Watch SE NOT water resistant as advertised

I’m writing this to share my experience with the Apple Watch SE and to highlight my frustration with the product’s performance and Apple’s policies.

Recently, I used my Apple Watch SE for snorkeling in the ocean, staying at depths of less than 1 foot for approximately 45 minutes. I made sure to follow all guidelines, and I used the watch exactly as advertised: it is marketed as water-resistant up to 50 meters, suitable for activities like swimming and snorkeling. However, despite being used in conditions well within its specifications, the Genius Bar hypothesizes that the watch suffered water damage (although they did not open the watch and verify).

The watch shows no physical signs of damage. I uploaded photos to Apple Support, clearly showing that there are no cracks or external damage. Despite this, the watch still sustained damage from water exposure.

My watch is currently 64 days out of warranty, though I was informed that even if it were within warranty, this kind of water damage would not be covered by Apple. I find it incredibly frustrating that a product marketed as water-resistant to a depth of 50 meters failed to perform as expected, even with proper use.

As a loyal Apple customer who has owned many apple products (iPhones, AirPods, MacBooks, MacMini, iPad, Apple Watches, etc), I’ve always trusted the brand’s quality and durability. This experience has seriously shaken my confidence in that trust, and I wanted to share it with the community in the hopes that others can learn from it.

Has anyone else experienced similar issues with the Apple Watch SE or other Apple products? I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts or advice on how to approach situations like this, especially when a product doesn’t live up to the expectations set by its marketing.

Thanks for listening!