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There’s no denying that specialist dive watches are some of the best, most stylish, most elegant, and most enjoyable watches out there. Whether you’re a diver and can’t wait till your next trip to the water, or you love beautiful watches, these diving watches are devices you’re not going to be disappointed in.
It doesn’t matter what budget you’re shopping with; we live in a time where there’s plenty of beautiful dive watches out there. It just comes down to which one is the best dive watch for you.
In today’s guide, we’re going to showcase ten of the best dive watches available right now, as well as explore all the features that make them so. To finish off, we’ll also share our complete dive watch buying guide, so you’ll know everything you need to when it comes to spending your money in the right place.
View The Best Dive Watch Below
1. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Divers Watch
Hailed as one of the best selling dive watches and, with a name like Promaster, you’d be well within your rights to consider this Citizen timepiece to be one of the best. This 44mm Citizen Eco-Drive watch comes with everything you could imagine and is sure to be a dive watch experience you’ll love.
The sapphire crystal glass dial is scratchproof and ensures optimal visibility of the time while on land or under the water. The Japanese automatic quartz movement helps retain this dive watch’s accuracy to 1/1,000th of a second every month. This 44mm device has everything you need.
This timepiece has water resistance down to a depth of 660ft and can operate in temperatures ranging from -10°C to +60°C, which is more than enough to keep ticking in most oceans and waters you’ll be diving in.
With a full warranty to cover your device, it’ll work for years to come. It’s no wonder that this device has gathered thousands of reviews averaging 4.5 to 5 stars!
Pros:
+ Accuracy maintained by leading Japanese quartz automatic movement
+ Comes with water resistance down to 660ft
+ Thousands of five-star reviews from divers around the world
Cons:
– None! Countless divers claim you just can’t go wrong!
Why We Like It – Citizen devices are renowned for their outstanding power reserve technology known as Eco-Drive. This means your watch can take in light from any source and use it to power the device. You’ll never have to worry about it running out of battery power when you need it the most!
2. Casio Anti Reverse Bezel Watch
Are you looking for a simple yet punchy device that has all the dive features you’ll need, plus a luxury experience you’ll love using, classing it as one of the best dive watches there is? Casio has a timepiece that you’re not going to want to miss.
This imported diver’s watch prides itself on its striking black and blue stainless steel case design – this looks outstandingly professional and sleek, and calling it elegant is an understatement. The stunning black dial, which comes complete with a date window, complements it.
With water resistance to 660ft (200 meters), a highlight feature of this dive watch is the luminous hands, hour markers, and time markers. It doesn’t matter whether you’re walking around at night, or diving underwater in low-light conditions – you’ll be able to see what the time is easy.
Pros:
+ Black and blue aesthetic and extremely professional looking stainless steel case design
+ Luminous hands, hour markers, and markers for increased visibility
+ Anti-reversal bezel for tracking times
+ Water-resistant down to 200m
Cons:
– None! An extremely popular device with thousands of satisfied customers
Why We Like It – As the title suggests, this dive watch comes with a rotating bezel. This can be used to help you track time. The anti-reverse feature means you’ll never have to worry about it slipping back and telling you the wrong time. The stainless steel case design is stunning.
3. Citizen BN0151-09L Promaster Professional Diver Watch
We’re heading back over to Citizen now for another addition to their best Promaster diver’s collection. This sets a new standard when it comes to affordable deep dive watches, but offers a complete experience no matter who you are. There’s nothing here you won’t love.
With a striking and impactful design, this round 48mm diver watch looks exactly how you’d want. Looking down at your dive watch is going to make you smile every time. It’s simply exquisite.
Powered by Citizen’s patented Eco-Drive power reserve technology, it doesn’t matter what source of light you expose this watch too, as it’ll power it anyway, ensuring you’ll never have to worry about changing a battery again. With naturally luminous hands and markers, even when it is dark, you’ll be able to see everything in crystal clear detail.
