Updated on October 31, 2022
What is the point of a dive watch? Well, it must measure elapsed time and be waterproof to a certain depth. It needs a strap or some apparatus to carry it where it is easily visible. It should be durable enough to withstand the bumps and scrapes inherent in diving. Some sort of illumination is necessary for darker environments.
The development and widespread use of dive computers have made the dive watch more of a backup or secondary utility, but many still desire a dive watch not only for its usefulness but perhaps also for its stylishness or as a status symbol.
Scuba diving watches range from very cheap and simple, functional models to luxurious, extremely well-crafted, beautiful, expensive works of art that can be worn anywhere.
To help in your selection, ten of the best dive watches across the full range of pricing have been selected as an introduction. First, important features are introduced in a buying guide, followed by reviews, photos, videos, and a comparison table.
If you have any questions or ideas, please let me know with a comment at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For my review on women’s dive watches, please check out this popular post:
Top 10 Best Dive Watches Buying Guide
Water Resistance
If water gets inside the watch, chances are it is ruined. There are watches out there that describe themselves as waterproof or water-resistant but are not suitable for scuba diving. You must ensure that your watch has been rated through testing to a depth of at least 100 m (330 ft). You will be unlikely to go that deep and it is a bit of overkill, but nonetheless, a rating short of that will likely be suitable for the shower or swimming pool, but could well fail in deeper water. The resistance to water is created by the use of a gasket. This is a ring of rubber or a synthetic that forms a watertight seal to keep moisture out.
Bezel
A bezel enables you to calculate your elapsed dive time easily in a readily readable way. It should rotate in one direction only, counter-clockwise, making it less likely to be knocked out of line.
Movement
The movement is what makes the watch work, moving the hands and keeping accurate time. It is also known as the caliber. Movements come in two varieties, mechanical and quartz.
Mechanical movements are the traditional works developed by precision craftsmen over the centuries and exemplified by the great Swiss brand watches.
Quartz movements came into prominence in the 70s with the introduction of Japanese battery-operated watches. These watches are accurate, require little maintenance and repair, and are generally more affordable than those with mechanical movements.
Style
If you are wearing a diving watch, chances are people will notice and assume you are a diver. It can serve as an icebreaker in getting a conversation started. If you sport an iconic Swiss diving watch, like a Rolex or one of the other well-known classy brands, it represents a level of prestige.
One note of caution: Flashing a very expensive watch in some of the apres-dive establishments where beverages are consumed in some locations in Mexico or Southeast Asia or elsewhere can lead to muggings and burglaries, so be careful.
Luminescence
In darkness or low visibility, luminescence will allow you to see the watch face. This can be achieved with a coating of luminescent paint or with tritium. Luminescent paint requires time in the light to recharge. Tritium doesn’t require being in the light first and tends to be brighter.
Top 10 Best Dive Watches
- Oris Divers Sixty Five
- Tudor Pelagos
- Rolex Submariner
- Seiko Prospex Diver 300 m
- Omega Seamaster 300 m
- Citizen Promaster
- Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Black Ice
- Alpina Seastrong Dier 300 GMT
- Luminox Evo Navy Seal Blackout
- Casio Men’s Black Analogue
Best Luxury Dive Watches
Heritage Sporty Automatic Dive Watch
- brushed and polished stainless steel case (42 mm in diameter, 13 mm thick)
- screw-down case-back
- black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel with white minute scale, silver-tone luminescent hands, yellow luminescent indices, sweep seconds hand
- date window at the 3 o’clock position
- scratch-resistant domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating inside
- screw-down crown, Swiss automatic movement, Oris caliber 733, Base SW 200-1, Power reserve of 38 hours
- water-resistant to 100 meters (330 ft)
- black rubber strap, pin buckle
Rating: 4.5
Price: $$
Deep Dive Titanium Automatic Tech Watch
- 42 mm diameter
- Tudor MT5612 automatic movement
- titanium case and band with deployment clasp
- water-resistant to 500 m (1,640 ft)
- imported
