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Divers today have options when it comes to equipment. Dive computers automatically keep track of the depth and safe time remaining left on a dive. But as reliable as dive computers are, some people still want to rely on a dive watch. Dive watches have provided divers a safe way to track their dive time for years. The Casio dive watch is a classic in this arena that has proved itself year over year.
It’s the old and steady, the reliable; the backup when you are underwater. It provides assurance at a very reasonable price. When you’re not underwater, you can still wear it around town. Its classic design goes well with any outing.
What Is the Casio Dive Watch?
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Casio makes hundreds of watches in every style, color and material, but there is one diver watch we are specifically looking at, the Casio Men’s Black Analog Anti Reverse Bezel Watch.
The Casio dive watch is water resistant up to 200M (660 feet), has an anti-reverse bezel, 3-hand analog and date display. This watch meets diving standards with its water resistance rating.
Water Resistance
For recreational diving, it’s important to have a watch with at least a 100m (330 feet) dive rating. You would never actually find yourself at this depth, but it’s an important rating because it means the watch can handle the water at this depth, which ensures it’s been properly tested and will work when wet and submerged at a diver’s depth.
Bezel
The bezel makes a diver’s watch an actual tool for divers. When a diver begins their dive, they set the bezel to the time they jump in the water. The bezel allows the diver to track the amount of time they have left to safely be underwater. Anti-reverse means that the bezel will only turn anti-clockwise, which will protect you against accidentally moving the bezel to appear as if you have more time underwater.
The bezel needs to be easy to read so you can quickly glance at your watch while diving and know exactly how much time you have remaining. This is a critical safety feature for the Casio diver watch.
Luminescence
Luminescence is another key part of a divers watch. When diving, a diver can find themselves in a darker atmosphere. Water doesn’t let as much light penetrate as air does, so it’s darker underwater than above. It’s important to see the time under water, and therefore the watch hands need to glow in the dark.
Product Specs
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The Casio dive watch possesses the three important elements that make up a divers watch. It is water resistance, has an anti-reverse bezel and has luminescence.
As far as the style goes, the Casio dive watch comes with a black resin band with a buckle for closure that provides comfort and durability. The band is 20 millimeters wide, water resistant, and can handle the elements.
The Casio dive watch displays the date and the classic marlin logo that appears on all Casio watches with a water resistance rating of 200m or higher. The black dial has white time markers and hands and is protected with a mineral crystal window. The second hand stands out in bright red. The case diameter is 44 millimeters wide with a 12-millimeter thickness.
The back of the watch features the water resistance rating, reference number, and a marlin, all etched in stainless steel.
The bezel is stainless steel and textured for a good grip, making it easy to use when your hands are wet. The Casio watch also features a screw down crown and uses a precise Japanese quartz for its movement. The total watch weighs in at 2.88 ounces.
Pricing
The Casio dive watch, which is the Casio Men’s Black Analog Anti Reverse Bezel Watch model number MDV106-1A, is found on Amazon for around $40.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar dive watches available on the market to see how they compare.
- Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
- Citizen Promaster Diver
- Oris Diver Sixty-Five
Casio Dive Watch
[amazon box=”B009KYJAJY”]
Ease of Use (4 out of 5 stars)
The design of the Casio dive watch is simple. It only contains what you need, making it simple to read and use. The watch itself is large enough to easily view while diving. The textured bezel is easy to turn when your hands are wet and the dial is luminescent, making it easy to see when it is dark out or you are underwater.
Depth Rating (4 out of 5 stars)
This watch has a water resistance rating of 200m or 660 feet. That provides the standard water resistance rating for a diver’s watch.
Design Quality (3 out of 5 stars)
The watch is made with decent quality material. The band is a resin plastic which may not appeal to everyone but it does perform well in the water. The dial window is made from mineral crystal which is not the strongest available on the market for watches but it is scratch resistant.
Warranty (3 out of 5 stars)
Casio provides limited warranties on their watches.
PROS
- Reasonably priced watch
- Anti-reverse bezel is sturdy and easy to grip
- Decent quality and build for the price
CONS
- Strap is not ascetically pleasing for those that want to wear it out of the water
- Reports that the luminescence is not super clear underwater
- Watch is on the larger size and may feel too big for those with a smaller wrist
Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean
[amazon box=”B00861E8XU”]
This watch is on the high end of dive watches. It offers automatic self-wind movement, sapphire crystal dial, and is water resistant up to 600M (2000 feet.) This Swiss made watch has a black ceramic, unidirectional rotating bezel, steel case and bracelet, and weighs in at 15.84 ounces.