It’s water-resistant to 200m (666ft) and kept accurate using the industry standard of Japanese quartz automatic movement. It’s completed with a molded band and a secure buckle closure. There are no boxes this dive watch doesn’t tick.
Pros:
+ Backed by access to a world-class customer service team
+ Tested water resistance to 200m
+ Powered and charged using Eco-Drive. Never change the battery again, thanks to its power reserve technology
+ Looks incredibly beautiful with a stunning stainless steel casing
Cons:
– Might be a little pricey for some people’s budgets
Why We Like It – Citizen offers one of the most premium experiences when it comes to customer service. It doesn’t matter if you have questions to ask or problems to sort, Citizen’s friendly team are always on hand to help you out quickly and efficiently.
4. Seiko PADI Special Edition Prospex Solar Dive Watch
Seiko is another one of those watch brands that have been around for decades. They’ve built up a stellar reputation as being one of the best and most popular brands. They’ve even sponsored global events like the Olympic Games. That’s how prestigious this brand is.
You can now experience this great reputation in their diving watches. As a certified PADI dive watch, you’ll find everything you need, including a blue shrouded display case and a blue durable silicone strap for optimal comfort. It comes with a unidirectional bezel, and the whole timepiece is set into a scratchproof Hardlex case. Durability is paramount with this watch.
This special edition Seiko Prospex even comes with luminescent hands and markers for easy visibility, even when you’re underwater. The water-resistance goes down to a depth of 200m, and the solar-powered design and power reserve means that you never have to worry about your device running out of battery. It’s safe to say Seiko has seriously outdone themselves with this dive watch.
Pros:
+ Both ISO and PADI certified to ensure quality
+ Comes with a Hardlex scratch-resistant case to keep it fresh for longer
+ Designed and manufactured by one of the most prestigious watch brands in the world
+ Solar-powered design that will never run out juice
Cons:
– The packaging is not the best. Instructions are vague and not great
Why We Like It – Most dive watches are made with a water-resistant to a depth of a few hundred meters, but you know this Seiko Prospex watch is safe underwater since it’s both PADI and ISO certified. With this level of successful testing, this is a dive watch that you’ll be able to trust.
5. Orient’ Mako II’ Japanese Automatic Diving Watch
If you’re on the hunt for a quality diving watch experience, but you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, Orient is the brand you’ll want to consider. Priding themselves on delivering great quality dive watches for affordable prices, this is a watch you’re not going to want to miss.
Like most premium dive watches, you’ll never have to worry about this watch running out of juice since it has an automatic movement, and it’s self-winding. This means it will automatically charge just from the natural Swiss automatic movements of the watch on your wrist, but also comes with manual hand-winding.
This dive watch looks very similar to other exquisite dive options we’ve mentioned on this list, so if the aesthetic is an important factor for you, you know you’re onto a winner here. Smaller than most dive watches, measuring in at 41.5mm, this is a lightweight device you’ll never have to worry about holding you back.
Pros:
+ Made with automatic movement charging and a manual winding option
+ Small, compact, and lightweight measuring in at 41.5mm
+ Comes with a secure one-year warranty
+ Brushed outer case made from stainless steel to protect your watch from life
Cons:
– The smaller design means the dials may be slightly too small for big hands
Why We Like It – If all of this wasn’t enough, feel free to further bask in the knowledge that this watch comes with a 120-click rotating bezel. You can dive or go about your life, safe in the knowledge it’s secure and will keep its precise position accurately whenever you need to use it.
6. Invicta Pro Diver Japanese Automatic Watch
Are you in need of a great diving watch that makes a statement? Invicta has got you covered. This gold ion-plated watch looks incredible with its beautiful black dial and 40mm design. The 18k gold on stainless steel simply looks great. If you’re into this aesthetic, there’s no denying you’re going to love it.
All standard dive features are included, such water resistance down to a depth of 200m, Japanese automatic movement to ensure precise accuracy, and easy time setting using the gold-plated pull crown pin located on the side. There’s even a rotating bezel and a magnified date window for outstanding visibility.
