to get set up underwater.

Battery issues were also a consistent problem. The user expressed frustration over how quickly the battery seemed to drain and the multiple steps required to preserve it. When the diver prepped the phone in advance, there was a chance that the phone’s battery would die and then essentially just be a brick underwater. This challenge can be a deal-breaker for divers who rely on their equipment for extended periods without constant battery charging.

An additional drawback to using this housing is Oceanic's subscription plan for their Oceanic+ app, which at $9.99 a month is their most expensive and only plan aimed at scuba divers. The plan is compatible with the Dive Housing and unlocks the full functionality of the app for scuba diving, offering advanced features such as color-corrected photo and video capture, integrated dive log, and depth tracking. To be blunt, the subscription is superfluous as most places where people share their photos already include some sort of filter option to help them improve their photos and videos. We feel that Oceanic may have lost the plot here with their subscription.

Comparing to the Competition

In comparing the Oceanic Housing to the GoPro, our diver found the GoPro's wide-angle capabilities and stabilization to be far superior. In key moments, like capturing balls of swarming fish, the GoPro gave a better video when compared with the iPhone in the Oceanic Housing. We do think that for amateur videographers who want to get great video footage of larger scenes and dynamic movement, the GoPro appears to be the preferred choice.
Additionally, the color correction on the Oceanic Housing was seen as lacking. This difference stems from the Oceanic app relies more heavily on manual adjustments for color correction. We’ve seen first hand that even after applying the app's color correction tools, the results were not as satisfying or natural as what we can achieve with the GoPro. Unfortunately, using the color correction through the Oceanic app requires more time and effort to produce desirable results.
GoPros tend to maintain color consistency across different scenes and lighting conditions, while the Oceanic Housing setup could produce uneven or inconsistent colors, which then needed to be corrected through the app. This inconsistency added another layer of frustration for users who wanted to quickly capture and share their underwater footage without extensive editing.

The Big Question: Should I Purchase It?

While the Oceanic Housing has some clear advantages, particularly in terms of macro photography and data integration, it faces significant challenges with usability, weight, and battery life. It can be a stressful product to use because of the complicated setup.

In essence, the Oceanic Housing may be suited for divers who prioritize detailed macro shots and don’t mind a more involved setup. However, for those looking for a versatile, easy-to-use solution that works seamlessly with wide-angle videography and offers better battery management, the GoPro  or other smaller action cameras might still be the go-to choice.

Have you tried the Oceanic Housing? Share your experiences with us in the comments below, and let us know what gear you prefer for your underwater adventures!