Are you new to scuba diving? Are you new to this water sport that you want to make easier, interesting, and enjoyable? And what makes diving more enjoyable than diving watches? And what about you find out the best dive watches for yourself for just under $100?
Obviously, using a versatile and long-lasting watch helps monitor the time you are spending under the water. These watches do it effectively and help you enjoy your dive to the utmost. However, not everyone can buy a costly dive watch because of the high budget or many other reasons, just like saving money for other things.
So, for these reasons, we have come up with a list of the 10 best dive watches that are just under $100. So, you can have the best scuba dive and make that more enjoyable and interesting. The features, durability, and quality of these dive watches vary from product to product. So, the watches will be suitable for all kinds of divers, from beginners to professional coaches.
Buying Guideline for choosing the best dive watches:
Check if the watch is water-resistant or not
This is the most important characteristic of a dive watch, whether it is water-resistant or not. Dive watches with 200-meters water resistance are great for you. These dive watches will help you enjoy your aquatic activities; particularly you’re diving and snorkeling. And by the way, if the numbers exceed 200-meters, the entire construction has to be newly engineered. The structure should be strengthened with thicker crystals, solid cases, etc.
It should have a Unidirectional Rotating Bezel
All dive watches must have a unidirectional rotating bezel and a luminous marker at the 12 o’clock position. This is a must-have feature of dive watches. The idea is not to make the deal move accidentally so that the watch informs an exact time. We highly recommend checking this characteristic to give you the exact time information for safe driving.
The dive watch should have Clear Legibility
There are many places for you to dive. And you must remember that not all the places are favorable for diving with enough lights. It would be harder for you to identify things in some places because of the darkness. Therefore, you need a watch that is luminous enough so that you can read the time. The dial faces and hour markers have to be large and lightened enough so that you can check out the time. And keep in mind that these criteria are crucial so that your dives don’t get interrupted.
Having Versatility in your dive watch
This is the less important factor when choosing a dive watch for yourself. A dive watch will be considered when it can play many roles other than telling when the dive watch gives in-depth information about other things. It can also be worn in offices and is a good replacement for bracelets. However, if your chosen dive watch doesn’t have these features, then it doesn’t matter. If the dive watch functions well when you’re dicing, that’s all you need.
The dive watch should have Sapphire and Mineral Crystal
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Sapphire Crystal
For some reason, high-quality dive watches feature Sapphire Crystals in them. Because of its durability and firmness, it is more costly than other dive watches. Another specialty is that these watches are resistant to cracks, scratches, etc. And these watches can be used for a long time. Sapphire Crystal is normally cold to the touch and picks or white in color.
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Mineral Crystal
Dive watches with mineral crystal glasses resist heat and chemicals to prevent the dive watch from being scratched and damaged. Of course, its resistance is not as good as Sapphire Crystals. It actually works better than plastic. It has only one disadvantage: it can break under extreme hot and cold temperatures. And it also cracks when the watch hits something too strong.
However, if you’re not good at identifying these materials, then there are machines to do it for you. These machines actually measure all the features, including firmness, luminosity, etc.
Best Dive Watches Under $100
Let us now scroll down and check out the 10 best dive watch reviews, which are just under $100.
1. Timex Harborside 42mm Watch (TW2R64700)
The handsome look is furthered with a sensational blue dial, luminous Arabic numeral markers, and hands. The Harborside watch is suitable for recreational swimming as its water resistance is up to 50-meters (165 feet) and because this timepiece utilizes Indiglo technology.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Timex.
- Water Resistance: 50 meters (165 feet).
- Design: Gold case, two-tone stainless steel, and bracelet.
- Color-tone of the dial: Blue.
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2. Casio 200M Duro Analog Watch (MDV106-1AV)
The dive watch features a pitch-black dial and resin band accentuating a silver-toned polished anti-reverse bezel. To enhance eligibility, the watch uses white hour markers and hands. At the 3 o’clock position, there is also a date display. The watch is budget-friendly and has a water resistance capability of up to 200 meters.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Casino.
