Curious about what I should look for in a basic watch?

[BigFame]

I am getting certified and need a basic watch. I don't even wear one at all right now and would like a simple inexpensive watch to get me by. I would prefer one that could be worn regularly and would like to try and stay in the 100-150 dollar range (or less). I don't even know what I should look for. How deep should it be resistant or water proof to (are they the same?). Is the chrono weel the way to go (seems easy way to keep an eye on time under water to me) anything else? I mean I have seen the Gekko by Suunto and it seems beyond me for some time not to mention I can't even figure out if it will tell the time, nor does it look like a watch that could be used much outside the water. Had thought about something like this CASIO cause I can find them online around 50 or 75 bucks which would be nice. It is 100m water resistant. i don't know if thats enough or not? Thanks.

 

[underwasser bolt]

lots of people have good luck with the g-shock. the casio you linked to looks nice but i am not familiar with it; it will probably do fine. don't try to operate the buttons while submerged on a non-dive watch on a low end watch as it may flood. some dive watches are actually just about computers in function. Look around for citizen. I think you can get into a low end citizen dive watch (without the depth functions) for around $150. check out ebay for the citizen also.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

A dive watch needs to be rated to 200 meters according the manufacturers I've dealt with. 100 is water resistant and ok for swimming freediving but not recommended for scuba and if it screws up scuba diving they won't warranty it. Go to Walmart or Sam's club and pick up a Casio G-shock rated to 200 meters and less than 50 bucks most times(49.95). The casio's rated to 200 you can use the buttons. I have a pulsar solar 4000 diver's and a citizen 300 meter prodiver. both great watches with the citizen bigger and easier to read but both over 150 although the pulsar is close. 168 for mine at King's jewelry. Try Princeton watches .com. They have a big selection and some of the best prices.

 

[BigFame]

thanks guys, appreciate the info for sure.

 

[livewire]

I've always felt the G-Shock to be a little bulky and unattractive for my taste. I opted for one of the Fossil "Blue" watches (there's a whole family of them) which is rated for 100M and has served me well for 5+ years now. $65. It's seen 120+ fsw, and it's a little beat up, but still works great! In all honesty I don't depend on it much as a dive timer though, as I'm usually diving with a computer which takes care of timing for me. If the computer fails, dive is over anyway, so redundancy of timekeeping is less of a factor.

 

[ZzzKing]

For a watch all you really need is either a rotating bezel or timer function and good to 100m (330ft). As a new diver, it will probably be quite some time, if ever, before you are doing dives to 300' or deeper.

Most companies probably don't warrant their 100m watches for diving but WTH, put down another $30 if it floods and get a new one. Buy two and keep one in your Save-A-Dive kit.

 

[Gombessa]

I'm using a Timex Ironman rated to 200m. It's a bit bulky (it's like a Casio G-Shock) but I have it bungee-mounted so I only really use it when diving.

 

[covediver]

I agree on the 200m casio G-shock. I have one myself. Shop around. Casios are perpetually on sale in department stores and big box retailers, usually for 25 percent off the ticket.

I collect dive watches and wear them daily and dive with my old reliable seiko that at 25 y.o has been to hell and back and all over the world with me. But I like the feel of a hefty dive watch. If you are not wearing a watch currently (a growing trend because of personal electronic devices that display the time) go with the Casio. It is very reliable and if you lose it you can get another.

 

[RonFrank]

I had a Citizen Aquamaster, and regret selling it. I really did not need it for diving, but it was a heck of a dive watch with average depth, max depth, temp, time, and even ascent alarms. As a day to day watch, it was stylish, and worked very well UW. The down side was that it was battery operated, and so about every two years there was a $25 battery expense to deal with.

I dive with the Aeris Epic now, and thought it would be a good day to day watch as well. It is, but not real stylish, and a bit bulky.

Finding a good watch in your price range is not all that difficult, but at that price point, the functionality is limited. Most folks dive with a computer these days, and you can pick up an Aeries Atoms II for about $100 on ebay (used). Nitrox,

 

[BigFame]

in time I expect I would get into a computer (thanks for the suggestion where that is concerned) for now I am just outfitting for my OW class as well as my first dives beyond that.

thanks folks.