While dive computers are the go-to tool for professional divers but old school dive watches are still all the rage. As you won’t have to depend entirely on modern technology that can fail during your scuba diving sessions. With dive watches, you would be able to measure the time elapsed and some watches even come with a depth gauge function.
If you are a recreational diver then dive watches will be perfect as you won’t have to charge them again and again. Also, you will be able to wear them in meetings, birthdays, weekends, or any social setting as they are also good-looking.
However, purchasing a dive watch can be an expensive business. While there are some affordable dive brands out there but the quality of some of those watches can be questionable. That’s why I have devoured Amazon for finding these 9 best affordable dive watches for you.
In this list, you will find both big and small-size dive watches so you can buy them according to your wrist size. And, if you are a brand aficionado then you will find dive watches from Swiss brands or Japanese brands including the likes of Seiko & Casio.
Quick navigation:
- Most Affordable Dive Watches Comparison Table
- Best Dive Watches Under $100
- Best Affordable Dive Watches Available Under 300 Dollars
- Best Dive Watches Under $500
- Buying Guide For Selecting Best Dive Watch For Yourself
- FAQs
Most Affordable Dive Watches Comparison Table
IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | VIEW ON AMAZON |
Most Affordable Dive Watch  | Casio Men’s MDV106-1AV 200M Duro |
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Best Affordable Dive Watch For Small Hands  | Momentum Unisex M1 |
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Best Affordable Swiss Dive Watch  | Victorinox I.N.O.X Pro Diver Watch |
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Best Dive Watch Under $500  | Citizen Watches Aqualand |
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Best Dive Watch Under $300  | Citizen Eco-drive Promaster |
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Best Dive Watches Under $100
1. Casio Men’s MDV106-1AV 200M Duro
The first most affordable dive watch on our list is from Casio, a Japanese brand known for providing watches with the best price to performance ratio. This right here is the Duro watch from Casio which offers water resistance of up to 200m so you can go diving wearing the watch without any worries.
To further facilitate your dive session this watch features luminous coating on both watch hands and hour markings. So when you will be underwater both watch hands and hour markings would glow in the dark to help in reading the time. You also get a rotating bezel on the watch that allows you to time your diving sessions. Simply point the bezel to wherever the minute hand is pointing before beginning your diving session.
Outside the ocean, the watch’s good looks will ensure that you get noticed. So you can wear the watch to the office, dates, clubs and it won’t look improper for the occasion.
Moreover, sweeping second hand on the watch makes the time on it pleasing to read. Besides time, you can also read the date on the watch as it comes with a date window at the 3 o’clock position. The dimension of the watch case housing the quartz movement is 47mm and the strap is made of highly durable resin material.
All in all, you get one of the best affordable diving watches under $100, and that too from a brand like Casio, no less. And, I am not saying for the sake of it, at the time of writing this watch has 4.7 ratings with 12,000+ reviews. So you don’t need to take my word for it and check the watch out yourself.
2. Vostok Amphibian Watch
One problem with most dive watches is that the dial size tends to be too big for most users with average or small wrists sizes. And, if you are on the same boat then we have shortlisted the best smallest cheap automatic dive watch with a dial size of 41mm. That too from a Soviet-Era brand Vostok which makes one of the most reliable and dependable automatic watches.
Since this is an automatic watch it is powered by your wrist movement. Therefore, you won’t ever have to open this Vostok dive watch for battery replacement. While it may not seem like a big deal but an improperly sealed dive watch after battery replacement will get damaged as soon as it touches the water. And, that’s the last thing you will have to worry about with this watch.
Moreover, this automatic dive watch comes with 31 jewel movements which ensure accurate timekeeping on the watch. Now if you are wondering that can this watch withstand the heavy pressure underwater, to that, I will say yes. This watch features a unique waterproofing design that tightens the waterproofing seal on the watch as you go deep underwater. The deeper you go tighter the waterproofing seal would become. So you can go diving up to 200m underwater wearing this watch without any worries.
