15 Best Dive Watches under $500

With an ever-expanding market, I’ll admit it’s becoming a little more challenging for pieces to ACTUALLY be worth their price.

Sure, there are plenty of cheap watches out there that you can order online right now, but without proper research and knowing where to look, you could wind up with something either disappointing or non-functional altogether.

Today, this is for all you diver fans who are tired of spending an arm and a leg on pieces you trust but leave your bank account rather dry. I know you’re tired of it.

If you love watches but hate spending excessive amounts, these pieces hang around the $500 mark, ensuring you are getting the most out of your dollar.

All of these pieces are from big-name brands that have a rich history of producing high-quality watches, so there’s no reason to leave any room for uncertainty. Let’s dive in. 

History of Dive Watches

In 1926, Rolex introduced the Oyster case, a massive leap forward in water resistance technology for timepieces. Now, Rolex didn’t necessarily have the intention of making an authentic dive watch (mostly because nobody really knew what that was yet) but the Cartier Tank Etanche took the formula for the Oyster case a step further, manufacturing the first-ever water-resistant watch in 1931.

Funny enough, it was Omega who was responsible for the leap of water-resistant watches into true dive watches with the Omega Marine. The Marine solved the water resistance issue in a way that no other watch had managed to do, being tested in depths that no other watch had dared venture.

It also accompanied many divers on their expeditions, exploring the vast depths of the sea while staying perfectly intact. Now, diver fans can look back at the ancestral history of these pieces and smile because technology has only improved, and dive watches have only grown strong, being able to handle deeper pressures than ever before. 

Seiko Prospex SRPE03 King Turtle

$625

The SRPE03 oozes with functionality. Of course, it’s a Seiko watch, so we have all come to expect only the best, and they have delivered once again. With a 45mm stainless steel case and a ceramic display on the bezel, this is a very tight piece that embodies the diver persona perfectly.

Weighing in at 198g and with a water resistance of 200m, diver fans will certainly be pleased. The thick hands of the dial and bright indices ensure perfect legibility, and the Lumi Brite feature makes it certain you will not be squinting to read the time at night.

The 4R36 Caliber gives this piece 41 hours of battery life with a stop-hand function and a day/date display. A perfect utilitarian piece that looks sturdy and smooth. It’s a classic Seiko. 

Orient Kamasu (ref. RA-AA0001B39B)

$335

This business-style dive watch is suitable for both business environments and outdoor explorations. It measures 41.8mm in diameter and features a stainless steel case with a water resistance of 200m. Keeping the same feel of a familiar dive-watch, everything—once again—feels very tight.

The black dial doesn’t stand out, and the hands are fairly subtle, but the aesthetic isn’t attempting to embody anything it’s not, which in and of itself is admirable.

A very classy feel for certain, and the metal is very smooth and bright. A caliber F6922 Automatic movement powers the piece, delivering a 40-hour power reserve, and the unidirectional bezel further implements that utilitarian strength that diver fans crave. 

Citizen Promaster Diver (ref. BN0168-06L)

$300

Switching up the aesthetic, the Citizen Promaster Dive is a bold blue with many sharp features that make the piece stand out. The stainless steel case is 44mm wide with a blue dial that delivers a nautical vibe that can be felt throughout the piece.

Along the bezel, a sharp red contrasts the silver and blue while also complementing the red outline of the hour hand. I can just imagine a warm afternoon on a boat, commandeering the ship while proudly sporting this watch on my wrist.

It seems to be encouraging you to explore the sea, almost as if its true aesthetical prowess can only be unlocked amidst the waters. This is an Eco-Drive watch that can be powered by any life source, which eliminates the need for batteries. 

Casio G-Shock GWB5600CY-1

$120

This rugged piece comes in a bold, eye-catching black and yellow aesthetic, with a digital screen that allows for flawless connection to your mobile device. It is a Tough Solar watch (solar powered) and was constructed with the aim of providing a fully functional piece that is suitable for any outdoor activities. The case and bezel are made of Rezin and measure 42mm in diameter. Because of the high legibility of the screen, it’s very easy to read at night, and the watch can connect to up to 39 different time zones. 