- Water Resistance: 200 meters (657 feet).
- Design: Resin case, well-rounded, and silver-tone stainless steel.
- Color-tone of the dial: White.
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It delivers decent durability while having a 43mm resin case. That means that the dive watch still has decent durability while ultra-lightweight. This dive watch features a date display and a bi-directional rotating bezel. The watch is designed all-black while topped off by Arabic numeral markers and hands in pristine White.
The watch’s preciseness is great as it is equipped with a Japanese quartz movement. The dive watch has a water resistance of above 100 meters. Therefore, it is a great dive watch considering its friendly price tags.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Casino.
- Water Resistance: 100 meters (329 feet).
- Design: Resin case, ultra-lightweight and edgy appearance.
- Color-tone of the dial: White.
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Miyota’s developed high-precision quartz movement is underneath its striking aesthetics. Additional features of this dive watch include a screw-down crown and a coin-edge bezel. The dive watch is water-resistant up to 100 meters, making it ideal for light snorkeling and swimming.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Depthmaster Pro Diver.
- Water Resistance: 100 meters (329 feet).
- Design: Silver-tone case, screw-down crown, and coin-edge bezel.
- Color-tone of the dial: Blue.
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This dive watch will also find Miyota’s Japanese quartz movement underneath the stunning aesthetics. It operates the analog dial and also the date display. It utilizes a robust screw-down crown with a water resistance of about 100 meters.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Henry Jay 23K Specialty Aquamaster.
- Water Resistance: 100 meters (329 feet).
- Design: Silver-tone case, gold-center filled unidirectional ratcheting, and coin-edge bezel.
- Color-tone of the dial: Blue.
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The dive watch’s dial incorporates luminescent hands and completely contrasts the excellent polished blue dial. The dive watch also features a screw-down crown and also a coin-edge bezel. And this masterpiece is also 100-meter water-resistant. With the Miyota Japanese quartz movement, the watch provides excellent precision.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Stuhrling
- Water Resistance: 100 meters (329 feet).
- Design: Traditional design, screw-down crown, and coin-edge bezel.
- Color-tone of the dial: Blue.
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This dive watch can be separated from the rest of this list’s entries because of its contemporary design and unique charm. Though it has a 46mm stainless steel case, which makes it hefty apparent, the surprise is that it still has a lighter weight.
The dive watch is water-resistant to 200 meters and has a bluish-green dial that evokes an ocean image. The high water resistance allows it to be used for swimming and scuba diving activities. The dive watch also features an automatic movement of self-winding, equipped with 31 jewels. The dive watch also packs up to 31 hours of power reserve.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: VOSTOK Amphibian
- Water Resistance: 200 meters (657 feet).
- Design: Stainless steel case, automatic self-winding movement, and power reserve up to 31 hours.
- Color-tone of the dial: Bluish-green.
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It features a unidirectional rotating bezel and also a date display. Also, it’s 37.5mm stainless steel case is pretty impressive. Underneath a cyclops magnifying lens, the date display is placed for better legibility.
Talking about its functionality, the dive watch comes with a rating of 200-meter water resistance. The dive watch has a black dial featuring luminous white hands and markers. It enhances visibility and legibility even when one is submerged underwater.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Invicta Pro Diver.
- Water Resistance: 200 meters (657 feet).
- Design: Stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating bezel, and cyclops magnifying lens.
- Color-tone of the dial: Black.
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It has a main and three sub-dials that feature a sunray effect design. And this gives the watch a certain level of style that gives the watch some sleek charisma.
This dive watch achieves a 100-meter water resistance rating with a screw-lock case back. A high-precision Japanese quartz movement lies underneath the stylish exterior. At the 3 o’clock position, there’s a date display. The dial window of the dive watch features mineral crystal glass, scratch-resistant. And as we’re talking about Casio watches here, strength is never a real issue.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: Casio.