Don’t worry, you are not restricted to this NATO strap as you can replace it with other 22mm bands of your liking. For divers, the watch also features a rotating bezel along with luminous watch hands and markings. In my opinion, this is a great dive watch under the $100 price tag, and for this price, it’s close to impossible to find a watch as good as this one.
Best Affordable Dive Watches Available Under $300
3. ORIENT Men’s Japanese Automatic Dive Watch
There is a common misconception that Japanese brands are only good at making quartz watches. This is simply not true, as Japanese watch brands such as Orient are best known for making automatic watches.
Orient does a very good job with their automatic watches, for instance, this watch comes with Orient Caliber F6922 automatic movement. What’s special about this movement is that it comes with a hacking function. So while setting the time, the second hand on the watch would also stop so you can set the watch to the most accurate time. And, it’s a big deal because you can only find this feature in very high-end and expensive automatic watches from Omega, Rolex, etc.
Moreover, this watch can run up to 40 hours once it is fully winded so you don’t need to wear the watch 24*7. Plus, this watch features a screw-down crown which ensures water doesn’t enter the case while diving.
While diving it’s hard to read the time underwater and luminous coating on watch hands and hour markings will come in handy. According to many user reviews, the watch has very good quality lume and is easy to read in dark.
Furthermore, you get a rotating bezel on the dial that makes timing activities a breeze. It gets better as you get day and date functionality at the 3 o’clock position of the dial.
Talking about the dimensions, the case size of the watch is 41.5mm which is quite small considering the features a dive watch needs to pack. The bracelet strap on the watch is 22mm wide and comes with a push-button foldover clasp with a safety mechanism for providing a good grip. On a closing note, this is a very competitively priced watch from Orient selling at around $150 at the time of writing. Do check the watch out and I assure you that you won’t be disappointed.
4. Timex Men’s Intelligent Quartz Watch With Depth Gauge
When it comes to finding the value-for-money dive watches, without a doubt Timex will have a watch for you. Not only does this watch meets the diving standards but it is also the best cheapest dive watch with a depth gauge function.
This watch can actually measure and give you an idea of how deep you went underwater while diving. As you can see, above the 12 hours marking, there lies a 0 m yellow marking that continues all the way to 60m at the 11 0’clock position. So this watch can measure how deep you went up to 60m during your scuba diving sessions. According to a review by a user, he found this to be very helpful when his dive computer died on him. He was able to measure and keep a log of that particular dive session because of this watch.
Moreover, this Timex depth gauge watch also comes with a temperature meter between 4 & 6 o’clock positions. So you will also be able to keep track of the ambient temperature and not just your diving.
However, one thing to note is that there is no luminous coating on the hands instead the watch comes with an Indiglo backlight. To use it, simply press the button on the crown and it will light up the dial of the watch.
Timex Intelligent quartz watch comes with a fairly big case size of 46mm which will be perfect for big watch lovers. Also, the black case is accompanied by a 22mm yellow strap which gives the watch a sporty look. For the price of around $200, you are getting a feature-loaded watch that can go with you for a long underwater diving session.
5. Momentum Unisex M1
Features aren’t everything and the looks of the watch also matter. With that thought in mind, I would like to present to you the Momentum M1 dive watch for men and women.
The first thing that I liked is the colorful design and good looks of the watch. Besides this lime color, this watch is available in 15 more colors and unique design combinations. So it will be the perfect affordable dive watch for fashion-forward divers who would like a watch that they can wear to movies, dates, clubs, etc.
Moreover, the watch comes with both 12hr-normal and 24hr-military time modes on the watch dial. Therefore, you can read the time in whichever mode you prefer the most. There is also a date window so you won’t need to check your phone for dates like I used to before I got a day & date watch for myself.
Now looks aren’t the only forte of this watch as it is also the best affordable small dive watch under 40mm dial size. Yes, this watch features a 38mm dial size that makes sure you can wear the watch comfortably on your wrist. And, the lime color strap that you get with the watch is only 18mm wide so it won’t feel big on your wrist.
Despite the affordable price, the Momentum Unisex M1 watch comes with strong illumination allowing you to read the time in low light. And, when you will be on the beach under direct sunlight, the anti-reflective coating on the sapphire glass dial will make it easy on your eyes. This watch has got the looks, style, durability, build quality, and everything going for itself, so consider at least checking it out on Amazon.
6. Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Diver Quartz Watch
Citizen is more than a century-old Japanese brand and one thing that you can expect from them is good innovative watches. Like this Eco-drive Promaster, this diver’s watch from them is powered by light! So whether you are in the office or under the sun the watch will convert the light into energy and charge itself. However, it is to be noted that solar light charges the watch faster compared to artificial lighting sources.
This Citizen watch also offers 200m water-resistant and is also ISO certified watch for diving. So you won’t have to take my or Citizen’s word alone as this is further testament of its capabilities.
Talking about the dimension, this watch comes with a 44mm case which is fairly big and will ensure that time is easy to read on it. Also, the luminous coating on the big bold circular hour markings and watch hands makes the time readable even in zero lighting. Moreover, there is also a single luminescent hour marking at the 12 o’clock position of the rotating bezel for tracking time elapsed during diving.
In the durability department, this watch features mineral glass that protects the dial from daily scratches. And, for better readability under the direct glare of artificial or natural sunlight, it features an anti-reflective coating.
If you’re still wondering whether or not you should go with this watch then maybe the fact you get 5 years warranty with it will convince you. So do check the watch out, I assure you this watch will win you over.
Best Dive Watches Under $500
7. Seiko Prospex “Arnie” Re-Issue Sports Solar Diver
Seiko is popular among watch enthusiasts for their workhorse watches available at reasonable prices. And, Seiko Prospex Arnie is no different either, while it may look like just another watch but it is feature loaded watch. For instance, the watch comes with an analog as well as a digital display for reading the time.
Moreover, there is a 100-hour chronograph function that you can use to time your underwater dive sessions. Also, you can set the daily alarm which can remind you of daily important tasks such as taking medicine, workout, etc.
Using the digital display you can keep track of day and date as well. Another benefit of a separate digital display is that you can set time for another time zone on it. Therefore, you can track the timezone of the country you’re traveling to using the digital display and use the analog display to read the time of your hometown.
Another feather in the watch’s cap is its strong glow of watch hands and hour markings in low light. Lumibrite material on them is very high quality which ensures good readability underwater.
The problem with most watches is that you don’t know when the battery might die on you. However, you won’t have to worry about that with this watch as it comes with a low battery function which alerts you when the battery is low on the watch. But what if I were to tell, you might not even use the low battery function as this is also a solar watch. Simply place the watch under the sun and it will start powering itself up.
Moreover, there is a battery-saving function on the watch that kicks in whenever you are running low on battery. Once it is enabled, the watch hands stop working until you place the watch under the sun or manually activate it by pressing the button.
Talking about the dimensions, the watch features a pretty large 46mm case which is 13.8mm thick. And, the accompanying black silicon strap is 22m wide which will be perfect for daily use in ocean water. All these features make it the best Seiko dive watch under $500.
8. Citizen Watches Aqualand BN2039-59E
Citizen makes some of the best value dive watches on a budget of $500 and less. And, this Citizen Aqualand is tailor-made for divers who are looking for a reliable value for money underwater companion.
This Aqualand dive watch comes with a depth gauge indicator. Therefore, it can measure how deep you went underwater while diving using a dedicated orange watch hand.
The starting position of the depth gauge dial is at the 3 o’clock position where you can see 0-meter depth marking. As you will go deep into the water, the depth gauge watch hand will start to move in a clockwise direction and it will measure up to 70meter of depth. After completing your diving activity you can press the button at the 8 o’clock position to recall how deep you went underwater while diving.
Moreover, this watch comes with a rapid ascent alarm function that will kick in when the watch will detect your ascent speed of more than 9m per minute. And, we all know that slow ascent speed is very important in scuba diving otherwise you risk getting injured.
Besides diving-oriented features, this watch comes with a date window to keep track of date along with time. Now if you are wondering with so many features, how long does the battery on this watch last? Then let me be the bearer of the good news, you can charge this watch with solar or artificial fluorescent lighting. Also, you won’t be ever caught off guard as the watch has a low battery indicator at the 9 o’clock position of the dial. Simply place it under the sun to charge the watch whenever you notice it’s running low on juice.
