Entry Level Dive Watches

Orient must be considered

You can often find the Glycine Combat Sub in that range.

Orient Kamasu, there’s a reason it is considered the best dive watch under $300, never seen a bad review or comment about it. I have never had an issue with mine, put it on and forget about it, it just works.

It's the Citizen Promaster for me. Also the Casio Duro is outstanding at $50 USD. There's always the Vostok Amphibia for something different.

Under $100 easy to find:

Casio Duro:

Invicta Pro diver both quartz and Auto:

Any G-Shock with 200M WR

$120 - $300 (many you can find cheaper on eBay open box mint)

Citizen Pro Diver

Seiko

Any Orient Diver

Watches to look for on eBay:

Obviously there's tons of homages under 300

Orient, Seiko. Islander has some nice divers under $300 too.

Orient Kamasu is the one I always go for here.

Most Orient’s are running sub-$200 on JomaShop right now fyi. All the suggestions given are solid!

Citizen Promaster

Orient Mako/Ray for a <$200 budget, Orient Kamasu for <$300.

Seiko SRPD if you find a big sale <$200, the specs aren't worth more.

For quality and bang for the buck, I strongly suggest your friend look at Islander. Sapphire crystals, mostly Seiko movements, excellent bracelets, based in NY, and they stand behind their products. They have about 20 in that price range.

https://longislandwatch.com/dive-watches/#/sort:calculated_price:desc/filter:brand:Islander/filter:calculated_price:200:300

Scurfa is more unique and founded by an actual diver.

If it's more for functions and comfort rather than the diver look then the gbd200 is awesome.

A few other ideas...

That orange g shock has a bunch of surfing features like tubes tides and moon and stuff like that. If that helps.

JJM1983 has already mentioned some of the best alternatives. He can't go wrong with the Casio Duro, Orient Kamasu (old or new model) or the Invicta Prodiver.

As a Citizen I would recommend the

BN0200

Or BN0201

The case and bracelet are made of Titanium and the movement is solar powered with almost a half year power reserve. Which makes easy to care for newcomers. And I think it's one of the rare good looking Citizens.

Bulova Marine Star

The Victorinox Maverik could be able to find under or for around 300.

Wenger Seaforce

Solid and one of the most affordable swiss made watches.

Mathey Tissot Vintage

I’m not sure, probably a gshock

I think these are some of the best value dive watches in that price category.

Checkout Deep Blue, they only make dive watches and do it really well.