Need dive watch recommendations for a scuba diver
My 27-year old son recently started scuba diving. Of course my first question was what watch is he using. He has a dive computer but a reliable dive watch is a recommended back up. I cringed when he told me he was using a Casio G-shock that I bought for him when he was in high school. Last time I changed its battery, I used the same o-ring on the case back. Wondering if an actual diver can recommend a good watch in the $500 range. He only dives to a depth of about 150 feet. I searched around online for “best dive watch under $500”, but they don’t seem to be geared toward actual divers. They use phrases like weekend adventurers. One watch only had a 100m WR rating. That’s barely adequate for a swimming pool. Thanks.
Mechanical engineer/rocket scientist 🚀 I’ve worked my entire career in aerospace at Kennedy Space Center, 20+ years in the space shuttle program. Currently working on Artemis/Orion. Avid mechanical w...
Casio Duro, Orient Mako, Kanno, Kamasu, Seiko Turtle or Samurai, Scurfa Diver One
The Orient Kamasu is great bang for buck or if you want big and easy to read the Seiko Arnie.
I love the romance of a legit dive watch, but when it’s your actual life at risk? Dive computer + watch for show.
I would say that any of the Seikos rated to 200m+ will do the job. My understanding is that any watch with good legibility, unidirectional bezel, and water resistance will do.
I’ve been diving since the early 90’s. I agree with everything @ayadai said above. If you want to get him a dive watch anyway for other reasons, like to show emotional support, a nice one under $500 might be a Seiko SRPE93 or SRPE03.
Thanks for the info. Really helpful.
Sounds like a good dive watch is not as necessary as I thought. I will take a look at the recommendations you all have provided and talk to my son. Thanks for the input!
Your going in the water? There be sharks in the water.
A new g-shock would be a good bet.
Scurfa.
Made by a legit saturation dive dude and look awesome. Can be found used on the bay.
Or Momentum Sea Quartz or M-Ocean 38.
If automatic is wanted and you want big tool-ish looks, budget price, join the wait-list for a Helm Vanuatu or Komodo.
New G Shock or an Orient as others have said.
Wanna cause an aneurism amongst watch enthusiast divers, wear a Casio F-91W. Either Hodinkee or Watchuseek has an article where a diver tried to kill it underwater and couldn't. Had pictures to prove it.
Also anything with a good seal/service record and is 30m WR and you are good to go. You'd really only be using the watch topside anyway, and for looking cool under as others have mentioned.
Never forget Rule No. 1: Always look cool! 🤘🏻🤙🏻😎
Your going in the water? There be sharks in the water.
A new g-shock would be a good bet.
Scuba armor made entirely out of a g shock?!😂
If you are still looking for a dive watch under $500, you can't go wrong with an entry level Seiko Prospex. All the dive watches are ISO rated. There solar quartz and mechanical variants so you got plenty of options.
https://www.seikowatches.com/us-en/products/prospex/lineup
Seiko SNE575 and other models
Seiko SRPE03/SRPE05
Seiko SRPE93
Other good ISO option, Citizen Fugu Ecodrive.
Any Seiko Prospex.
Ecozilla from Citizen 🙌🏻
Or the Citizen Promaster dive GMT…
Soooo nice😎⚙
When I dove, my dive partner doesn't want to dive anymore (we're both Advanced Open Water certified, btw), I used a Casio digital as my backup. Rated to 300 meters and never failed.
Pretty much any watch rated to 200/300m works for sport diving. Given most dives happen 60m or less, well you do trhe math.
Now if he's getting into technical diving, that's another game as they go deeper, much deeper. BTW, deapest I've ever been is 115m or so. The bad part about going so deep is that you don't get much bottom time unless you are using exotic gas mixtures.
Casio duro bigger option
Sne573 smaller option (solar and saphyre)
The two watches I would consider in that price range are:
1. Any Seiko ProSpex diver (at budget)
2. A G-Shock Frogman that is Solar powered (slightly above budget) $620
Citizen and Orient are also good, but not my personal favorites.
If he wants something that is automatic and Swiss Made, I’d suggest a Glycine Combat Sub. The 39mm models are 300M rated. This one had a pop up for $379.
https://www.ashford.com/glycine-gl0409.html