Holiday tip: Five diving watches under 500

Have you booked your holiday yet? Time for some anticipation: we're going to pick out a new diving watch! Because a beach holiday with activities such as snorkelling and diving calls for a nice diving watch. What is a good diving watch? And what should you pay attention to when buying one? In this blog, we have highlighted five of our favourite diving watches under €500. Whether you are looking for a functional diving watch or have fallen for the sporty charm, with the tips from this blog you will go on holiday in style and well prepared. 

What is a good diving watch? 

At hollandwatchgroup.com we speak of a diving watch if the watch is at least 20 ATM waterproof, has a rotating diving bezel, clear hands and hour indexes with lumens.

What a good diving watch is depends on the type of water sports you are going to do. For snorkelling or recreational holiday diving, a simple, analogue diving watch - as described above - is sufficient. Deep sea divers less often opt for a traditional diving watch, but use a specialist diving computer.

What to look out for when buying a diving watch? 

The characteristics of a diving watch are: 
- Water resistance; Choose at least 20 ATM. Only if you are going deep-sea diving a water resistance of at least 50 ATM is recommended. 
- Functions; First determine what you need and compare different watches. It is advisable to choose a bezel that rotates in 1 direction so that it does not accidentally turn the wrong way and you get into trouble with your diving time or oxygen supply. 
- Readability and lighting; Underwater it is often dark or visibility is limited, so it is important that the watch remains easy to read. Choose a dial with high contrast. Large indexes and hands with lumen and possibly lighting are essential. 
- Reliability; Choose a watch with an accurate quartz or solar movement so that you always have the correct time indication. - Strap and clasp; A 'tool watch' like a diver must also fit well. The strap must be easily adjustable in size to wear over a wetsuit. Some diving watches come with an additional strap extension.

But the most important thing is of course that the watch suits your style and that you find it comfortable to wear. You can read more tips for choosing a diving watch in our blog ‘How to choose the perfect diving watch’.

Our Top 5 diving watches under € 500

Citizen Promaster Marine Godzilla 

We kick off the top 5 with a monster of a diving watch; The Citizen Promaster Marine Godzilla. This mighty diving watch is no less than 30 ATM waterproof, ISO6425 certified and looks brutal. Citizen is in any case a brand you can turn to for a large selection of (professional) diving watches for women and men in the Promaster line.

LIP Grande Nautic-Océan Watch 

The LIP Grande Nautic-Océan diving watch is a very stylish retro watch that is also very functional. It is a remake of the LIP Nautic-Ski from 1967; the first French watch to be 20 ATM water resistant, and was worn by the team of the world-famous captain Jacques Cousteau. 

The watch has an internal rotating bezel operated by the additional crown, and a thick, domed glass. The excellent water resistance is due to the 'compressor' case that clamps shut tighter as the water pressure increases.

Tissot T-Sport Seastar 1000 

The Seastar 1000 watches from the Swiss watch brand Tissot are ideal for (business) travelers. The watch is 30 ATM waterproof, for recreational diving, but it also fits perfectly with a business casual outfit due to the refined finish, ceramic bezel and the rubber strap with woven structure. A second time zone can be set by means of the GMT hand.

Orient Mako Solar 

The diving watches from the Japanese brand Orient are among the bestsellers of hollandwatchgroup.com. Not only are they very stylish, the price-quality ratio is excellent. This solar diving watch, for example, is available in different colors and for less than €300. Nevertheless, Mako watches feel very solid and are certainly not inferior to watches from more expensive brands. 

Seiko Prospex Sea - PADI 

And finally, we recommend this ISO-certified diving watch from the Prospex series by Seiko. It was developed in collaboration with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors). This way you are assured of a diving watch that not only looks great, but also meets the highest safety requirements.

Cheaper alternatives 

In this blog we have chosen diving watches up to just under €500, but there is much more choice at hollandwatchgroup.com. In the Timex collection, for example, you will find several excellent diving watches for less than €200! Or take a look at the Festina diving watch collection; Choice of many different colours and straps for a price between €129 and €179.