- Water Resistance: 100 meters (329 feet).
- Design: Mineral crystal glass, scratch-resistant, and stylish exterior with Japanese quartz movement.
- Color-tone of the dial: Sunray.
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This dive watch also features an automatic movement of self-winding, equipped with a 31 jewels design. The dive watch also packs up to 31 hours of power reserve. Finally, the dive watch provides a water resistance rating of up to 200 meters. Therefore, it is suitable for swimming and also for recreational scuba diving.
Specifications at a glance:
- Brand: VOSTOK Komandirskie.
- Water Resistance: 200 meters (657 feet).
- Design: Automatic self-winding movement and up to 31 hours of power reserve.
- Color-tone of the dial: Green.
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Conclusion:
The dive watch plays a vital role in scuba diving, snorkeling, or any other sports. A good dive will help you with every step of your way under the water. It also keeps you safe during unfavorable swimming situations. And lots of beginners find it very difficult to choose the best dive watch for themselves. They’re less exposed and have less insight into these items.
Also, they are the ones who waste a large amount of money on watches that don’t offer them any benefits at all. Rather, these watches spoil their enjoyable diving. And this is the reason for us to come up with this list of 10 best dive watches. This list will help you choose the best dive watch for yourself and actually value your investment.
Maybe you’re a complete beginner when it comes to buying dive watches. Or maybe you’re somewhat knowledgeable about the market but struggling to choose the best dive watch for yourself. You want to choose a dive watch that suits your office look and helps you do water sports. Therefore, you should consider some criteria before purchasing your desired dive watch. Now let us have a look at those criteria:
frequently asked questions
Q. What is the point of a dive watch?
A dive watch can help you track how long you’re diving underwater. It can also help you track how much air is in your tank. And also, it can help you with calculating decompression strops so that you can avoid bends.
Q. How big should a dive watch be?
Most of the dive watches are in the range of 36-46 mm. Some extra-large dive watch passes 50 mm in size. A 47 mm diameter case of Seiko “Baby Tuna” is also considered a very large watch.
Q. Do divers wear watches?
Nowadays, many scuba divers no longer wear watches. They now allow computers to calculate everything for them. However, commercial divers still wear watches in their pressurized workplaces.
Q. Can a dive watch be dressy?
Before the 21st century, divers wouldn’t want to simultaneously look out of place wearing a suit and dive watch. Dive and dress watch were traditionally at two different corners of the world. But now, in the 21st century, dressy dive watches look fine with a suit.
Q. Why are dive watches popular?
Dive watches were created to fulfilling a purpose. It was built to remind divers of when they had to get back up from under the water. And the reason is there was no dive computer back then. And dive watches weren’t popular back then, but now it is popular than ever.
Q. Why do scuba divers wear black?
Military divers were the first large-scale user of dive watches. Therefore, the black color was chosen because it has the least visibility. Because sharks underneath the water would recognize any other color that is more visible to them. That is why the color black was chosen.
Q. What makes a good dive watch?
The first thing a good dive watch should have is accuracy. It must also possess high water resistance. ISO 6425 standard tests ensure a dive watch’s resistance to at least 100 meters to call it a good water-resistant dive watch. Some dive watches offer even greater resistance.
Q. Are dive watches casual?
Dive watches are unique because it rotates counter-clockwise. It gives you the amount of time you are underwater. So, you can wear it when you are playing sports, in business formal wear, or business casual.
Q. Can you shower with a dive watch?
No, you should not wear your dive watch while taking a shower. The soap and hot water you use during your shower can damage the rubber gaskets responsible for your watch’s water resistance.
Q. Are steel dive watches any good?
Steel dive watches are great. They are manufactured in high quality. And their value is unbeatable. The quality is awe-inspiring, and they’re enjoyable and affordable at the same time.
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