- center seconds, luminescent hands, chronometer, rotating bezel, screw-down crown, helium valve, luminous indexes
Rating: 5
Price: $$$
Classic Rolls Royce of Dive Watches
- Rolex 3130 automatic movement
- 904L Oystersteel (Stainless Steel) Case and Bracelet (available in 18 k solid gold)
- ceramic bezel
- 40 mm diameter
- water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft)
- made in the USA or imported
- blue dial oyster
- available in less expensive metal varieties
Rating: 5
Price: $$$$$
“Marinemaster” Professional Diver’s Automatic
- Seiko 26-jewel automatic (8L35) self-winding movement, with a 50-hour power reserve
- dual-curved hardlex with inside anti-reflective coating
- 44.3 mm case diameter x 14.6 mm thick
- water-resistant to 300 m (984ft)
- date display, luminous hands, and markers treated with Lumibrite for low-light visibility
- screw down offset crown, a uni-directional diving bezel with luminous PIP at 12:00
- blue silicone band
Rating: 4.7
Price: $$$$
Sporty Maritime 90s Styled Automatic Dive Watch
- imported Swiss made
- Omega 8800 Swiss-automatic movement
- 36.25 mm case diameter
- water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft)
- 48-hour power reserve
- stainless steel case with a stainless steel bracelet
- uni-directional rotating blue ceramic bezel, blue dial with silver-tone hands and index hour markers, and minute markers around the outer rim
- analog with luminescent hands and markers, date display at the 3 o’clock position
- buckle clasp
- chronometer powered by co-axial caliber 2500
- scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, solid case back
Rating: 4.7
Price: $$$
Best Dive Watches Under 1000 Dollars
Affordable Reliable Dive Watch
- one-way rotating bezel and dark blue dial with a date window at 4 o’clock and luminous hands/hour markers
- Eco-Drive battery-free technology fueled by light
- 48 mm stainless steel case
- anti-reflective mineral crystal
- Japanese quartz movement with analog display
- molded polyurethane band with buckle closure
- water-resistant to 200 m (666 ft)
- blue polyurethane strap with strap buckle
- Japanese quartz
- screw-back case & screw-down crown
Rating: 4.8
Price: $
Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Black Ice
Authentic Durable Trusted Professional Dive Watch
- self-winding mechanical movement
- one-way rotating dive bezel with a 20-minute indicator
- PVD-coated, stainless steel case, and bezel with engraved minute markings and Arabic numerals
- bold dial markings
- luminous silver-toned hour, minute, and second hands
- antireflective sapphire crystal
- made in the USA or imported
- Swiss quartz movement
- antireflective-sapphire crystal
- 43 mm case diameter
- stainless-steel case
- water-resistant to 500 m (1640 ft)
- rubber strap
- 1 LR44 battery required (included)
Rating: 4.5
Price: $$
Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 GMT
Quality Geneva-Made Dive Watch
- Swiss-made automatic movement
- water-resistant to 300 m (984 ft)
- 44 mm case diameter
- stainless steel red and silver case with illuminated, fluorescent (green) black dial
- one-way rotating aluminum bezel
- scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, screw-in back
Rating: 4.4
Price: $$
Luminox Evo Navy Seal Blackout
Very Affordable Swiss Quality Dive Watch
- made in the USA or imported
- Swiss quartz movement
- 45 mm case diameter
- pc carbon-reinforced case
- water-resistant to 200 m (660 ft)
- one-way ratcheting black polymer bezel
- black dial with luminous hands and black Arabic numeral hour markers, minute markers around the outer rim, and date display at the 3 o’clock position
- scratch-resistant mineral crystal
- screw-down black carbon reinforced case back
- black rubber strap with a tang clasp
Rating: 4.2
Price: $
Attractive Bargain Priced Everyman’s Quality Dive Watch
- imported
- water-resistant to 200 m (660 ft)
- one-way rotating bezel
- screw-down crown/screw-lock back
- mineral glass
- date display
- resin band
- 1 CR123A battery required (included)
Rating: 4
Price: $
Dive Watch | Depth Rating | Rating | Price |
Oris Divers Sixty Five | 100 m/330 ft | 4.5 | $$ |
Tudor Pelagos | 500 m/1,640 ft | 5 | $$$ |
Rolex Submariner | 300 m/984 ft | 5 | $$$$$ |
Seiko Prospex Diver 300 m | 300 m/984 ft | 4.7 | $$$$ |
Omega Seamaster 300 m | 300 m/984 ft | 4.7 | $$$ |
Citizen Promaster | 200 m/666 ft | 4.8 | $ |
Victorinox Swiss Army Dive Master 500 Black Ice | 500 m/1,640 ft | 4.5 | $$ |
Alpina Seastrong Diver 300 GMT | 300 m/984 ft | 4.4 | $$ |
Luminox Evo Navy Seal Blackout | 200 m/666 ft | 4.2 | $ |
Casio Men’s Black Analogue | 200 m/666 ft | 4 | $ |
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