If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best dive watches under 300$ is, then we recommend the Invicta Men’s 89260B Pro Diver Watch the best one.
Dive watches have been around since the turn of the century and are considered both useful and fashionable to this day. A typical dive watch is larger than a regular watch and has a rotating bezel attached to a rubber stamp or metal bracelet. Dive watches help to monitor the length of time you have been underwater and how much air is left in your tank.
Our top picks for the best dive watch include:
- Invicta Men’s 89260B Pro Diver Watch
- Seiko SKXOO7K Analogue Watch With A Rubber Strap
- Seiko Men’s SKXOO7K2 Automatic Divers Watch
- Citizen’s Promaster Diver Watch BNO151-09L
- Invicta 8928 Pro Diver Collection Automatic Watch
How to choose a dive watch best suited to your needs?
When you are searching for a perfect dive watch make sure that it possesses all the basic features required for an enjoyable and safe dive. Following is a list of features that should be taken into consideration along with price before buying a dive watch:
- Water resistant
The most fundamental characteristic of a dive watch is water resistant. A good dive watch should have a water resistance to 200 meters and should be able to meet ISO-6425 specifications which refer to the certified international standard for competent dive watches.
The entire structure of the watch should be made with materials that are strong and durable.
- Unidirectional rotating bezel
Another important feature of a good dive watch is a unidirectional rotating bezel showing a luminous marker at the 12 o’clock position. This helps to measure the elapsed time at a glance. This feature is detrimental for the diver’s safety as it ensures that the dial will not accidentally move forward showing the diver the exact time remaining.
- Corrosion resistant
Another important characteristic of a good dive watch is related to the materials used in its production. It should be made with corrosion-resistant materials, should be able to resist sea salt buildup and should be easy to clean. You should look for dive watches made of titanium or high-grade stainless steel. Rubber and ceramics are some other materials that may be incorporated but avoid plastics as it becomes brittle over time.
- Screw down crown, case back, and pushers
The case back and the crown are the most vulnerable places where water can penetrate. A reliable dive watch should use a screw down mechanism and gaskets to ensure a 100% water-tight seal. Before any diving excursion make sure that the crown and pushers are screwed down tightly for a secure seal.
- Clear legibility
It is very dark under the surface of the ocean. Therefore it is important that your dive watch is illuminated and easy to read even in the darkest places. The hour markers, hands, and the dial face should be uncluttered and large with sufficient amounts of long-lasting lume.
- Specialized strap or bracelet
If you are planning on wearing your dive watch both on dry land and in water, then it should have a strap that will work in both situations. While you are diving you wear your watch over your wetsuit, therefore you will need to make the strap larger to make it fit.
The concealed extendable deployment clasp is a feature of all serious dive watches making it easier for the watch to fit over the wetsuit. Rubber and nylon straps are some other alternatives that would work just as well.
Benefits of a diving watch
A diving watch is a great option for people who enjoy surfing, diving, and other water-based activities. A few benefits of these watches are:
- Waterproof
Diving watches must meet the required specifications to qualify as such. Divers often go several meters under the water that is why these watches are 100% waterproof.
- Strong and durable
These watches are extremely robust, durable, and strong. They have a high resistance to water and are more resilient than other watches.
- Able to tell time even in the darkest places
These watches are designed with luminescent materials to make it easier to read them easily in extremely poor light conditions. You can tell the time just by glimpsing at this watch.
- Collector’s item
Dive watches get more beautiful with use and age. Vintage dive watches are a sought-after product and are often sold for very high prices.
If you are searching for a dive watch that is reliable and durable the following reviews will help you find one that is perfect for you:
Best Dive Watches under $300 Reviews.
There are lots of dive watch under 300 $ could possibly choose from but we have done an expansive research to reduce the stress of choosing the best one available. We will be mentioning some of them in subsequent paragraphs.
Invicta Men’s 89260B Pro Diver Watch
The Invicta pro diver watch combines high performance and classic styling to produce an excellent watch that is perfect for both land and water. The black dial helps in easy and quick read-off even in low light conditions. This Invicta pro diver has a large round stainless steel case mounted on a robust triple link steel bracelet. The dial is capped with a strong mineral crystal.
This watch also features a black unidirectional rotating steel bezel with beautiful coin edge detailing. This automatic watch utilizes kinetic movement, i.e. movement of your arms to keep the watch ticking. It is a reasonably priced watch that deserves your trust.
Pros:
- Powers automatically with the movement of your arm.
