Did you accidentally go swimming in the ocean with your Apple watch? Would you like to participate in an open-water swim and track your performance? In this case, you must know whether taking your Apple Watch with you is safe. Can an Apple Watch go in the ocean?
All Apple watches, from the series 2 and later, are water resistant for up to 50 meters and are safe to use in the ocean. The Apple Watch Ultra is a diving-orientated watch and is water resistant for up to 100 meters. However, the older a watch gets, the less water-resistant it becomes.
When it comes to expensive gear like Apple watches, you’ll want to be sure about the limitations and functions of the watch before exposing it to ocean water. We’ll discuss everything there is to know about the water resistance of Apple watches and if they can go in the ocean.
Can You Swim In The Ocean With An Apple Watch?
Smartwatches are amazing little tools capable of tracking your performance throughout various activities, including swimming.
But swimming in a pool and swimming in the ocean are two different things since the elements in the ocean are quite different from the ease of swimming in a pool. This might make you wonder if you can take your Apple Watch into the ocean.
Fortunately, most Apple watches are water resistant and can tolerate ocean water too. This is because the outer materials are made to withstand salt water without getting damaged. But not all Apple Watchstraps are safe to swim in the ocean.
The leather loop, model buckle, classic loop, Milanese, classic buckle, and link bracelet bands aren’t waterproof. Swimming with them in the ocean can ruin them or even cause you to lose your watch while swimming.
If you have one of these straps, you should swap it out with a silicone strap or sport strap from Apple. You can also purchase a cheaper strap to wear during water activities.
All models of the Apple Watch have some water resistance, and most models are safe for use in the ocean. This doesn’t mean you can go deep sea diving with the watch, but swimming, snorkeling, and surfing are fine while wearing your Apple watch.
However, it is recommended that you take off your Apple Watch when it comes to high-intensity watersports, like skiing, since the high impact may damage it. Repeatedly falling into the water at high speeds may lead to water damage.
Are Apple Watches Waterproof?
Although Apple watches are water resistant, they aren’t considered waterproof. The difference between waterproof and water-resistant depends on how much pressure the item can take before it gets water damaged.
Usually, tech items have an IP (ingress protection) rating that tells you what kind of water resistance you can expect. However, smart watches, like the Apple Watch, get their water-resistance score based on how much water pressure they can handle before getting damaged.
These experiments are conducted in a lab where the watches are exposed to increasing water pressure to determine how deep underwater their waterproof barriers hold.
Most Apple watches have a waterproof rating of 50 meters. You can dive 50 meters deep without the watch sustaining water damage. We wouldn’t recommend going that deep, however, since that is the utmost limit the watch can handle.
But it does mean that your Apple Watch is safe from damage when swimming and other water activities. These Apple watches are water resistant and not waterproof, so you cannot expose the watch to particular circumstances.
While you can safely go swimming with your Apple Watch, you should avoid exposing it to harsh chemicals or high pressure. For example, a high-pressure cleaner can cause water damage to your Apple watch. Soaps, sunscreen, and perfume can also cause the water-resistant layer to degrade, which may lead to water damage over time.
To avoid this from happening, rinse your Apple Watch with clean water after applying sunscreen and remove it while taking a shower. Also, rinse the watch after swimming in the ocean to prevent salt buildup on the watch. This can help protect the water-resistant layer and keep your watch watertight.
Are All Apple Watches Water Resistant?
All Apple watches have some water-resistant technology, but not all Apple watches are equally water-resistant.
For example, the first Apple Watch and Apple WatchS1 models are only splash resistant, meaning they can withstand getting wet. However, you cannot go swimming with these models or wear them while washing the dishes or taking a shower.
The following Apple watches have a water-resistance rating of 50 meters:
- Apple Watch S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8
- Apple Watch SE
- Apple Watch SE2
You can go swimming, surfing, and snorkeling with these watches in the pool or ocean, but you should avoid high-pressure water, like a pressure cleaner or skiing. Jumping into the water is fine, though, and won’t lead to water damage.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a water-resistance rating of up to 100 meters. This watch is for scuba diving and can withstand much more water pressure than the other Apple watches. Still, removing the Apple Watch Ultra when showering and using a high-pressure cleaner is recommended.
It’s also important to know that a watch’s water resistance reduces the older a watch becomes. Wearing your watch daily causes the outer protection from degrading over time, which may cause the Apple Watch to become less water resistant.
So, if your Apple Watch is a few years old, it may no longer be as water-resistant, and it might be safer to remove the watch when doing waterside activities. If your Apple Watch is new, you shouldn’t have any problems when taking it into the water.
Does Apple Warranty Cover Water Damage?
One final question people often ask when it comes to the water resistance of an Apple Watch is if your watch’s warranty covers water damage.
Unfortunately, the limited warranty on your Apple Watch does not cover water damage since there is no way to prove that the water damage occurred while you were busy using the watch correctly.
If your Apple Watch sustains water damage through whatever cause, you will not receive a free replacement. Instead, you must pay to have the watch fixed or replaced, even if your watch got damaged while swimming or washing the dishes.
This is why it is better to remove your Apple Watch for any activities that may compromise the water-resistant barrier, like skiing or showering. Then you’ll know that your watch is protected and won’t get water damaged.
Conclusion
You can go in the ocean with all Apple watches except for the Apple Watch and Apple Watch S1. Most Apple watches have a water-resistance rating of 50 meters, while the Apple Watch Ultra has a water-resistance rating of 100 meters.
