What constitutes a good dive watch? More importantly – did you realise that a budget-friendly dive watch or an entry-level dive watch doesn’t need to lack any of the fundamental qualities that define a watch for diving? You can still pick up a really good quality dive watch for a fraction of the price of some of those made by the biggest names in the industry. After all, is quality really all in a name anyway?

The features to look out for in a dive watch, whether an entry-level timepiece or a high-end luxury dive watch are the same. You need a watch with around 200-meter water resistance or more and a legible dial with Super-LumiNova-coated hands and indexes for quick referencing of the time whilst in deep and dark underwater conditions. A quality dive watch should also have a rotating bezel for measuring elapsed dive time. Most dive watches today are equipped with a unidirectional rotating bezel that only moves in the counter-clockwise direction to ensure you never accidentally extend dive time whilst underwater. A dive watch should also come on a practical strap that takes little time to dry. Many are fitted on a rubber band or metal bracelet to match the material of the case. Whether powered by quartz or automatic movement, a dive watch needs to maintain a dry internal environment, which is where additional features like a screw-down crown, screw-down caseback and a helium escape valve may come in useful for assisting the case to uphold its water resistance. So, without further ado, we have ten of the best entry-level dive watches on the market to show you. Let’s get started.

We’re kickstarting this guide to the best entry-level dive watches with the Seiko SKX007, which although not available from the brand’s current catalogue, makes for a great value proposition and is considered a well-rounded bonafide dive watch for amateur and professional use by many dive watch enthusiasts. The Seiko SKX007 is, without a doubt, the gateway drug into the world of mechanical dive watch collecting. Its steel casing is equipped with 200-meter water resistance and, being from the SKX series, boasts the instantly recognisable design codes of a line of Seiko watches that have become highly sought after across the globe. The black dial is kitted out with LumiBrite hour markers and hands and the watch is also credited with ISO 6425 certification.

Sister brand of Omega, Certina certainly knows how to craft a reliable yet affordable dive watch. The manufacturer has specialised in supplying dive watches to US Navy divers during the 1960s and has assisted with several experimental underwater tests for selected use during NASA’s Tektite underwater mission in 1969, as well as the Royal Australian Navy. The Certina DS PH200M watch is an incredibly good value-for-money watch. It comes with a ceramic bezel, a sapphire crystal glass front and its movement, capable of an 80-hour power reserve, is equipped with a Nivachron balance spring for enhanced resistance against magnetic damage. The 200-meter water-resistant dive watch measures 42.8mm in diameter and has been crafted from stainless steel. A blue dial with a thick orange-trimmed central hour hand and matching orange accents on the dive scale add vibrancy to the model, whereas its quick-change system also means you can switch the strap of the watch over to suit the occasion in question.

With a deep and mesmerising blue dial that reflects the tones of the ocean in its shimmering surface, the links between Tissot and underwater exploration are inextricable in this Tissot Seastar 1000 watch. The sturdy 300-meter water-resistant stainless steel case is topped with a matching blue ceramic bezel ring with a 60-minute dive scale. You can enjoy the performance and reliability of the watch’s internally fitted Powermatic 80 movement inside the case of this budget-friendly dive watch, which provides an 80-hour power reserve during those occasions away from the wrist. Enclosing with a robust stainless steel bracelet, the Tissot Seastar 1000 watch secures comfortably with a folding clasp, as well as a diver’s extension feature that enables it to slide easily over the top of heavy diving gear.

Doxa is an expert in developing dive tools for professional and amateur divers and puts itself well and truly on the map for its specialist watchmaking during the 1950s and 1960s with the vibrant orange dive watch icon. The Doxa Sub 200 watch follows in the same footsteps as this original, with DNA clearly pointing to its famous ancestor. The SUB 200 is one of the more affordable dive models from the brand’s current catalogue and, as its name suggests, promises a 200-meter water resistance. Topped with anti-glare sapphire crystal glass and featuring Super-LumiNova treatment on its indexes and hands, the Sharkhunter Black SUB 200 just had to make our list of the best entry-level dive watches this year.