- Water resistant to660 feet.
- Suitable for scuba diving.
- Stainless steel case.
- Hardlex crystal.
- Date and day display.
- Fold over clasp with safety.
Cons:
- Short-live and weak lume.
- Bezel might need some time to loosen up.
- Need to be worn or moved often to make sure it does not stop working.
Seiko SKXOO7K Analogue Watch With A Rubber Strap
The Seiko SKXOO7K analog watch is an affordable watch that is ISO-certified. This watch does not require a battery. This automatic watch uses kinetic energy, the movement of your arm, to provide energy to the rotor to keep it working.
The screw down crown of this watch helps prevent water infiltration. The Seiko analog watch is made from high-quality, durable materials that make it indestructible.
This watch is reliable and provides great luminosity in the dark. It is comfortable on various wrist sizes. This watch is characterized by a black dial with prominent luminous hour markers.
The crown is placed on the right side of the watch at a unique 4 o’clock position. The dial also has a date and day window at 3 o’clock position.
Pros:
- Hardlex crystal.
- Water resistant up to 200 feet.
- Stainless steel case.
- Not easily scratched.
- Ideal for scuba diving.
Cons:
- The rotating bezel may not align perfectly.
- The luminescence is not up to the standard.
Seiko Men’s SKXOO7K2 Automatic Divers Watch
The SKXOO7K2 from Seiko is a versatile dive watch that meets all the standards required for a reliable dive watch. Its thick bezel frame is placed a little higher than the hardlex crystal to protect the face of the watch from accidental bumps under water.
It features a long-lasting and bright lume that makes it easier to find time even at very low light. The crown is placed at a unique 4 o’clock position while the date display window is at 3 o’clock position. It has a black dial with noticeable luminous hands and hour markers powered by Japanese automatic movement.
Pros:
- Unidirectional time bezel.
- Water resistant to 200 feet.
- Ideal for scuba diving.
- Fold-over clasp with safety.
- Stainless steel case.
- Versatile.
- Appealing classic design.
Cons:
- Some people might not like the 4 o’clock position of the crown.
- The luminescence is not up to the standard.
Citizen’s Promaster Diver Watch BNO151-09L
The Citizen’s Promaster Diver watch features the Eco-Drive technology thus eliminating the need of a battery. Furthermore, you will not need to open your caseback and run the risk of putting your dive in jeopardy.
This watch from Citizen features a dark blue polyurethane strap, a stainless steel case, and dark blue dial. The Citizen Promaster is water resistant up to 200 meters which is equal to 20 bars of pressure. The anti-reflective mineral crystal protects this watch, and the white lume hands and markings are visible under the water.
The dial of this watch is ringed by a one-way rotating unidirectional time-elapsed bezel.
Pros:
- Round watch featuring crown and date window at 4 o’clock.
- Water resistant – ideal for snorkeling, swimming, or showering.
- Molded polyurethane band that utilizes a buckle closure.
- Analog display showcasing Japanese quartz movement.
- 48 mm stainless steel case.
- Eco-Drive technology powered by light and doesn’t require a battery.
- Five years limited warranty.
Cons:
- Some people find it difficult to unscrew the crown.
- The band may be a little stiff.
Invicta 8928 Pro Diver Collection Automatic Watch
The Invicta Pro Diver collection watch is a sporty yet refined timepiece that features a unidirectional bezel and a two-tone silver and gold-plated steel case. The vivid blue dial is protected by the anti-reflective mineral crystal.
The hands and markers are easily readable, and the automatic 21-jewel movement is both reliable and shock resistant. The Invicta Pro Diver automatic watch is water resistant up to 200 meters.
The band of this watch features a safety closure with a foldable clasp and gold and stainless steel tones.
Pros:
- Date window at 3 o’clock.
- Can be worn on many occasions.
- Analog display with Japanese Automatic movement.
- Deep blue color of the dial adds a brilliant pop of color.
- Water resistant to 200 meters.
Cons:
- Watch seems to gain time every day resulting in frequent adjustment of time.
- Some people find it hard to turn the bezel.
Conclusion.
Although all these dive watches are some of the best dive watches available today the winner among these is the Invicta Men’s 89260B Pro Diver Watch as it combines style with efficiency and durability.
This sleek and modern watch is an essential accessory for divers and can be worn at every accession due to its versatility. The unidirectional bezel makes it easier for the divers to keep track of the time they have left under water. Furthermore, it does not require any batteries as it utilizes the concept of kinetic movement.