It’s also worth pointing point out that this watch has a very good quality lume and you won’t have a problem reading the watch underwater. Talking about the dimension, the case of the watch that houses all the functions is 46mm in diameter which makes it one of the big watches. Some users claim that the wristwatch feels even bigger, so divers with slender wrists are warned beforehand.
With so many diver-specific features, this without a doubt is a diver’s watch worthy of being on the list. So do check the watch out and I assure you that this will be a perfect backup watch in case your dive computer’s battery dies.
9. Victorinox Swiss Army I.N.O.X Pro Diver Watch
Not everyone prefers dive watches for diving, some like them for their build quality as dive watches are well built, high performance, and masculine looking. The next affordable Swiss dive watch from Victorinox will be perfect for divers as well as casual users because it’s both good-looking and delivers performance.
Victorinox I.NO.X features a gorgeous 45mm titanium case that gives it a lightweight yet sturdy build. And, the watch is coupled with a 22.4mm rubber strap which will give you a robust grip during your dive sessions. If you don’t like the white color of the rubber strap then you can get the watch in 9 more colors and design combinations.
To professional divers, I would like to inform you that this watch is NIHS 92-11 Swiss certified diving watch. Putting it simply, this watch has been tested for diving, shock resistance, bracelet quality and is also anti-magnetic. Therefore, whether it’s water or magnetic waves, it won’t affect the accuracy of this watch.
Like all the diving watches on our list, this one too is rated to be water-resistant up to 200m. For better durability, this Swiss dive watch features sapphire glass which is the best type of watch glass you can get on a watch. All in all, this is a great dive watch available below the price of $500 on Amazon. It is also good-looking so you can wear it on hikes, cycling, dates, club or wherever and it will look good on your wrist.
Buying Guide For Selecting Best Dive Watch For Yourself
I have listed the 9 best value-for-money dive watches for you that are easily available on Amazon. However, it can be difficult in deciding which watch is right for you, so keeping it in mind I have created this short guide. After reading it, you will have an idea what are all the features available on dive watches and which ones are important to you.
1. Rotating Bezel
While casual users think that rotating bezels are just for aesthetic appeal but that’s not the case at all as it’s very useful for divers. You won’t need a dedicated chronograph function as you would be able to time your underwater dive session with ease using a rotating bezel. Another benefit is that, unlike chronograph, a rotating bezel won’t use the battery of your watch. Plus, you can use it to keep an eye on how long you have been underwater as most rotating bezels have a luminous marker at the 12 o’clock position.
2. Depth Gauge function
Some dive watches also come with a depth gauge function. These watches can measure how much deep you went under the water. If you ever forget to charge your dive computer then you can use your dive watch instead. Depending on your budget you can go either with Timex or Citizen dive watch as they both come with depth gauge function.
3. Luminous Coating
When you are underwater legibility of the watch dial is almost zero. That’s why you need a watch with a good quality luminous coating that will make the watch easier to read. It will allow you to keep track of the time you spend underwater and come out to the surface before you run out of oxygen.
FAQs
Are Dive Watches Good?
Dive watches are made of high-quality material as they need to survive high pressure underwater. They are also more durable than your regular watches that get damaged easily. So if you are an avid diver, swimmer, or surfer then dive watches will be perfect for you.
Do Divers Actually Use Watches?
While dive computer has replaced the dive watches but in the early 70s and 80s, they were all the rage. Today, however, divers usually have a dive watch as a backup in case their dive computer fails or malfunctions.
Can You Wear A Dive Watch Every Day?
Yes, many users purchase dive watches for their aesthetic appeal only as a dive watch comes with a rotating bezel, luminous dial, high-quality strap, and they tend to be more sporty looking. So yes you can wear a dive watch every day.
What Is The Point Of Dive Watches?
Dive watches can be a useful tool for divers as using them you can track your dive session, depth of those sessions, and keep track of time to make sure you don't run out of oxygen. To be able to enjoy dive your dive sessions you need a dive watch, not a regular watch as it will stop working just a few meters under the water.