To keep costs low, the Bulova UHF Sea King is powered by a Japanese quartz movement, which sends a set of yellow-trimmed Super-LumiNova-coated hands around a black dial with ease. The indexes are a mix of circles, chunky batons and Arabic numerals that glow richly in the dark. The Bulova Sea King watch is 300-meter water-resistant and features a date window nestled in between the 4 and 5 o’clock location, a black ion-plated stainless steel case, a steel bracelet, and measures a confident 49mm diameter. If you have a broad wrist that can take the stealth and masculinity of this affordable dive watch, the Bulova UHF Sea King watch certainly ticks all the boxes for a rugged water -ready dive tool.

In this dive watch, Bulova pays homage to a classic from the 1970s. The 44mm circular stainless steel case is equipped with an impressive 200-meter water resistance and features a striking black and red unidirectional rotating bezel with the first 15 minutes of dive time highlighted in said red colour. Square-shaped hour markers and chunky hands have been treated with Super-LumiNova, whilst the date window at 3 o’clock is made remarkably legible thanks to a crisp frame, a white background, and black numerals. The dive watch is a reiteration of the acclaimed 70’s Oceanographer "Devil Diver" watch, so if you like your diving companion to ooze retro charm and character – this is the vintage-style of dive watch that will get plenty of attention on the wrist. An additional feature to the model includes a robust stainless steel bracelet with a double-press fold-over buckle for easy yet secure wear.

This Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto watch is clad in a stunning green outfit that sits somewhere in between the sea-green tones of the ocean and the military khaki colour that Hamilton has become so well-recognised for. This entry-level dive watch boasts a strong stainless steel case integrated with 100-meter water resistance. If you simply collect dive watches because you love the look of them, this may be the watch for you, since the Scuba Auto does not possess the same aquatic aspirations as some of the other dive watches on this list, but does look the part. It’s also a compact model, measuring a very unimposing 40mm diameter. The watch is powered by the H-10 movement which donates a very generous 80-hour power reserve and comes finished on a matching green unidirectional rotating bezel and a green NATO-style strap securing with a steel pin buckle.

Citizen is known for its expertly developed watches for exploration and its cutting-edge solar-powered timekeeping technology. Therefore, if solar-powered watches are your thing, this 200-meter water-resistant entry-level dive watch will tick all of the boxes for you. Not only does it come with a strong scratch and glare-resistant mineral glass front, but its dial is cleverly proportioned so as to use up the space wisely with large chunky luminous-coated hands and indexes. That’s not to forget the date window either, which lives at the 4 o’clock location. The Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster watch is completed on a black rubber strap and eradicates the hassle of having to continually service your watch with its innovative solar-powered quartz movement.

Japanese watchmaker, Orient is loved the world over for its diverse range of diver’s watches, including this Orient Maker II dive watch in unmistakable Pepsi colours. It comes with an improved design and an upgraded calibre – the F6922. Primed for plenty of underwater use, the stainless steel model is 200-meter water-resistant and features a captivating deep blue dial with the first 15 minutes highlighted in red on the 120-click diving bezel, luminous Arabic numerals and stick indexes, a red triangular-tipped second hand, a day-date features at 3 o’clock, stainless steel bracelet, screwed-down caseback, screw-down crown and a 41.5mm diameter. For its price tag, you get a well-designed movement with an autonomy of a 40-hour power reserve too.

You can find the Seiko 5 Sports SRPD93 watch on the pre-owned market for a very reasonable price and of course, some similar models have been produced since the birth of this dive watch. But the deep blue dial of the SRPD93, paired with its black silicone strap, create a very eye-catching look on the wrist. The watch is powered by the Calibre 4R36 automatic movement and belongs to the 5 Sport watch collection, which has been in production for over 20 years. With a 41-hour power reserve and a 100-meter water resistance, the Seiko 5 Sports SRPD93 watch is ideal for recreational divers and imparts an instantly recognisable sporty, dive-watch spirit on the wrist.

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