Dive watch or not a dive watch...?

[kinetic]

Hello all,

Just got my recent crop of mags including the latest "episode" of Diver.

Last article seemed a bit odd...concerning watches for diving. It struck me as really quite odd, if not stupid what the bloke was advocating.

The upshot was that buying a crap watch which may well fail during a dive and that's fine because it only cost 13 quid and you can buy a new one afterwards....to fail at a later date.

Well of course, that means your computer won't fail and you won't need to rely on your dive tables...or it means you already have 2 computers and you can then only afford a crap watch.

I appreciate the point that some dive watches are pricey but the article in question was idiotic.

Opinions welcome..

Graham

[Andy the Coastie]

<font color='#0000FF'>Graham mate , i think it was a pi$$ take or somethink just to fill the last page......

Having said that, my watch i used below and above water cost me £ 7.99 from argos 5 years ago, FIRST watch i have never lost or misplaced. has 30 mts on the case , but has been to 57 and worked well.

Andy

[Mr T.]

At the risk of being apposite......

&quot;Buy cheap -- buy twice!&quot; (that's assuming you get a second bite at the cherry! Your life: it depends on how valuable you hold it - you pay for decent dry-suit, regs, wing/BCD, computer etc...... why not a watch?)

This is gonna sound a bit gash, but: buy a watch which is up to the the job. Personally, I have everthing from a Rolex Submariner to an SBS 'CWC' class, to a Japanese Citizen, to a Taser 'mega-visible' SEALs watch. They have all served me well and are all deeply visible (as far as the vis allows - perhaps not the important bit: do they work at depth and in the UK conditions in which I dive......ALL yes)

If you're gonna be diving and need a trusty watch to go with you, then spend wisely: as you won't get the opportunity if it all goes wrong on the dive where it all goes wrong.

Good luck and dive safe, always.

[Paul Oliver]

Hi all

Not read the article but i've never paid more than £70 for a watch. All worked well for diving.

I was looking at an Aqualand but the one i wanted i could have got a bottom timer and a back up computer, so i will not be buying an Aqualand, and will buy a second computer (my old back up 'puter died a few months ago RIP Phoenix Orca) or a bottom timer.

The watches that Diver offer free for a 2 year sub are fine, i used one for 14 years. Even used to change the battery myself and re-seal with a bit of silicon grease.

Dive Safe

Paul

[Simon TW]

<font color='#000080'>Yeah read that, in the same mag it also has an article on the posh and most exclusive diving in the world.

You'd be a bit pissed off if you had to abort an expensive dive cos you bought a shit watch. But then if you had bought a shit watch then you wouldn't be likely to fork out several £K on a exclusive diving holiday.

My opinion, for what its worth, allways buy the best that you can afford.

[Spike Jackson]

I got the Citizen Pormaster with the digital depth guage and timer that starts automatically - loads of divers have them.

One of the main reasons was that I never remember to set the bezel on a normal dive watch!

[kinetic]

Andie..if it was a piss take I'm not happy....

I'm not happy anyway...think the article was stupid and you're probably right in suggesting that it was a space filler.

I only posted to find out watches everyone has..

Mine's a nice little ankle number and was free from an Esso garage back in 86.

My other one is an Omega Seamaster which I bought before Brosnan got paid stacks to wear it...by the way.

It looks chunky and pulls the birds...well it did upto meeting the wife.

Upshot...I'd echo the sentiment of buying the best you can afford (within reason of course).

I never set my bezzle either as I forget too...only because I'm too busy writing the entry time on my slate.

Cheers all for now.

G

[GUV..]

I have always enjoyed diver magazine but that particular article was true crap.
He professes to buying a few cheap watches then spends £40 on obtaining some regulation info and with that amount of money could have bought an uwatec underwater timer and shut up complaining.But the most scary for me was his account of his aborted dive after his &quot;cheap watch &quot; failed , he describes himself as having problems maintaining buoyancy at the safety stop as he is slightly buoyant.What would it been like had he carried on with his &quot;planned &quot;dive.He should stop worrying about watches and spend some money on proper training and he also mentioned that when the watch failed it came up with some Japanese writing which if roughly translated would have had I'm sure the words &quot;congratulations&quot; and &quot;Darwin&quot; in it.

OK rant over ,deep breathes and relax.

Regards,

MAL..

[kinetic]

Thanking you...you I'm thanking...

The barman at my old local in Lincolshire used to say that every time you bought a beer...

I think your comments said it all..

Piss take or not...irresponsible journalism in my mind.

G

[Helen F H]

i got given my watch (a casio white face job) cos i whined about not being able to afford a new watch and a nice bloke in our club gave it to me to shut me up. &nbsp;hehe. &nbsp;I was very very broke at the time(just outta uni) &nbsp;- like on about £5-£10 a week. &nbsp;Gods i used to get more pocket money than that.