Pros:
+ Suitable for all kinds of aqua and marine activity
+ Endorsed by hundreds of satisfied customers (with an average rating of 4.5/5)
+ Luminescent hands and time-markers for easy visibility
Cons:
– The gold aesthetic and design may not be for everyone
Why We Like It – Of course, not even underwater experience is going to be bright and well-lit, but that doesn’t matter with this timepiece. Each hand and marker is naturally luminous, so you know you’ll never have any problems timekeeping again.
7. Invicta Pro Diver Quartz Watch with Stainless Steel Strap
Invicta’s inventory is never short of stunning watches for you to enjoy. A testament to what they’re able to achieve comes in the form of this Pro Diver watch. With a beautiful black dial, sleek and elegant stainless steel casing, and a flame fusion crystal glass display, every aspect of this watch oozes quality.
Water-resistant to a depth of 200m, this watch is suitable for all kinds of professional marine activity and any underwater adventure you may partake in, all without having to worry about damaging the watch. Weighing just 408 grams, you’ll never have to worry about this watch weighing you down.
Having been available since 2018, this Pro Diver watch has quickly risen to become one of the most popular divers in demand and averages an astounding 4.5 to 5 rating from divers all over the world. Everyone simply adores everything this watch has to offer.
With such an amazing price tag, you get plenty of value for money. This is a worthwhile investment that’s impossible to regret.
Pros:
+ Water-resistant to 200m
+ A beautiful black and stainless steel design and strap that looks amazing
+ Countless positive reviews from around the world
+ Access to Invicta’s stellar customer support team
Cons:
– Doesn’t use the standard sapphire crystal dial materials
Why We Like It – The stainless steel strap and clasp of this watch is a highlight feature that cannot be ignored. Not only will it survive all the underwater activities you plan to get involved in, but it’s also lightweight, secure, and adjustable to fit perfectly on your wrist!
8. Seiko SKX007J1 Japanese-Automatic Diver’s Watch
Seiko has another outstanding timepiece to offer the dive watch community, and it comes in the form of the SKX007JI. While this watch sits at the upper end of the price spectrum, there’s no denying it’s a luxury experience that’s well worth every cent.
Designed with men’s style in mind, this water-resistant watch features a durable, scratchproof Hardlex screen, alongside a stainless-steel casing. This all comes together to ensure that this watch can survive whatever you plan on putting it through.
Since this is also an automatic dive watch, you’ll find that you can charge it easily by wearing it on your wrist. The Swiss automatic movement that occurs as you go about your day is enough to keep it ticking for longer. However, if it does run out of charge, the manual dial winder ensures to get the watch going for another couple of weeks.
All in all, this is a really good-looking dive watch that comes with all the features you’re ever going to need. With a striking black aesthetic that looks both sleek and professional, there’s no denying you’re not going to love what Seiko has to offer here.
Pros:
+ Hundreds of five-star reviews from customers around the world
+ Completely automatic power with manual charging option
+ Water-resistant to a suitable depth and capable of surviving all kinds of water activities
+ Contains 31 jewels that create the luxury aesthetic it prides itself on
Cons:
– None! This is a hugely popular, modern watch!
Why We Like It – With an 80% customer satisfaction rating out of hundreds of reviews from customers around the world, it’s hard to go wrong with a watch that’s so popular. With many reviews detail how this watch is ‘one of the best’ and ‘utterly excellent.’ These are the sorts of reviews that speak for themselves.
9. Casio Sport Analog Dive Watch
This is our final entry form Casio. This is another one of their very popular Analog Sport Dive Watches. This watch is ideal for all divers and marine activity lovers from around the world, no matter what sport you like to get involved in.
Whether you love swimming, surfing, sailing, or scuba diving, this watch can help you tell the time through it all thanks to its 100m depth water resistance rating. It has the ability to tell you both 12 and 24-hour times, all on an analog display, viewed through the stunning mineral dial window. It’s scratchproof and incredibly durable.
