If you are considering the purchase of a new diving watch, here are some aspects you should consider before you spend a lot of money on a new diving watch.
1. Water resistance.
Clearly, every diving watch is going to be water proof; they wouldn't last for a minute otherwise. But how much water resistance in really needed? After all safe diving limits limit recreational divers to a maximum depth of 130 feet, so any diving watch that meets 130 feet should be acceptable, right? Wrong!
When companies test the water resistance rating of a diving watch, the test is done with controlled circumstances. The ratings do not take into account any other possible events that could play into the water resistance of the watch. Basically, the tests indicate the resistance to water incursion under the assumption that there is no motion of the watch or the water, at a particular depth. Understandably, these test settings do not simulate actually diving conditions where your watch has the potential to be smacked into rocks, corral and other hard objects. If your watch is smashed when it is near the extremes of its depth, it is likely to fail.
To assure that your diving watch does not give out at depth, be certain to purchase a watch with a depth rating of at least twice the maximum depth you intend to be diving at.
2. The watch band.
For a diving watch there are three types of bands you should consider: stainless steel, titanium, and rubber.
If you are considering a rubber band, be sure it is really rubber and not some cheap imitation. Rubber bands are nice in that they are easy to adjust so they can easily be worn directly on your wrist or over your wet suit. One potential problem with rubber diving watch bands is that they can be cut; if you do a lot of wreck diving, you may want to look at a metal band.
If you are looking for metal band, it should invariably be stainless steel or titanium since these metals are insusceptible by rust and corrosion. Stainless steel is a cost-effective, well tested material and it is still an excellent choice for diving watches. Newer to the field, titanium has become an option. It is stronger than stainless steel and one half the weight. Regardless of the metal selected, make sure to get a wet suit extension so that watch can be worn over your wet suit when you are wearing one.
3. Analog or digital
Almost all dive watches can be grouped into one of two categories (although some combine both): analog or digital.
The analog watches are the traditional dial-faced watch. If you are considering this type of watch, make sure it has a unidirectional bezel (for dive timing) and bright luminescence (so that it can be seen in the dark) including on the bezel. Analog watches tend to be nice looking, but they tend to have fewer diving-related features when compared to the digital diving watches.
Digital watches usually offer many more of elaborate functions to help divers keep track their dive status. Features such as water temperature, depth readings, separate gauges for timing the breathing mixture in one's tank, and programmable alarms. Many digital watches have a feature which allows you to record dive data which can then be uploaded from your watch to a your computer.
4. General Ease of Use
Look for feature that will make your new dive watch easy to use in actual dive conditions. Features such as a non-scratch crystal (so that you can read your watch), large and easy-to-use buttons for use with gloved hands, and sturdy construction so that your watch will give you years of use.
In conclusion, look at the reviews for the diving watch you are considering. Looking at a watch in the store or on-line, it's problematic to be sure how well it will work in actual dive conditions. By looking into the reviews of people that have used the watch, you will get a much better feel for how this diving watch will work for you.
Author Resource:-
William is recreational diver and an avid collector of watches. You can read his diving watch reviews at
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