If there’s one segment of the watch market flooded with options, it’s dive watches. This is great news for buyers as that translates to plenty of options at a wide range of price points. For instance, the sub-$1,000 dive watch market is rich with choices, ranging from big brands to micro brands, modern to retro-inspired, mechanical to quartz, and large to small. Despite all the variances, what all dive watches typically have in common are water-resistant cases, lumed dials, and unidirectional rotating timing bezels. Here are our picks for the 9 best dive watches under $1,000.
Casio Duro MDV106
Price: $69.95
When it comes to ultra-inexpensive diving watches, the classic Casio Duro MDV106-1A simply can be beat. Launched in 2011, Casio has sold hundreds of thousands of these simple quartz divers. The cases, which measure 44mm in diameter and 12mm thick, are water-resistant to 200 meters.
The dials, available in blue or black, include a Marlin sketch (only in the U.S. market), a red-tipped seconds hand, and a date window at 3 o’clock. There’s also mineral glass, a black rubber strap, and a three-year battery life. If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful diving watch, the fuss-free Casio Duro MDV106 is definitely one to consider.
Vostok Amphibia “Scuba Dude”
Price: Starting at $75
Vostok, a Russian watch brand with a rich history that dates back to the 1940s, has become a cult favorite and its Amphibia diving watches are particularly popular. With automatic movements, a dizzying array of cases and dials to choose from, and exceedingly affordable prices, it’s no wonder that Vostok Amphibia divers have become a fan-favorite.
While you could spend hours picking out your perfect budget-friendly diving watch, the “Scuba Dude” variants characterized by a picture of a SCUBA diver on the dial and the 420 cases with the bezel engraved with large circles and lines are especially charming.
Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver
Price: Starting at $290
For an affordable retro-styled diving watch, look to Dan Henry – a brand that’s made a name for itself selling budget-friendly watches. As its name suggests, the Dan Henry 1970 Automatic Diver is a self-winding diving watch inspired by seventies-era “super-compressors,” which typically had an internal rotating bezel and two crowns.
There are a couple of size options to choose from (44mm and 40mm), as well as date and no-date versions. What’s more, the bold dials come in a range of funky colorways such as black/orange, white/blue/orange, and turquoise/orange.
Orient Kamasu
Price: $335
Inspired by the barracuda, the Orient Kamasu is a much-loved low-priced diving watch with a solid value proposition. It boasts 200 meters of water resistance, an automatic movement with 40 hours of power reserve, and a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal.
The 41.5mm steel case is 13mm thick while the dial is home to hands and hour markers inspired by the teeth of the fearsome fish. Plus, there are also day and date windows on the dial and the luminescence glows super bright in the dark.
Lorier Neptune Series IV
Price: $499
Microbrand Lorier has been producing some impressive old-school-styled pieces including the 1950s-inspired Neptune diving watch, which marries mid-century looks with modern features. The 39mm 200m-water-resistant steel case of the Lorier Neptune Series IV is topped with a domed Hesalite crystal while the undirectional rotating 120-click bezel houses a luminous acrylic bezel insert.
The black time-only dial, powered by the automatic Miyota 90S5 movement, is peppered with gilt accents whereas the steel bracelet includes solid end-links, solid links, and a push-button clasp with 3 micro-adjustment slots. All this is offered at less than $500, which is quite the deal.
Citizen Promaster Dive Automatic NY0137-09A
Price: $520
Casio has the marlin, Orient the barracuda, and Citizen the fugu, a.k.a. the pufferfish, which inspired the serrated bezel design of the Promaster Dive Automatic in 1989. The relatively new Promaster Dive Automatic NY0137-09A carries on the legacy of the Citizen “Fugu” watch.
It sports a 44mm black steel case that’s water-resistant to 200 meters, a fully luminous white dial, an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and a blue polyurethane strap that matches the blue bezel. The crown is positioned on the left-hand side of the case at 8 o’clock and of course, there’s an engraving of the pufferfish on the caseback. Plus, this automatic dive watch, priced well under $1,000, is ISO-compliant.
Seiko PADI “Great Blue” King Turtle SRPK01
Price: $625
Anyone who SCUBA dives knows PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors) as it’s the world’s largest scuba diving training organization. Similarly, anyone who’s into solid yet affordable diving watches knows Seiko, one of the world’s largest watchmakers. So, it makes sense that these two establishments would pair up to give us the Seiko PADI watch collection.
One particular model that caught our eye is the Seiko PADI “Great Blue” King Turtle SRPK01, which debuted in 2023. The barrel-shaped 45mm steel case is fitted with a blue ceramic bezel, matching beautifully with the wave-patterned gradated blue dial. Like all Seiko Turtle watches, the crown is placed at 4 o’clock and water resistance is rated at 200 meters deep. Paired with a steel bracelet, this Seiko PADI diving watch is a fantastic option for a diving watch under $1,000.
Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80
Price: $795
With 300 meters (1,000 feet) water resistance, an automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve, a ceramic bezel, and a large 43mm steel case, the Tissot Seastar 1000 Powermatic 80 Swiss-made watch punches well above its sub-$1,000 weight.
Although there are several dial, bezel, and strap options to choose from, we’re learning towards the classic black bezel/dial combo with a five-link steel bracelet, which benefits from a folding clasp with a diver extension.
Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto
Price: $845
Green has been a hot color in watches over the last few years, and the shade looks particularly appealing when paired with a sporty dive watch. Take for example the Hamilton Khaki Navy Scuba Auto in olive green, which is different from the traditional blue or black found on most diving watches but still subdued enough not to be too trendy.
The 40mm steel case and bracelet of the Hamilton Khaki Navy include alternating polished and brushed surfaces while the dial includes a date window between 4 and 5 o’clock, a 24-hour track, and a red-tipped seconds hand. The bezel is aluminum, the crystal is sapphire, the water resistance is 100 meters, and the movement is automatic, with 80 hours of power reserve. In short, an appealing package for well under $1,000. And if you’ve got one in your collection, make sure to check out our favorite strap combos to pair with it.
Those are our picks for the nine best dive watches under $1,000 right now. Are there any others you’d add to the list? Leave your comments below and if you haven’t already, make sure to check out our list of the best diving watches under $2,000.
Undone’s Aquadeep is also an excellent dive watch under 1K. So is the Jack Mason hydrotimer.
And the SEIKO PADI solar for about $350 is an excellent bargain.
I have to disagree with several of those brands you picked. The Glycine Combat Sub watch with it’s Swiss automatic movement and 200m and 300m water resistance beats outs most of those brands under $1,000. Helm also beats out most of the watches you have listed because there watches are ISO certified as dive watches. Deep Blue, a diving watch company also puts out excellent dive watches for under $1,000.
Hamilton khaki scuba new variant 300m wr