For many years, dive watches have been a necessary accessory for avid divers

all over the world. They are designed for underwater diving in the instance that

the diver in question is surpassing greater than 100 meters, meaning that the vast

majority of dive watches will have a water resistance of around 200-300 meters,

or 660-990 feet. However, with advances in technology occurring every day, many

divers’ watches now have the ability to survive in much deeper waters. There is a

large amount of models on the market at the moment and if you do the necessary

research into what makes the most ideal divers’ watch it can be a great investment

to make. However, in order to make an educated decision when purchasing a divers’

watch, it is important that you not only understand the reasons why they are used,

but also how they work.

One of the main reasons why dive watches are so widely used is because they are

an extremely useful piece of equipment-both in and out of the water. In some cases,

an individual may opt to wear a divers’ watch as a fashion statement and others

may also purchase them if they are avid watch collectors. However, there are a wide

number of models on offer and if you are looking to use your watch when diving,

the type you use and your knowledge on how it works is crucial. In order to choose

the best divers’ watch for your needs, you firstly need to identify if your watch will

be your primary or secondary timing source. If you require your watch to be your

primary source of timing, you need to invest in a dependable, high quality watch.

Those who have the use of a dive computer and so only require their watch to be a

secondary source of timing, it is not as catastrophic if their watch fails and so they

will be able to risk purchasing a lower quality watch.

When looking for your ideal divers’ watch, there are two important factors you

should take into consideration: the watches water resistance and its type of bezel.

In regards to its water resistance, you must firstly be aware that this does not mean

that you will require a waterproof watch. Waterproof products are not usually

able to withstand the pressure which is experienced when diving and so the best

watches for you will be rated by either the pressure they can withstand, or the

depth they can be used for, either in meters or feet. Whether you are a recreational

diver or you are a competitive diver, it is always beneficial to invest in a dive

watch which is rated to at least 200 meters in order to be safe. A divers’ watch

which is rated at this level is suitable for all forms of water activity, in particular

scuba diving. If you are looking to purchase a watch to use whilst swimming and/or

snorkeling purposes, look for one which is rated at water resistant up to 100 meters.

When selecting a divers’ watch with the correct type of bezel, you should look for

one which has a one way, adjustable bezel. A bezel is a metal ring which is situated

around the face of the watch, with added point indicators and a zero mark to

identify the starting point. In order to use the bezel, you simply need to turn it until

the zero marks are lines up with the minute hands. In order to calculate your time in

the water, simply look at the indicators on the bezel that the minute hand is pointing

to. Most good quality divers’ watches will come with this type of bezel, so it is a

good indication of quality. The advantage of this form of bezel is that it will only turn

in a counter clockwise direction, meaning that should you inadvertently knock the

watch, it will only move in the opposite way to the minute hand. This in return, will

show that you have been under water for a longer period of time than you actually

have, rather than a shorter time period. A bezel should always be tight enough

that it requires some effort in order to move it around the dial.

Once you have identified the best model for you with these two factors, you can

then contemplate other aspects of the watch such as whether it has a clear face or

luminous dials for example. A dive watch is not just a great investment in terms of

great craftsmanship, but in terms of diving in deep waters, it is a beneficial necessity.