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What are the Best Dive Watches Under $200? 2023 Buying Guide and Reviews

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O. Christopher

What are the Best Dive Watches Under $200? 2020 Buying Guide and Reviews

When looking for the best dive watches under $200, you would have to make some sacrifices here and there. It would be best if you never had to sacrifice on the things that make dive watches functional, though.

This informed our quest for the best dive watches that money can buy for under $200. In a minute, we will get to the top picks that made this list.

If you don’t have the time to go through everything, cop yourself a Mares Nemo Dive Computer Wristwatch or the Seiko Prospex Turtle Diver Watch for something more conventional.

For those who have the time, we have put together many vital resources for you here.

Does Anyone Go Diving with A Dive Watch?

Dive watches are explicitly built to withstand high pressure underwater without impacting the inner workings of the watch. So, yes, people do go diving with these watches.

Likewise, saltwater and other chemicals in water bodies affect the watch material in different ways. That is why we don't recommend going diving with just about any watch that has a water resistance rating on it.

To get the best diving experience without harming your watch in the process, you should own a specialized diving watch too.

If you need more reasons to get a diving watch, we find this online resource highly helpful. It can be a matter of life and death in some cases.

What Dive Watch Should You Buy?

This is dependent on your needs.

If you are on a budget, you should get a dive watch that gets the job done. If you have more money to spend, you can look for more detailed dive watches that pack quite an extensive list of features.

There are also different brands offering dive watches out there. We tend to stick to the tried and tested brands that we know we can rarely go wrong on. Likewise, that makes it easier for us to get watch repair services quickly.

Can You Dive with A 200m-Rated Watch?

Yes.

When considering watches for this list, we made 200m our least benchmark. We also came across picks that went as high as 300 meters and one that offers as much as 1000m depth rating.

We don’t think you’ll be diving that deep, but it is an excellent feature to have on your watch anyways.

What Makes A Good Dive Watch?

As we mentioned earlier, your watch's water resistance rating is not the only factor to consider when choosing a dive watch. This is almost where everyone looks, which isn't bad but limits you in making the absolute best choice.

Next time, broaden your scope of review based on the following factors.

Water Resistance Rating

This is obvious, so we are going to start from here also.

We have seen many wristwatches with just 100 meters of water resistance being advertised as dive watches. These picks are mostly cheap, but they will not get the job done as well.

We love to leave a lot of room for error when choosing dive watches. Thus, always select a dive watch that offers a better depth rating than the depths you will usually dive to.

Thus, if you are diving to 300 meters, get a watch that offers 500 meters of water resistance or more.

Markings

The deeper you go, the fuzzier things could get. More prominent hour markers make it easy to tell the time and other essential details on the watch face at these depths.

Following that, dive watches are also required to have good readability at a distance of 25cm, even in total darkness. Diving watchmakers usually achieve this with luminous hour markers or working in an LED backlight.

Magnetic and Shock Resistance

A watch that will be taken to the depths should stand up well against pressure and shocks. The ISO 6425 standards spell out the specific tests that watchmakers need to perform on their units to meet the barest magnetic and shock resistance levels.

Chemical Resistance

All watches with a decent water resistance rating cannot be a diver’s watch because they could lack the chemical resistance requirements.

A diver's watch will be deployed in saltwater conditions alongside freshwater environments too. It must, thus, be chemically resistant to salt (NaCl), which can accelerate the level of rust otherwise.

What Are the Best Dive Watches Under $200?

Considering all of the above, we have a list of affordable and best value dive watches. Check through the list to pick the one which matches your style better.

1. Seiko Men’s SNE283

Seiko Men's SNE283 Gunmetal-Tone Stainless Steel Watch with Blue Polyurethane Band
  • Solar powered round watch with 45mm stainless steel case and...
  • Japanese quartz movement with analog display
  • Featuring unidirectional rotating bezel, date window at three...
  • Water resistant to 660 feet (200 meters)

Features

The Seiko Men’s SNE283 is one of the best quartz dive watches selling below 200 dollars.

The band material (polyurethane) is waterproof, and watch owners won’t have to worry about rust on the straps.

Seiko finished the watch design with a gunmetal-tone stainless steel face, which encloses the watch face itself. On that watch face are luminous hand markers – of which there is a sweeping second hand too. Complete with a date-window complication, the watch is simple yet functional.

