Best Dive Watches for Men in 2024
Dive watches are versatile, sturdy, reliable, practical, stylish, have a heritage, and are some of the most killer watches out there. It's no surprise that this is the most popular watch style. We're here to cut through the waves and select only the best dive watches for you.
From Rolex-inspired Seiko watches to fan-favorite Casio Duro, we've put together a list of the best dive watches for men in 2024. This watch will take you into deep water and can be used in most sporting applications. If you're the kind of person who's always in the water, you'll love some of these recommended products.
Best Dive Watches for Men in 2024
1. Panerai Submersible Automatic Blue Dial Watch PAM00671
The Panerai Submersible embodies rugged sophistication in the diving watch world. With its unique cushioned case and oversized crown guard, it boasts an unmistakable Panerai aesthetic. The automatic P.900 caliber movement ensures reliable timekeeping, while an impressive 72-hour power reserve offers extended functionality. Water resistant to 300 meters, it is perfect for professional diving adventures. But the high price tag may deter budget-conscious buyers, and the bold design may not appeal to those seeking an understated aesthetic.
2. Tag Heuer Aquaracer Professional 300 automatic watch
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer range is a young product for such a heritage brand. It has a very striking dodecagonal case shape made of stainless steel. This design is strong, but accessibility is important due to the rounded corners. It is a reliable watch equipped with a quartz movement, 300m water resistance, and AR sapphire crystal. The expandable bracelet may not be the sexiest feature, but it's important to wear with a wetsuit. If you are a man who likes to receive a lot of information, you will love this watch.
3. Grand Seiko SLGA001
When Grand Seiko creates a new watch, it is very important to achieve two things. One, it has to be technically superior to an equivalent Rolex, and second, it has to look nothing like a watch at all. That's why the limited edition SLGA001 is probably styled after the $4.5 billion Zumwalt-class stealth battleship. At 47mm across and 16mm thick, calling it stealth would be worse than lying to a nun. Nonetheless, a reasonably healthy 600m water resistance answers the following questions. For $12,000 you can scrape off beautifully polished, high-strength titanium on your first dive.
4. Baume & Mercier Men’s 8728 Riviera Automatic
The Baume & Mercier Riviera Azur 300m combines sporty elegance and rugged functionality. Water-resistant to 300 meters, it's perfect for professional diving while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic suitable for everyday wear. The dodecagonal bezel with knurled insert provides a tactile grip for easy operation underwater, while the smoky blue sapphire dial adds a sophisticated feel. Available with a rubber strap or steel bracelet, the versatile design transitions seamlessly from the depths of the ocean to formal occasions.
5. Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech Gombessa
The Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms Tech Gombessa represents the pinnacle of dive watch engineering. Made from grade 23 titanium, it combines lightweight construction with exceptional durability, making it a preferred choice for serious divers. The dive scale bezel and luminous orange hour index ensure optimal visibility in underwater environments, and the ability to measure dive times of up to 3 hours meets modern diving requirements. Despite the high price, advanced features and meticulous craftsmanship justify the investment for enthusiasts seeking the best dive watch performance.
6. Seiko Prospex SRPE37 mechanical wristwatch
Seiko is officially affiliated with the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Seiko's "Prospex" model proves that dive watches for diving are never outdated. Its name is a portmanteau of “professional specifications” and its abundance. It comes with transparent luminous hands and markers, an enlarged date window, minute intervals across the bezel, and a sturdy wave-absorbing shock-absorbing strap. It is Prospex. Shock-absorbing straps take some of the formality away from the overall look.
7. Tag Heuer Stainless Steel Aquaracer 43MM
The TAG Heuer Aquaracer range is a young product for such a heritage brand. It has a very striking dodecagonal case shape made of stainless steel. This design is strong, but accessibility is important due to the rounded corners. It is a reliable watch equipped with a quartz movement, 300m water resistance, and AR sapphire crystal. The expandable bracelet may not be the sexiest feature, but it's important to wear with a wetsuit.
If you are a man who likes to receive a lot of information, you will love this watch. It has flaws, but it's not a deal-breaker: it's one of the lesser-known dive watches, despite being from a well-known brand. This gives it its appeal.
