Casio Pathfinder/GShock for Diving? Or just go A/I Watch?

[Slamfire]

This is the one I use on practically every dive I do.

It is a Solar Casio rated for 20 bar (not 200 m) $45 Canadian on sale. I use it as back up time piece along with an analog depth gauge. I also prefer to refer to it on staged deco dives because I can use it on stopwatch mode showing seconds and even hundredths of a second (which is useless but looks cool). My dive computer only shows seconds if I'm using it in bottom timer mode.

It has survived dives to 170'. I've had it for several years now, and the clear plastic has yellowed out so much that it looks golden now. I think it may also be getting to the time to change the battery in a year or two because it seems that now it only charges up to two thirds of the way (battery charge indicator only has 3 charge levels).

It did flood once. I wasn't sure if I was allowed to press the buttons underwater on this one, but I had done it previously with no ill consequences. On the dive, 130', where it flooded, I pressed the button twice or three times and then the watch stopped responding to my button pressing. Because I wear 4mm kevlar lined neoprene gloves I thought I was just not getting the buttons pressed. So I tried pressing it a lot during that dive. When we were waiting for the ferry ride back home, I noticed a haze developing inside the watch's faceplate. Pretty soon the watch went dead. I got home, took it apart, dried everything up and it came back to life right after I reinserted the battery.

Now it's back on full dive duty, minus the button pressing underwater.

 

[fnfalman]

Now it's back on full dive duty, minus the button pressing underwater.

So, you push the button to activate the timer just before you descend? And then once you surface, you'd make sure that the watch is clear out of the water and then start the timer again for surface interval?

 

[Slamfire]

Remember the G-Shock is the backup. I use the computer for timing of SI. I just prefer to do deco stops and keep track of the runtime using the stopwatch. But the computer is always present and active. Sometimes it may be in bottom timer mode, other times it is fully running the algorithm.

 

[diver 85]

I started diving a G-Shock in about '86 or so & changed to the Illuminator(about ??mid 90's) & have never flooded one(deepest to 175') in over 1300 dives with them.....Only reason I change them is a broken band or needs a new battery----the Illuminator(same as G-Shock without the shock feature) is just too cheap not to change every few years when needed.....$29 to your doorstep

Amazon.com: Casio Men's DW290-1V Classic Alarm Chronograph Shock Resistant Sport Watch: Casio:…

 

[Slamfire]

I used to have an Illuminator just like that one before the G-Shock. It lasted many years and went through a couple of band and battery changes. I gave up on it when the buttons started sticking and becoming unresponsive. Yes, I admit it, I also pressed its buttons underwater .

I assume that by shock feature you are referring to the raised rubber bumper common to G-Shocks. My Illuminator took some pretty severe shocks without missing a beat. Just saying that just because it isn't a G-Shock does not mean it cannot take a shock.

 

[halocline]

Also not every TAG-Heuer watches is a dive watch even though it said water resistant to 200-M. Lots of watches said water resistant to 100-M or 200-M, but they're sport watches and not dive watches. Caveat Emptor.

How can you tell which Tag Heuers are dive-worthy? I'm looking at a kirium WL1111 that looks like a dive watch and is rated to 200M.

 

[diver 85]

I used to have an Illuminator just like that one before the G-Shock. It lasted many years and went through a couple of band and battery changes. I gave up on it when the buttons started sticking and becoming unresponsive. Yes, I admit it, I also pressed its buttons underwater .

I assume that by shock feature you are referring to the raised rubber bumper common to G-Shocks. My Illuminator took some pretty severe shocks without missing a beat. Just saying that just because it isn't a G-Shock does not mean it cannot take a shock.

Have never had a problem with the buttons 'sticking'-----& 'yes' about the shock thingy, the Illuminator takes a lick & still ticks.......

 

[fnfalman]

How can you tell which Tag Heuers are dive-worthy? I'm looking at a kirium WL1111 that looks like a dive watch and is rated to 200M.

Aquaracer series.

 

[hmarashi]

Remember the G-Shock is the backup. I use the computer for timing of SI. I just prefer to do deco stops and keep track of the runtime using the stopwatch. But the computer is always present and active. Sometimes it may be in bottom timer mode, other times it is fully running the algorithm.

I have a casio g shock atomic/solar model. I agree to use it only as a backup, or to tell time under water. A buddy of mine is a SEAL, and he asked me, "do you want to trust your life to 4 small screws on a $70 watch?"
Makes you think.