Abstract: Oceanic turbulence is an important factor to restrict the application of underwater optical communication. Phase screen method is a simple and effective way to simulate the propagation process of complex beams through turbulence. The constraints of parameter setting for phase screen simulated oceanic turbulence based on the sampling principle and turbulence effects were firstly discussed here. Furthermore, the theoretical expressions of propagation characteristics of Gaussian beam through oceanic turbulence from weak to strong fluctuation regime were derived. Our goal in this research was to testify the validity of phase screen method in oceanic turbulence by comparison of major statistical characteristics of Gaussian beam propagating in oceanic turbulence simulated by phase screen method and the theoretical expressions derived. Results show good match between simulation results and theory formulas for long exposure beam radius and centroid displacement under different turbulence conditions, as well as the scintillation index under weak fluctuation regime. However, results show significant mismatch between numerically estimated and theoretically predicted values for the on-axis scintillation index in strong fluctuation regime.