Seiko Prospex SRPE93 Turtle

$495

No, you are not misreading this. The SRPE93 is pretty much identical to the King Turtle previously mentioned. It measures and fits the same with the same stainless steel case and 4R36 movement. It has a darker color than the king turtle and a slightly dark bezel, which gives it a more subtle feel.

It still holds up the same underwater, with a 200m resistance, and it keeps that unidirectional bezel that Seiko loves so much.

Realistically, the only major difference is the price, which is surprisingly much cheaper than the King Turtle. I don’t really know the exact reason for the price drop, but I’m not complaining at all. Both pieces offer a high-quality dive feel and are worth every penny. 

Lorier Neptune

$499

The Neptune is designed as if it came straight out of 1957, with a classic size, gilt details, a flat link bracelet, and a bubbly dome. It measures 39mm in diameter with a bracelet that fits up to 8-inch wrists.

This is one of the most stunning combinations of luxury and utility I have ever seen in a piece. It has an incredible finish, and the black dial has traces of little gold outlines along the hands and indices that make it shine.

Loreir fully embodies that vintage feel they are known so well for and gives us a piece that is both modern and efficient while paying homage to so many classics that have come before it. The Miyota 90S5 beats at 28,800 vph, while also delivering a 200 m water resistance that can handful any sort of strenuous activity you throw at it. 

Scurfa Diver One Titanium

Price is TBD

The Diver One features a T2 Titanium case with a brushed finish, sapphire crystal, and luminous highlights to make this a fully functional dive watch as well as a fashionable watch that you can wear every day.

The black version features a stunning matte black dial with thick, glossy white hands to maintain that perfect legibility everyone craves on divers of this kind.

The case measures 40mm in diameter, and the watch is powered by an ETA F06.402, which is a Swiss-made movement. While I’m writing this, the Scurfa Diver One Titanium is scheduled to restock on February 17th, so keep an eye out for this magnificent piece that will return with all sorts of different colors for you to enjoy. 

Dan Henry 1970 Diver

$310

This super-compressor-style watch is modeled after the Exactus Super Compressor. The 1970 Diver is available in both 40mm and 44mm stainless steel casing with small details that give it a more modern tone than the vintage Super Compressor.

The Seiko Caliber NH35 movement powers the piece, making it great for daily wear, and the rubber Tropic-style strap stays faithful to its vintage origins. This is a very chunky watch, measuring 14.8mm thick, making itself known on your wrist.

While this is built to withstand anything you throw at it, the Dan Henry Diver seems to be much more suited for casual wear as the aesthetic is more relaxed despite being quite large on the wrist. This is another one of those watches I can imagine wearing on a boat or perhaps at a garden party. 

Tissot Seastar 1000 40mm Black Dial (ref. T120.410.11.051.00)

$450

The Seastar oozes in modern style, prioritizing performance and versatility above all else. The 40mm stainless steel watch caters to those who prefer a chic, tasteful watch that can offer the most efficient technical performance at all times.

The Seastar 1000 is named the Seastar 1000 because it can withstand 1000 feet of water pressure (300m), taking the diver title quite seriously.

It also offers a uni-directional rotating bezel for timely underwater activity, and of course, to offer legibility in the darkest of places, Super-LumiNova is applied to the watch’s hands and hour markers that omit low light. This is a quartz watch with a Renata 371 battery type—a far simpler variety of movement than we have seen on these other pieces. 

 Seiko Prospex SNE593 Solar Blue Dial

$495

The aim of Seiko Prospex is to meet every challenge they face with technological excellence. This Solar Diver has been upgraded with a larger case with a sleeker profile and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with solar efficiency that provides a 10-month power reserve when fully charged.

The highly legible blue dial is equipped with LumiBrite and a date window that is engineered to provide perfect legibility for the 200 meters that this watch is capable of exploring.

The case measures 42.8mm in diameter, making it a fairly large piece and providing a lot of space for the look of this watch to come alive. The rich blue stays true to other Seiko Divers of similar structure, but I feel like this one is the most detailed. 

