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How to Choose a Diving Watch

By: wshaftoe34

If you are in the market for a new diving watch, here are some aspects you should look for before you purchase a new diving watch.

1. Water resistance.

Obviously, every diving watch is going to be water proof; they would not last long otherwise. But how much water resistance in truly needed? After all safety limits recreational divers to a maximum depth of 130 feet, so any diving watch that meets that depth should be acceptable, right? Wrong!

When manufacturers test the water resistance rating of a diving watch, the testing is performed in controlled circumstances. The ratings do not consider any other potential events that could play into the water resistance of the watch. Basically, they represent the resistance to water penetration under the assumption that there is no disturbance of the watch or the water, at a particular depth. Understandably, these test settings do not simulate real diving conditions where your watch is likely to be repeatedly jarred. If your watch is jarred when it is near the limits of its depth, it will probably fail.

To assure that your diving watch does not fail at depth, make sure you purchase a watch with a water resistance rating equal to at least twice the maximum depth you intend to be diving at.

2. The watch band.

For a diving watch there are really three types of bands you should weigh: stainless steel, titanium, and rubber.

If you are looking at a rubber band, be sure it is really rubber and not some rubber-like material. Rubber bands are convenient in that they are easy to adjust so they can easily be worn directly on your wrist or over your wet suit. One potential problem with rubber diving watch bands is that they can be sliced; if you do a lot of wreck diving, you may want to consider a metal band.

If you are looking for metal band, it should always be titanium or stainless steel since these metals are insusceptible by corrosion and rust. Stainless steel is a cost-effective, well tested material and it remains an excellent alternative for diving watches. Newer to the field, titanium has become an option. It is more secure than stainless steel and one half the weight. Regardless of the metal you opt for, be sure to get a wet suit extension so that watch can be worn over your wet suit when you are using one.

3. Analog or digital

Most dive watches are from one of two categories (although some combine both): analog or digital.

The analog watches are the traditional dial-faced watch. If you are considering this type of watch, make sure it has a unidirectional bezel (to time your dive) and bright luminescence (to make it readable at depth) including on the bezel. Analog watches tend to , but they tend to have fewer diving-related features when compared to the digital diving watches.

Digital watches almost always offer a slew of elaborate functions which can help divers keep track their dive status. Features such as depth readings, gauges for timing the breathing mixture in one's tank, water temperature, and programmable alarms. Several digital watches have a feature which allows you to record dive data which can then be uploaded from the watch to a computer.

4. General Ease of Use

Look for attributes that will make your dive watch easy to use in dive conditions. Things such as a non-scratch crystal (so that you can actually read your watch), large and easily accessible buttons for use with gloved hands, and sturdy construction so that your watch will give you years of use.

In conclusion, check the reviews for the diving watch you are considering. Checking out a watch in the store or on the internet, it's tough to know how well it will work in the water. By looking into the reviews of people that have used the watch, you will get a much better idea if this diving watch will work for you.

Article Source: http://articles-at.smartnetworld.com

William is long-time diver and a life-long watch collector. You can check out his diving watch reviews at watch-reviews.com.

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