8. Breitling Superocean Automatic 42
The Breitling Superocean Automatic 42 combines contemporary style with robust functionality. It is water resistant to 300 meters, making it suitable for both recreational and professional divers. The easy-to-read dial decorated with chunky luminous indexes and hands makes it easy to read even underwater.
Available in a variety of colors and materials, including a striking bronze repeat that develops a unique patina over time, it offers versatility to suit a variety of tastes. The inclusion of a unidirectional bezel with square-shaped hands adds a dive-friendly appeal, making it an excellent choice for enthusiasts seeking a balance between style and performance.
9. VAER DS4 MERIDIAN solar diving watch
This is the best watch if you are afraid of social collapse. The solar-powered quartz movement is powered solely by the light emitted from a candle lick. It's that sensitive. And just 6 hours of direct sunlight can recharge the spare battery for 6 months. So even if nuclear winter blocks out the sunlight for a while, you'll be okay. Dark humor aside, this watch is one of the best men's dive watches on the market. Made in Japan, it comes with a scratch-resistant AR (anti-reflective) coated sapphire crystal and a surgical-grade steel (316L) frame. If that's not enough, the brand is a "1% for the Planet" member.
This Vaer DS4 watch has a beautiful, classic dive/military design that can be adjusted by replacing the two straps that come standard. This is for the rugged outdoorsman, whether you're going on a multi-week hike in the mountains or diving around a coral reef.
It has its flaws, but it's not a deal breaker. The traditional masculine aesthetic is somewhat predictable in the current environment. But this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It will please many people. Additionally, there is no individual minute dial for the first 15 minutes. This is very useful for dive watch functions.
10. CASIO MDV106-1AV
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Casio watches are known to be as sturdy as a beefy digital watch. But diving ability is not. So, there are a few reasons why this diving watch from Casio is surprisingly good. The classic stainless steel dial combined with a modern corrugated resin strap is a fusion of luxury and sportiness. The watch also comes with diving features, including 200m water resistance, rotating bezel, screw-down crown, and a small date display at 3 o'clock. Lastly, you can't ignore the price tag like Casio. I hate to admit it, but this is a really good purchase.
The traditional, sleek black design means it can be used for a variety of purposes. It can be your everyday wearer, a smart casual champion, or your humble diver's companion.
11. Rolex Submariner 126610 LN
It wouldn't be a dive watch list without Rolex. The watch that started it all is the Submariner. Founder Hans Wilsdorf's Brainwave coincidentally came not long after Blancpain created an almost identical watch, and the Submariner is today best known for something unexpected: affordability. These days, it follows the opposite trend, with a price tag of just $10,500. This isn't the only trend going against it. As watches became smaller to accommodate evolving tastes, Rolex naturally increased in size from 40mm to 41mm. Oh, Rolex!
12. Rolex Sea-Dweller 126600
Because it wouldn't be a dive watch list without a couple of Rolexes, here are some watches with the same features plus some more. As the story goes, Omega, competing with Rolex to create a true deep-sea watch, spent years creating a futuristic prototype that captivated everyone who saw it.
Meanwhile, Rolex fitted the Submariner with a thicker crystal and case back and called it a day. Hyundai's $13,500 Sea-Dweller follows much the same principles, and is virtually indistinguishable from its sibling, save for a larger 43mm case, red branding on the dial, and a whopping 1,220 meters of water resistance.
13. Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea
Because it wouldn't be a dive watch list without three Rolexes, here's the Deepsea, a more powerful version of the Sea-Dweller that sells for $14,500. The 44 mm case is as thick as a submarine hull and can accommodate depths of nearly 3,900 meters. It's so deep that you'll die if you try to wear it. Nonetheless, the Deepsea goes one step further in cementing Rolex as the masters of the deep and is the true pinnacle of diving watches today. That is, unless you want to wear the 50mm wide and 2.5cm thick Deepsea Challenge.
14. Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Co-Axial Master Chronometer
Speaking of James Bond, remember how he wore his Rolex Submariner? Well, not anymore. Because Omega snuck in there with a check big enough to take over the world. You don't have to give up the $6,600 Seamaster Professional, which features a helium escape valve and 300m water resistance. Because not only is it an incredibly cool watch, but it also performs incredibly well. Just like Mr. Bond. But unlike 007, this is actually real and you can get it for yourself. There's even an advantage to the Co-Axial escapement, which I don't have time to explain right now. It's not that I don't know how.
15. Omega Seamaster Diver 300m Professional
There aren't many conversations about affordable watches that don't start and end with Seiko. The 42mm Seiko 5 Sports SRPD71K1 may have the lowest water resistance here, at just 100 meters, but if you shop around, I'd say it's a pretty amazing deal for $250. There's no screw-down crown here either, but that's probably fine unless you plan on taking this watch 2.5 times deeper than your recreational diving limit. They're quite attractive out of the water and come in more color combinations than you can imagine.
16. Halios Seaforth
If the Seiko 5 can't handle the ankle depth of only 100m, pick up the Halios Seaforth for less than $800. It's not the flashiest watch, but like a Sherman tank, it's perfectly built to do some damage. You can also choose between steel or titanium for the 41mm case, depending on how light you want your watch to be when you start taking chunks out of the scenery. 200m water resistance, a luminous 120-click sapphire bezel, and Swiss Caliber SW200 are also featured inside to round out the spec sheet. Dial colors vary, but for now you can choose between attractive Bahamian yellow or pastel blue.
17. Longines Legend Diver Bronze
If you want your dive watch to not only function on the inside but also look good out of the water, the Longines Legend Diver is the one that will tickle the sea salt. These watches, which range from a few thousand dollars to nearly $4,000 depending on case material, are water resistant to 300 meters and borrow from the compressor case era of dive watch development. This gives it two rather attractive crowns with the unexpected addition of operating an internal bezel. Put all the smokey dial versions together and you have a dive watch that James Bond would love to wear. But be careful. The 42mm version will wear more than expected due to the lug length. Fortunately, a smaller 36mm version is also available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are dive watches so popular?
The best diving watches are the most versatile types of watches. They are designed to withstand great depths of submersion in water. This allows them to comfortably endure the trials and tribulations of everyday modern life. They also have a legacy. The first diving watch was released in 1953. This gives the style of modern diving watches a vintage DNA and origin that is still referenced today.
This also means that a less outlandish looking dive watch can also be used as a dress watch. The bezel is also a practical and ergonomic device that can be worn on the wrist. You can use it to measure time on anything, using it as a compass or as a reminder of time zones. Why are dive watches so popular? Stylish, very sturdy, versatile and very practical for everyday use.
Why do dive watches have rotating bezels?
The rotating bezel acts as a clear timer underwater. Simply set the bezel to the minute hand. This essentially starts a timer. You can read the time on the bezel. Underwater, you may need to measure descent time, bottom time (time spent at the bottom of the dive), or decompression time. However, this timer function can be used for any purpose the wearer deems appropriate.
How does a dive watch work?
A dive watch is intended to provide divers with clear and accurate time readings underwater. It must be able to prevent water from entering the frame. It does this by using waterproof gaskets and a sturdy frame. You should be able to track elapsed time. This is achieved via a rotating bezel. Divers sometimes need to be able to read this information even in dark, murky water. Clear, illuminated needles and markers assist with this.
Conclusion
In the world of watches, dive watches stand as a testament to both form and function, perfectly blending rugged durability and timeless style. As I explored the different options in the world of diving watches, it became clear that these watches were more than just practicality, they became symbols of adventure, precision, and craftsmanship.
From the iconic Rolex Submariner to the innovative Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms Tech Gombessa, each watch has its own story and tradition, capturing the attention of enthusiasts and collectors alike. . Whether you're embarking on a deep-sea exploration or simply navigating the flow of everyday life, there's a dive watch to suit every taste and preference.
As technology advances and the boundaries of design expand, the appeal of dive watches continues, reminding us of the infinite depths waiting to be explored beneath the surface. So whether you are drawn to the classic elegance of a luxury watch or the rugged functionality of a budget-friendly option, diving watches remain an essential companion for those who seek adventure and embrace the unknown.
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