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A proper useful Diving watch for spearfishing diving & boating?

A
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Ideall my dive watch would be an Onega Seamaster with a depth gauge which shows both current depth & maximum depth reached like the BlancPain but can’t afford 50k or size of watch! Suunto dive comp does everything better but is useless once no battery/water ingress etc.
So a good mechanical dive watch with a mechanical depth gauge would be nice
Oris is nice but get blocked with salt etc and screw down crowns make using them underwater pointless for decompression stop timing or tides or anything

so anybody can recommend a true useful and daily beater capable dive watch (must be able to get to 40m max).

anybody else loves spearfishing & eating fresh fish BBq on the fire?
 
SpeedyPhill
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if it was good in "Jaws " (You're gonna need a bigger boat): 1974 ALSTA Nautoscaph superAutomatic diving watch worn by Richard Dreyfuss
(Brand name has been reintroduced)
.
1974_ALSTA_Nautoscaph_JAWS.jpg
 
Annapolis
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In my job I work with a lot of professional military divers, such as SEALs and explosive ordinance disposal specialists. Some of them own nice watches (including divers) for the office, but my sense is that when they’re actually diving (even just recreationally) they’re using proper digital dive computers, and not Seamasters or Submariners.

Not that those Swiss luxury watches aren’t safe for diving, and not that the standard dive bezel isn’t a handy tool. And I’m sure there are loads of folks here and elsewhere who really do dive with their luxury timepieces. But let’s be honest: for most of us “dive watch” is just a style choice. Not much different than wearing camo to go shopping or driving a 4x4 to your kid’s baseball game.

It sounds to me like you need to buy the full-featured real thing. The good news is, it’ll probably be way less expensive than the Omega or Rolex options, and will provide far more information.
 
A
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SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
if it was good in "Jaws " (You're gonna need a bigger boat): 1974 ALSTA Nautoscaph superAutomatic diving watch worn by Richard Dreyfuss
(Brand name has been reintroduced)
.
1974_ALSTA_Nautoscaph_JAWS.jpg
Jaws😀
I was more thinking along the lines of Barrier Reef & Kimberley’s or off southern Tassie spearfishing for big bulls
Does the ALSTA Nautoscaph superAutomatic have a mechanical depth gauge? But pics on https://www.fratellowatches.com/alsta-nautoscaph-superautomatic-reissue-is-it-worth-it/#gref
👎my dive watch has to deal with a lotta crap! Broke a previous Garmin fenix & upgraded to Taxtic with excellent ballistic & military grade quality. If good enough for seals then who am I to complain ;/)
Off I go to do some more Google searching ;-)
Thanks SpeedPhil for the suggestion!
Edited:
 
IMG_7249.jpeg IMG_6910.jpeg
A
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Annapolis Annapolis
In my job I work with a lot of professional military divers, such as SEALs and explosive ordinance disposal specialists. Some of them own nice watches (including divers) for the office, but my sense is that when they’re actually diving (even just recreationally) they’re using proper digital dive computers, and not Seamasters or Submariners.

Not that those Swiss luxury watches aren’t safe for diving, and not that the standard dive bezel isn’t a handy tool. And I’m sure there are loads of folks here and elsewhere who really do dive with their luxury timepieces. But let’s be honest: for most of us “dive watch” is just a style choice. Not much different than wearing camo to go shopping or driving a 4x4 to your kid’s baseball game.

It sounds to me like you need to buy the full-featured real thing. The good news is, it’ll probably be way less expensive than the Omega or Rolex options, and will provide far more information.
Definitely agreed! I would NOT scuba dive without my suunto (has wireless connectivity with my bottle & BC. And a mechanical bezel dive watch but for snorkeling or let’s be honest spearfishing I don’t wanna use the suunto generally (charging) and hence so far been using a Garmin Tactix but again battery /charging issues even with Solar Dial. But being an omega fan & old fart I would love to have the option for something like the BlancPlain 50th fathoms but the size of the 42mm and not 55mm and mechanical like Oris ones but not blick able from crap (mangrove mud is bad) when your hip deep chasing muddies down their holes!
Edited:
 
STANDY
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Can’t beat a Sieko

Here is my Northern Australia Dive watch. Certina DS3 1000m
IMG_1204.jpeg IMG_0500.jpeg IMG_0501.jpeg
 
