Before you take the plunge into buying a diving watch, the first thing you need to learn is how they are differentiated from other wrist watches. Diving watches are made specifically for scuba diving, and therefore have added functions and features to allow them to be worn at certain depths in the ocean without being damaged. To be true diving watches, they should be able to go below 300 feet. They also are an added aid to scuba divers.
One of the most important features on a diving watch is the bezel. It is very important in scuba diving to know how long you have been submerged (the reasons for that should be fairly obvious). The bezel is a rotating dial on the face. When submerged, the bezel should stay aligned with the minute you descended into the ocean, letting you easily see how long you’ve been under.
A good dive watch should also display present depth, elapsed dive time, and total dive time. It should automatically log the maximum and average depth, as well as the start and end time of the dive so that it can be accessed easily at a later time. If these aren’t all provided, it might be wiser (and safer) to consider a different timepiece.
The wrist strap should be expandable, allowing it to easily fit over a wet or dry suit. Prices really range, so work within your budget, but keep all these features in mind when looking and you’ll be sure to find the perfect diving watch.