Diving is one of the most challenging professions, as it poses a risk to the divers’ respiratory ability and the cogency of time.
While underwater, the diver’s survival greatly depends on their ability to keep track of their time correctly, making a watch an essential device in diving. That’s why having a dive watch is crucial.
A typical dive watch will be water resistant and have a suitable bezel for proper functionality. The problem divers often face when contemplating buying a dive watch is the unreasonably high price of the dive watches available on the market.
Also, there are many factors to consider when choosing the best dive watches. The watches must be water resistant, durable, comfortable, and have a compact design. Read this guide to find out about the five best dive watches under 5000!
Review of the Top 5 Best Dive Watches
1. Seiko Special Edition Padi Kinetic GMT Diver Watch
This Seiko Special Edition Padi Kinetic GMT Diver Watch is a significant and sturdily built watch that uses a kinetic powered Caliber 5M85 quartz movement to charge up its battery with the movements of your wrist.
This watch comes with a stainless steel case and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, making it a very stylish watch.
This Seiko watch also has a power reserve of up to six months when completely charged. It’s water resistant up to 200 feet below the surface. As far as dive watches go, this Seiko Special Edition model is pretty great!
Features
- Long-lasting power reservoir
- Stainless steel cased
- Self-charging
- Comes with a clasp buckle
- Sapphire blue crystal band makes it extra stylish
Pros
- Very durable
- Affordable
- Case can be replaced with any case of your choice
- Screw-down crown
Cons
- Lug spacing is a vast 24mm
- Choices for replacement straps and bracelets are quite limited
The Seiko Special Edition PADI Kinetic GMT Diver Watch is perfect for those who love to own a stylish diving watch with the features of durability and affordability.
2. Garmin Descent Mk1, Watch-Sized Dive Computer with Surface GPS
The Garmin Descent Mk1 Dive Computer is perfect for serious divers who want a full-featured dive computer with surface GPS in a sleek, watch-style design.
With its bright 1.2″ color display and TOPO mapping capabilities, you can easily mark your dive entry and exit points for surface navigation.
The built-in sensors include a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, gyroscope, GLONASS capability, and GPS that even lets you track your dive location underwater. However, please note that satellite communication and GPS tracking will not work underwater.
You can also choose various modes depending on the type of driving you’re doing: single and multiple gas dives, gauge mode, and a watch mode.
Features
- Sunlight-visible and transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP)
- Elevated wrist pulse rate sensor with activity profiles for various sports
- Descent Mk1 with black band
- Extra-long adjustment strap
- Surface GPS
Pros
- Very durable
- Contains a dive log that allows you to store and examine data from up to 200 dives
- Surface navigation is made more accessible using a GPS and GLONASS system
- Underwater use is possible with the easy-to-read compass display
Cons
- Lug spacing is a vast 24mm
- Choices for replacement straps and bracelets are quite limited
This top-of-the-line device is equipped with sensors for compass navigation, altitude tracking, and more. It’s the perfect watch for exploring both above and below the surface!
3. SUUNTO Dx Diving Watch with USB
The SUUNTO Dx Diving Watch with USB is perfect for CCR (closed circuit rebreather) divers! This top-of-the-line dive computer has all the features you need to make your diving experience as safe and enjoyable as possible.
With adjustable high and low setpoints, automatic setpoint switching at specified depths, and trimix support, including helium and oxygen, this computer is perfect for any CCR diver.
The Suunto Fused™ RGBM algorithm provides accurate decompression predictions no matter what dive mode you’re in, while the 3D tilt-compensated digital compass ensures pinpoint accuracy even underwater.
Not to mention, there are five modes to choose from: CCR, mixed gas, air, off, and gauge. So, if you’re looking for a versatile and powerful diving computer, the SUUNTO Dx is perfect for you!
Features
- Black unidirectional rotating bezel
- Japanese-automatic movement
- Hardlex with an anti-reflective coating on the inside that is curved
- Designed with a stainless steel case
Pros
- Accurate and reliable
- Very durable
- Great fit with any strap
- Resistant to water
Cons
- Quite expensive
The SUUNTO Dx is a setpoint, non-monitoring dive computer with dedicated CCR mode.