This watch includes all the standard features, such as a hard case that’s made to last, a secure rotating bezel, and a date and day window located at the 3-o’clock area. What’s more, the Japanese mechanics mean the watch stays accurate within 20 seconds per month, which is simply outstanding.
All in all, there’s no denying that this watch represents everything that makes Casio so great. For the price, you simply can’t get better.
Pros:
+ A long battery life that can last for years to come
+ Uses Japanese movement to stay accurate within 20 seconds per month
+ Water-resistant to 100m, therefore suitable for all water activities
+ One of the most affordable dive watches on the market
Cons:
– Not as water-resistant as other watches on this list
Why We Like It – The best feature of this dive watch is the price factor. This is, by far, one of the most affordable of all dive watches on our list. Sure, it may not look as sleek as other dive watches, but in terms of functionality, there’s no better value for money.
10. Garmin Descent Dive Computer Watch
To finish off our breakdown of the best dive watches, we’re heading over to Garmin, more specifically, their Descent Dive Watch. This really takes dive watches and what they can do to a whole new level.
What makes this dive watch by Garmin so special is the fact it comes with a fully dedicated GPD computer. This offers the capability to give you access to everything you could ever need. For example, the three-point compass, barometer, and gyroscope gives you incredibly detailed readouts and records your dives.
You can also link up your watch wirelessly to single and multi-gas devices, gauge control, and apnea diving devices, including both trimix and nitrox. You can then analyze a maximum of 200 dives however you like.
You can upload and access this information to your Garmin connect account, either on your computer or via the dedicated app. These features are then backed up with Garmin’s Elevate technology, which includes heart rate tracking, smart notifications, and all those performance metrics you’ll need for a complete experience.
That’s the best way to describe this watch. Sure, it comes in just under $1,000, which is incredibly expensive. But, as a diver in need of a watch, there’s no better device than this.
Pros:
+ Comes with a bright ½-inch LED screen that looks amazing
+ Tracks absolutely everything about your dive, including monitoring equipment and GPS locations
+ The multisport feature allows you to monitor any fitness activity you get involved inaccurately
+ Available in two unique styles so you can easily find one you love
Cons:
– The most expensive device on our list today
Why We Like It – As you can tell, there’s a lot that this dive watch does, and very little it doesn’t do. However, the standout feature is the fact that you don’t just have to use this watch for diving. The multisport feature allows for so much more. Whether you’re running, cycling, skiing, climbing, or more, this dive watch can help you track it all.
Dive Watch Buyers Guide
With all this information under your belt, you’re probably wondering how to figure out which dive watch is the one that’s going to serve you the best, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do right now.
Below, you’ll find our complete buying guide, detailing everything you need to look for in the dive watch so you can find the one to best suit you. We will also answer some of the most important questions you’ll need to consider. Let’s go.
Water Resistance
Of course, the most important factor you’re going to want to consider is how water resistant your dive watch is. If the depth is poor, you won’t be able to go diving with it. Always take a look at the watch description to see what kind of depth it offers.
Ideally, you’re going to want a watch that can go down to a depth of, at least, 200m, since this is the standard that’s offered across most watches. However, some watches will do more than this, whereas others will do less. It’s completely up to you, but 200m is what you should aim for as a minimum depth.
Just because a divers’ watch says its water-resistant, that doesn’t mean it can survive a diving trip. Unless otherwise stated, most watches with resistance will mean that you can go in the shower, wash your hands, or stand in the rain while wearing the watch, and it won’t get damaged.
Durability
If you’re the sort of person to go diving, the chances are you live a busy life. You’re going to need a watch that can survive what you put it through.
For this, you’ll want things like a rugged stainless-steel casing, or another form of metal that can survive the inevitable knocks and bumps it will go through. You’ll also want to consider a scratchproof dial window that won’t fog up and will remain crystal-clear, so you can always read it.
In short, you’re going to want a watch that’s made to last.