Citizen Promaster Dive Super Titanium (ref. BN0200-56E)

$440

The sturdy titanium is the highlight of this edition of the Promaster Superdive. It is five times harder and 50% lighter than stainless steel; and it looks far cleaner and is able to catch light in a transfixing way. Not only that, but it is also scratch-resistant and skin-friendly—essential features for any dive watch fan.

Another fairly quiet watch on this list, with nothing too grand about the aesthetic. It maintains a subtle look that is much more preferable in dive watches with a black dial and white indices that are—once again—enhanced with LumiBrite.

The bezel is simple and rotates in a satisfying manner, and the handsome undertone of this watch preaches a message of practicality that will stand out to enthusiasts. 

Timex Deepwater Reef 200 Titanium Automatic 41mm

$479

The Deepwater Reef—as its name suggests—is engineered to go deeper. This piece merges resilience and elegance with crucial functions for underwater activities. A 41mm grade 2 titanium case offers 200m of water resistance that feels lighter than stainless steel.

The Miyota 8215 21-jewel Japanese automatic movement powers the watch with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.

Timex manufactured this piece to give deep-sea explorers everything they could ever need in a diver. The bezel has an incredible sense of luminosity that you can fully rely on as you explore beyond what you thought possible. 

Casio Duro MDV106-1A

$69.95

The stark black and white of the Casi Duro combine to give us a very special aesthetic. The color pallet is simple, but it is done in a way that provokes a sense of refinement and luxury despite being one of the cheapest pieces on the list.

Measuring 44.2mm in diameter, this is another large piece that offers the standard protection of a diver, ensuring the wearer 200m of water resistance and a sturdy Resin band.

A straightforward diamond in the rough that will probably fly over most people’s heads due to the minuscule price. A bigger price doesn’t always mean the quality will match; this piece delivers a level of quality that overlaps the price tag numerous times. 

Seiko Prospex “Arnie” SNJ025

$525

This watch is marketed for those who treat life as the ultimate adventure. Inspired by the landmark 1982 Hybrid Diver’s watch, this is a more modern take on the same piece that accompanied many explorers on their expeditions to Mount Everest, as well as making an appearance in many hit action films.

So, yes, the 1982 Hybrid left some very big shoes to fill. Fortunately, this is Seiko, and it seems like no matter how big the expectations are, they always deliver.

The Arnie measures 47.8mm but is incredibly lightweight due to the black matte material. It has a 200m water resistance and a Hardlex crystal, providing the most durability and scratch resistance you can find anywhere. The Caliber H851 powers this watch by light alone—no battery change required—with a 6-month power reserve once fully charged. 

Luminox Military Navy Seal

$495

This watch was first introduced in 1994 and was developed strictly for the Navy SEALs. The numbers and dial on the bezel are famous for their clarity, and with one of the best nocturnal modes I have ever seen, this watch virtually remains fully legible even in the dark of night.

It measures 43mm in diameter with a CARBONOX case. The Swiss quartz movement offers simple yet efficient movement with a unidirectional rotating bezel that further solidifies this piece as a utilitarian marvel.

The strap is made from one of the firmest rubbers on the market, and it fits like a glove, making you forget how heavy-duty this military-minded piece truly is. 

Conclusion

Dive watches continue to capture that utilitarian and elegant bliss that attracts many enthusiasts. When you market a piece as being able to withstand anything you throw at it, people become interested, but when you also equip them with some of the most elegant and transfixing designs of anything in the watch world, then folks are quick to pay attention.

Divers have a certain swagger that has transcended personal styles, appealing to one of the most broad fanbases in the industry. It’s simply because anyone who loves watches will find something to gush about on a diver.

There are small divers, there are big divers. There are bold divers; there are subtle divers, solar-powered, automatic, quartz, manual…the list just goes on and on. The good news is that divers seem to be in fashion, and there is no short supply of high-quality pieces waiting to be discovered.

I hope this list gave you some insight on the best bang for your buck watches that go toe to toe with even the multi-thousand dollar behemoths dominating the market, and I hope you learned you don’t always have to spend an arm and a leg to get something worth your while.