Horological Meandering

loopsandsounds
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Agree on some points, disagree on others.

Let me preface this reply that I am an experienced recreational diver.

1. COMPUTERS are not necessary or required dive equipment! A timer (watch with bezel), compass, and my charts are all I need for a dive besides my SCUBA kit.

2. Even if you use a computer (I do), a simple mechanical/quartz wristwatch with a unidirection bezel is appropriate equipment for a diver, especially for multitank/over head environments. This serves as a backup in case of a failure of the primary dive time indicator. If you lose your computer at depth, especially if it is air integrated you may decide to immediately ascend, but if this is not possible (overhead/deco?) then it sure is handy to have that watch on your other wrist!

3. A matte finished, waterproof to 10ATM, simple timepiece with hours/minutes on a visible dial, decent lume, and a unidirectional bezel are your complications/features required. Helium escape valves, 1000M ratings, tourbillions, precious metals, chronographs, poorly operating/gimmicky depth gauges, and even bracelets have no place on a true diving watch. My diving companion is a SE Seiko Blue Monster on a NATO. A NATO strap assures that even if one spring bar breaks, you don't loose your watch.

All being said, the "dive watch" is a marketing term today, but people really DID dive with Rolex and Panerai watches. They are just less relevant and much more expensive!