A
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😁😁😁
STANDY STANDY
Can’t beat a Sieko

Here is my Northern Australia Dive watch. Certina DS3 1000m
IMG_1204.jpeg IMG_0500.jpeg IMG_0501.jpeg
I like that Certina and no silly helium value but 1000m is a bit unnecessary if I only go to 40m max ;-)
 
Annapolis
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STANDY STANDY
Can’t beat a Sieko

Here is my Northern Australia Dive watch. Certina DS3 1000m
IMG_1204.jpeg IMG_0500.jpeg IMG_0501.jpeg

@STANDY may be posting here self-interestedly (I won't alert the mods, as I can't be sure). He has been desperately trying to sell a piece unique Seiko diver for the better part of three years now. Don't fall for it---the watch only works in Australian waters. (That's Kangaroos, not Mozart--I checked.)
 
Jones in LA
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If you can get past the fact that it's not a mechanical watch, the Apple Ultra may be the one that best suits your needs. I have not used it for diving, so I can't speak from experience. I have used it for other classes of adventuring and find it to be versatile and dependable. I hope to take it diving in the future.

Here's a comprehensive review.

 
A
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Jones in LA Jones in LA
If you can get past the fact that it's not a mechanical watch, the Apple Ultra may be the one that best suits your needs. I have not used it for diving, so I can't speak from experience. I have used it for other classes of adventuring and find it to be versatile and dependable. I hope to take it diving in the future.

Here's a comprehensive review.

IMHO Never trust an Apple product for your life support system!
I much prefer suunto dive computers (can deal with multiple dives & deco stops throughout the day
 
A
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A Arunski
IMHO Never trust an Apple product for your life support system!
I much prefer suunto dive computers (can deal with multiple dives & deco stops throughout the day
And for 2nd backup a mechanical bomb proof dive watch (easily fit overs wetsuit or dry suit).
 
A
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The IWC Aquatiner functionality I like (max & current depth gauge. Shame Omega doesn’t do one in their seamaster range
 
STANDY
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A Arunski
😁😁😁
I like that Certina and no silly helium value but 1000m is a bit unnecessary if I only go to 40m max ;-)

If you use that train of thought any watch that is 50m waterproof will do.
You want a dive watch…get a dive watch. 😉

As mentioned any
Seiko dive watch will do what you want in spades…
Want to get really dive cool Doxa
or
Luxury dive Omega or Rolex

Basically it’s a budget thing really as dive watches are affordable from a few hundred $$$

Probably the watch I wear the most in water when I’m not putting tanks on. Worn mostly daily in he pool
IMG_2534.jpeg
 
khanmu
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This one - just back from a holiday, was my beater, used for swimming, snorkelling, surfing and a couple of recreational dives, and only cost £600. Bezel is nice and big and needs to be pushed down to turn, ensuring it doesn’t get accidentally bumped…

IMG_2706.jpeg
 
hen
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A Arunski
😁😁😁
I like that Certina and no silly helium value but 1000m is a bit unnecessary if I only go to 40m max ;-)

What!!! What do you mean "silly helium valve"?

IMG_20230713_144336.jpg

Got to have a He valve! How else are you going to fill it with helium??
There is a whole tread on OF on all the useful uses for the He valve and the benefits of Helium filled watches. I just cant find it.
 
A
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IMG_1507.jpeg IMG_1510.jpeg IMG_1514.jpeg
Well after spending way to long chatting with my OB Manager friend and him showing me all the Omega divers and 75th anniversary versions I have kinda fallen in love with a Omega Seamaster version they are not making ::facepalm1::

anyway they have the Ultra Deep 75th Anniversary Sommer Blue and I just fell kinda in love it!
But then shock horror the mantra wings for strap attachment are missing! 🫨
Also they won’t sell me a an additional just normal Ti housing with manta wings to put on the new lovely 75th dial into it.
Wouod that be technically even possible? Modding a Uktra Deep 75th Anniversary with the housing from the Ti manta wings to be actually practical when sticking your hands down a mud crab hole in mangrove swamp mud ‍♂️



But buying both watches to make one perfect one doesn’t seems to financially make any sense:whipped:missus would divorce me

@Archer, from a technical Point of view would be possible to swap the dials? Between Ti manta body with 75th steel dial? And while we’re at it Speedmaster hands would be nice ;-)
Edited:
 
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