4. Longines HYDROCONQUEST Ceramic 41MM Automatic Diving Watch
This Longines HYDROCONQUEST Ceramic Automatic Diving Watch is perfect for anyone looking for a stylish and sophisticated timepiece that can keep up with even the most active lifestyles!
The black dial and silver-tone stainless steel case are elegant and durable, while the automatic movement ensures accurate timekeeping no matter where you are.
The 984 feet water resistance also means you can take this watch with you anywhere you go, whether you’re swimming, diving, or just hanging out by the pool.
With its unidirectional rotating bezel and fold-over clasp, this watch is sure to stay secure on your wrist no matter what you’re doing.
Features
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
- Black band
- Silver-tone case
- Scratch-resistant sapphire crystal
- Comes with a fold-over clasp
Pros
- Elegant design
- Durable
- Black rubber band provides comfortable all-day wear
- Black dial and silver-tone stainless steel case are sleek and stylish
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Choices for replacement straps and bracelets are quite limited
The Longines HYDROCONQUEST Ceramic 41MM Automatic Diving Watch is perfect for divers and water sports enthusiasts.
5. Seiko Men’s Prospex Japanese-Automatic Diving Watch
This Seiko Diving Watch is perfect for the modern man who wants a high-quality timepiece to keep up with his active lifestyle.
The automatic movement ensures accuracy and reliability, while the dual-curved hardlex crystal provides lasting durability.
This watch is equipped with an automatic movement with a 50-hour power reserve, giving you plenty of time to explore underwater.
With its Japanese-automatic movement, this watch is suitable for mixed-gas diving up to 984 feet below the surface, making it perfect for any diving enthusiast.
So, if you’re looking for a stylish and functional diving watch, look no further than the Seiko Men’s Prospex Japanese-Automatic Diving Watch.
Features
- Black unidirectional rotating bezel
- Japanese-automatic movement
- Hardlex with an anti-reflective coating on the inside that is curved
- Designed with a stainless steel case
Pros
- Luxury design
- Accurate
- Durable
- Great fit with any strap
- Resistant to water
Cons
- Quite expensive
Factors to Consider When Buying Dive Watches Under 5000
When it comes to choosing the best dive watch under 5000, there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of the factors to consider include:
Water Resistance
Water resistance is measured in bars, representing the pressure a watch can withstand before leaking. Most diving watches are rated between 330 to 1250 feet, although some can go much deeper.
Most watches under 5000 are water resistant up to 330 feet. Keep in mind that 330 feet is the lowest depth a diver can go before needing to wear a breathing tank!
The factors determining water resistance are the case, the crystal, and the crown. Water resistant ratings have nothing to do with battery life or how long your watch will last without being worn. Water resistant watches should be kept in dry environments when not being worn.
Case Material
In most cases, a steel case is more expensive than a titanium one, but it will often provide superior durability and water resistance. Steel is less dense than titanium, meaning that a watch with a steel case can be thinner and smaller, but it will not weigh as much as a watch of the same size with a titanium case.
Dial Color or Face
In general, a black or dark dial face will increase legibility in the water when light is poor, while a lighter-colored watch face will provide enhanced visibility in sunlight.
However, some watches have a contrasting shade on the front, which adds some depth and texture to the watch’s overall look. A black watch with a white or silver face can also provide contrast between elements on the dial.
Strap Material
Stainless steel is preferred over rubber for diver watches because it’s durable and corrosion-resistant. However, rubber straps are much more comfortable to wear.
Fabrics, such as nylon and kevlar, are also increasingly popular because they can be easily replaced if necessary. Rubber straps with a steel pin buckle provide the most comfort, but those with deployment buckles offer more adjustability.
Bezel and Rotation System
The bezel on a diving watch rotates in one direction for timing dives and can’t be inadvertently rotated in the wrong direction.
Around the bezel, you will find minute markers that let you know how much time is passing. In most cases, divers can time a dive up to 60 minutes when using the minute markings on the bezel!
Crystal Material
Generally, crystals are made of acrylic, mineral glass, or sapphire. Acrylic crystal is the least expensive and scratches easily.
Mineral glass is the most common since it’s affordable and easy to manufacture in bulk, but sapphire crystals have the highest hardness rating. The type of crystal used can affect its water resistance, durability, clarity, and appearance.