2. Mares Nemo Wide Dive Computer Wrist Watch – Best Watch for Scuba Diving

Mares Nemo Wide Dive Computer-AS-ONE
  • New nitrox function: three-different gas mixtures during single...
  • Wide, high-contrast display with a 170 degree Viewing angle, data...
  • 4 buttons easy access simple to use, upgradeable software,...
  • Deep stops and safety stop functions, back lighting, user...
  • Air, nitrox and bt function modes, precautionary programmable,...

Features

If you were looking for the best watch to go scuba diving with, look no further than this Nemo Wide Dive Computer Wrist Watch. This is the second generation from the same manufacturer, and they have pulled out all of the stops here.

Its list of impressive features, for us, starts with the wide-face that provides all the relevant data at a glimpse. The backlighting feature provides better readability of the watch face at depths where light starts becoming a luxury.

The display shows your current depth and maximum depth for real-time feedback on your adventure. You also get the audible alarms, precautionary modes, air and nitrox functions, among other things.

Of course, this won’t pass as an everyday watch when you are done diving. When underwater, though, you will be glad that you made the purchase.

3. MOMENTUM M1 Splash Watch

Momentum's Unisex M1 Splash Watch | 200m / 660 ft Water Resistant | Rotating Dive Bezel (Sapphire...
  • Comes with a screw-down crown to ensure maximal durability and a...
  • Features a high quality Japanese-quartz movement; hand assembled...
  • Select an option from a variety of bezel and band colors to best...
  • The easy to read dial and date design offer unparalleled visibity...
  • Upgrade to sapphire crystal if you are tough on your watch and...

Features

Don’t let the name fool you. At a 200m water resistance rating, this watch can handle much more than just water splashes.

The standard version of this watch features a mineral crystal glass face. For those who are tougher on their watches, you might want to choose the sapphire crystal option instead. The latter material is better treated against scratches and nicks.

We appreciate that personal style and aesthetics went into the making of this watch. Not that it would have been a dealbreaker, but it makes things more enjoyable too. Choose from a variety of 15 different bezel color options to fit your style better.

Complete with a highly legible watch face, the only thing we’re skeptical about here is the visibility in low light.

4. Tauchmeister 1937 – Best Water Resistance Rating

Features

No, we did not make a mistake. This watch offers a stunning 1000 meters of water resistance rating.

At such depths, saltwater concentration goes very high. This is why we appreciate the combination of sapphire crystal glass face and a high-quality diver strap too. The specially coated luminous hands make it easier to see the watch's details, even in low light situations.

Again, we cannot but refer back to the 1000 meters water resistance rating – and at this price point, no doubt.

If we are honest, though, this wristwatch doesn’t do too well in the looks department. Beauty, they say, lies in the eyes of the beholder. There is a high chance that you see something there which we are not seeing.

Don’t let that discourage you anyways. It looks good for the money, and you are probably not planning on making this a dress watch anyways.

5. Wenger Sea Force 3H (0641.102)

Wenger Men's 'Seaforce' Swiss Quartz Stainless Steel Casual Watch, Color:Silver-Toned (Model:...
  • Swiss-made quartz sea force watch with sapphire coated mineral...
  • Rotating bezel
  • Swiss-quartz Movement
  • Case Diameter: 43mm
  • Water resistant 200m (660ft): in general, suitable for...

Features

When we saw Sea Force in the name, we knew it better be suitable for diving. Else, we would have brought the watch here for some severe dragging.

Ha-ha. Just kidding. Or are we?

Moving on, 200 meters of water resistance should get you some excellent depth on diving. We would not push this watch too close to that depth if we were you, though. To be on the safer side, nothing more.

The watch hour markers are designed to be luminous enough for low light visibility. We also like the non-busy watch face, only having the date complication to spice things up. Finished with a black silicone strap to better withstand the water is also a plus.

Overall, this is also a great looking watch that could pass as an everyday watch when you are not diving.

How Do You Maintain A Dive Watch?

We get this one a lot too.

The watches you select from this list have been engineered to withstand the conditions they have been advertised for. To ensure longevity, there are some tips to maintain your dive watches too.

Go Have Fun

Now that you have chosen your desired diving watch, you should go out and have some fun. Happy diving. Don't forget to take many pictures with new friends you are about to make underwater.

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O. Christopher