Ease of Use (5 out of 5 stars)
This watch has a large, clear face and simple design. The bezel has a great texture making it easy to turn when your hands are wet. The side knobs are large and provide a great grip as well.
Depth Rating (5 out of 5 stars)
The water resistance rating is 600M (2000 feet) which is a depth a diver would never go; but it proves that this watch has met very high water resistance standards.
Design Quality (5 out of 5 stars)
This watch has a lot of high-quality features such as the anti-reflective dial window made from sapphire crystal and the automatic self-wind movement system. The watch band is made from stainless steel and has a fold over clasp with the extra protection of a double push button.
Warranty (4 out of 5 stars)
Omega offers a five-year warranty on all of their watches.
PROS
- Made with great quality materials
- Watch offers a classic, elegant look that goes well with a suit or diving gear
- Bevel has a great texture and grip
CONS
- Time accuracy has been reported to be off by a few seconds
- Omega warranty may only be valid if purchased directly from Omega retailer
- Watch is heavier on the arm
Citizen Promaster Diver
[amazon box=”B00PXVU3GM”]
This is a quality watch offered at a reasonable price. The Citizen watch features a water resistance rating of 200M (660 feet), unidirectional bezel, a blue dial with a blue polyurethane band with buckle closure. It has a Japanese quartz movement system and analog display. It is also fueled by light with Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, which means you will never have to replace the battery.
Ease of Use (3 out of 5 stars)
Since this watch is fueled by light, the ease of never having to worry about a battery is a big plus. The bezel is made from aluminum and has texture added to make it easy to turn. The dial is simple and the hands are large, making it easy to read at a glance.
Depth Rating (4 out of 5 stars)
The water resistance rating is 200M (660 feet), which meets the standards for diving.
Design Quality (3 out of 5 stars)
This watch is made from good materials. The band holds up well in water and it has a stainless steel back. The dial is made from an anti-reflective crystal mineral. We wish it was offered in more colors than just dark blue.
Warranty (4 out of 5 stars)
Citizen offers a 5-year warranty on all of their watches.
PROS
- Reliable watch made from good quality materials
- Never have to worry about replacing the battery
- Bezel has good texture and easy to turn
CONS
- Only comes in dark blue
- Reports that the face of the watch scratches easily
- Watch has a large dial face and is on the heavy side
Oris Diver Sixty-Five
[amazon box=”B01AIX4UFY”]
This watch stands out because of its design. Unlike other dive watches that go for a classic design, the Oris Diver Sixty-Five has a vintage feel with Arabic numerals. The watch features a water resistance rating of 100M (330 feet), a stainless steel case, unidirectional rotating black bezel and rubber band with a tang style buckle. It runs on a Swiss automatic movement system and has a sapphire crystal dial.
Ease of Use (3 out of 5 stars)
At a quick glance, if you were underwater diving, it may not be the easiest watch to read given the design of the numerical markers. The bezel has been reported to wobble when being turned.
Depth Rating (3 out of 5 stars)
While this watch meets diving standards at 100M (330 feet) we don’t like the minimal rating. For the price, you can get watches with higher water resistance ratings.
Design Quality (4 out of 5 stars)
The watch offers a different take of diver watches with its vintage style. The materials are high quality. It has a Swiss automatic movement system and a sapphire crystal dial. However, the rubber band may not meet expectations given the price.
Warranty (3 out of 5 stars)
Oris offers a two-year warranty on all of their watches.
PROS
- Quality Swiss made watch
- Unique vintage style, great for wearing out of the water
- Meets all the dive watch requirements
CONS
- Expensive watch for only a two-year warranty
- We wish the band was made from something other than rubber
- Face may not be easy to read for some
Conclusion
If you are in the market for a reliable, durable watch to wear while diving or just around town, we recommend the Casio dive watch and give it a good solid 4 stars. It has a great price tag at only around $50, which makes it way less expensive than the Swiss made watches. While you may not get the same Swiss made quality, you are still getting a great dive watch from Casio.
It has a great water resistance rating, a good gripping bezel and luminescent hands to give all the basics you need in a dive watch. The resin band does well in the water and holds up well to rough and tough wear. This watch is perfect to wear on the boat, in the water, at the beach or in any elements you might find yourself while on a dive. It’s a great price so you don’t have to worry if you accidentally bang in on the dock or toss it in the sand.
Having a backup watch to gauge your time in the water and keep you safe is exactly what you get with the Casio dive watch.