Accuracy
Accurate timekeeping underwater is essential, especially when your life depends on it. From monitoring airflow and how much oxygen you have to navigate, locating your whereabouts, and clocking how long you’ve been underwater, accuracy, down to the second, is imperative.
Ideally, you’ll want a watch that comes with a Japanese quartz movement since this is known to being one of the most accurate forms of timekeeping. It will help you stay accurate within 20 seconds each month.
Another key feature to look for includes the rotating bezel. This is a rotatable outer rim you can use to track your times or see when you set off. You can set milestones, meaning you can easily keep an eye on everything that’s going on.
Style
If you’re wearing a watch that you don’t really like the look of, you’re not going to enjoy wearing the watch, and you’ll end up going off it really quickly. In the end, this means you’ve just wasted your money.
Always make sure you’re looking for a diving watch that comes with a style and strap you like. Fortunately, many watches come in lots of different styles. They will come with features like an interchangeable strap, which makes switching up your style easy. You might love the bezel but prefer a rubber band strap or a stainless steel strap. A rubber band will be good for water-related activities, as it’s waterproof. However, switching to a leather strap on an evening will give your watch a whole new look. That is, of course, if you like the bezel. Don’t just shop for functionality, but for an experience that you’re going to love.
Calendar Features
Being able to tell the date is always a handy feature. It’s always worth looking out for this feature on the watch you like. Sometimes, depending on your lifestyle, this feature could be key for you and help you out in so many ways. If it is, make sure the calendar is at the top of your list for feature considerations.
Built-In Features
As you can see from our list of watches above, some come with several awesome features that will enable you to take your diving experience to a whole new level. In particular, you’ll want to look at the watches like the Garmin watch we listed last.
These watches may be expensive, but it’s like having a diving computer strapped to your wrist. It gives you so much control over your equipment, your diving adventures, and how well you monitor your overall experience.
Battery and Power
The final consideration you’ll want to make is how your watch is powered. Of course, a battery is a great way to power a watch, and will typically last for years to come. However, this isn’t your only option.
There is such a thing as automatic watches that are capable of potentially lasting forever without any need for battery changes. Many watches opt for this power style for this reason. They charge by the movement on your wrist. However, you can also charge them using a manual winder on the side of the timepiece.
Some watches are solar-powered with a power reserve and use any source of light to charge the batteries, which can be very helpful. If your watch also features a power reserve, this can help the device to last even longer, since you can charge it whenever.
What is the best dive watch for under $500?
While this is truly subjective to whatever kind of watch you’re looking for, a fantastic dive watch for under $500 has to be the Orient Pepsi. Affordable, sleek, and packed with automatic movement features that keep on giving, there’s no denying this is amazing value for money.
What is the best dive watch under $1000?
If your budget reaches the $1,000 milestone, the best watch you can invest in is the Garmin Descent. While a large investment, in terms of diving watches, it really doesn’t get much better than this. You’ll have access to everything you could ever need when it comes to giving yourself the best possible dive experiences every single time.
If you’re looking for luxury watches, however, it might be worth checking out timepieces such as the Omega Seamaster, the Rolex Submariner, the Breitling Superocean, or the Tudor Black Bay. Although expensive, the Rolex Submariner happens to be one of the most famous watches in the world. However, when it comes to diving watches, none, luxury or not, has been able to beat Omega. Our below fact might make you wish you had your hands on an Omega Seamaster.
Expert Tip
After you’ve finished your dive, always make sure you rinse your watch with fresh water. This is to ensure that no salt or chemicals, such as chlorine after a swim, are left on the watch, as this can cause erosion over time, or may ruin the sleek look of your watch.
Did you know?
Omega currently holds the record for the watch that can survive the deepest depths in the world. Made from solid titanium, the watch was strapped to the side of a submarine for the depth test. It returned in full working condition.
The watch managed to successfully survive 1,000 bars of pressure, which equals around the same kind of weight as having 50 jumbo jets stacked on top of it. Maybe it’s worth looking into an Omega Seamaster, after all.