When selecting a diving watch, avoid non-sapphire crystals and mineral crystals unless they are specially treated, as they are more likely to scratch and cloud over time.
Caseback Material
Some watches have screw-down case backs that make them more water resistant. Watch case backs also display the company logo and other relevant information about the watch, including the water resistance rating, dial color, and other features.
Movement
Movement refers to the internal mechanism that keeps your watch ticking. There are four types of movements: mechanical, automatic, quartz, and solar movements.
Since its invention, the mechanical clock uses mechanical movement and has been used to keep time. The device is driven by a chain of springs and cogs instead of batteries. You wind them up manually using the crown. These are more accurate, thinner, and less expensive than comparable automatic movements of the same size.
The only distinction between an automatic and a mechanical movement is that an automatic one has a rotor that spins as you swing your arm. This mechanism winds the timepiece, saving you the trouble of doing it manually.
At all times, the watch is kept charged by wearing it. Due to the additional parts, it’s heavier and less accurate than a mechanical movement.
When subjected to an electric current, quartz crystals create vibrations that might be detected to keep time. It’s a low-cost and highly accurate method to measure time.
The accuracy of quartz movements is generally better than that of mechanical movements, but they are less costly and smaller. Quartz timepieces that don’t touch every index in a single tick need a battery.
The solar movement’s dial collects sunlight, which is used to charge the watch’s batteries. It will always be charged if it receives light regularly. However, they can be more expensive and less accurate than typical quartz movements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Best Dive Watch Under 5000?
The Seiko Men’s Prospex Japanese-Automatic Diving Watch is an excellent choice as it features a self-winding automatic movement, a unidirectional bezel, and a 43mm stainless steel case with a hardlex dial window and neutral face.
Is It Safe to Use My Diving Watch for Snorkeling?
It’s not recommended to use your diving watch for snorkeling as it can damage the water resistance on some watches, even if they’re rated to 330 feet or more. Instead, it would help if you aimed for a waterproof timepiece that is specifically designed for water activities like swimming and snorkeling.
Why Do Diving Watches Have a Rotating Bezel?
A watch’s bezel is used to track time elapsed, typically up to 60 minutes at a time. The bezels on most wristwatches are stationary and can’t be moved without stopping the watch or removing its crystal, but a dive watch has a rotating bezel that can be used to keep track of elapsed time on a dive.
What’s the Difference Between Quartz and a Mechanical Watch?
A quartz movement uses a battery to power an activity, while gears and springs operate a mechanical movement.
Quartz watches are more accurate, cheaper, and smaller due to their internal mechanism.
Why Shouldn’t I Wear My Diving Watch All Day?
It’s not a good idea to wear your diving watch 24 hours a day because doing so can expose it to more water than intended and damage the seals. Wearing your diving watch during a heavy rainstorm is fine, but you should take it off for swimming and other such water activities.
How Do I Maintain My Diving Watch?
Unlike metal watches that tend to collect sweat or dirt that can affect their performance after time, waterproof watches can be safely rinsed with fresh water after wearing them in the shower, swimming, or snorkeling. You can also wipe your diving watch down with a soft cloth to remove any dirt and sweat that may have collected over time.
How Do I Adjust My Dive Watch Strap?
Check the manufacturer’s instructions for how to adjust your particular dive watch strap. If you want to tighten or loosen your watch strap, carefully remove the pins in the links with a small screwdriver and adjust them accordingly.
What Type of Battery Does My Dive Watch Take?
Generally, dive watches use either a button cell battery or an automatic movement, which is powered by the motion of your wrist.
If your dive watch uses an automatic movement to keep time, you should wear it for at least eight hours a day to hold a charge and prolong the battery life.
Final Thoughts
When choosing the best dive watch under 5000, it is essential to consider all of the factors that make a great diving watch. This includes a rotating bezel, water resistance, and an automatic or quartz movement.
It’s also important to remember that not all watches are meant for every type of water activity. You should always read the manufacturer’s instructions beforehand to ensure that you know the limits of your watch.
It’s not recommended to use your diving watch for snorkeling as it can damage the water resistance on some watches, even if they’re rated to 330 feet or more.
Feel free to check out our other guides on the Best Apple Watch Band For Surfing and the Best Skeleton Watches Under $300!
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