The best budget dive watches

As diving watches are arguably one of the most popular type of watch sold, it should come as little surprise that a number of misconceptions surround what actually makes a good example.

Perhaps the biggest cause for confusion is what actually constitutes such a timepiece? Fortunately there is a definition: a dive watch is one that is designed for underwater diving that features, as a minimum, a water resistance greater than 100m. Typical examples these days are good for 200 to 300m or beyond. Note, the very first Rolex Submariner was rated to 100 metres.

Even this minimum standard, however, is overkill. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) states that its Open Water certification will let you submerge to 20 metres. Upgrade to the Advanced Open Water certification and you can go to 40m. Trust us, you will not need the extra 60-plus metres of water resistance – dive below 57m, for example, and the partial pressure of the oxygen in compressed air can become toxic – and, what’s more, you will likely prefer the weight and financial savings from not going for a higher performing model.

Here we have selected nine diver watches than shun bells and whistles for functionality, and as a result represent exceptional value whether you take them wreck diving or merely submit them to a dunk in the bath.