Horological Meandering

... to read with the comments of our friends, specially those who show being experienced divers.

In my personal case I started diving with the old two hose Scuba rigs and a depth gauge and my trusty ref 5513 Rolex Submariner on my wrists.

My last dive was done in 2011 and during the last years of practicing this fascinating sport I turned to the fabulous dive computers which made watches an instrument of the past. In any case a diving watch has always been present on my wrist in spite of the computer.

My personal impression is that all the enjoyment for the sport diver remains around the 50 to 80 feet depth, which is a safe depth full of interesting things to view and enjoy, specially if diving with air.

I can´t see any need to risk myself diving deeper just to say "I was there" except if a diver is fond of some special diving like wreck diving which I enjoyed too but at the moderate depths I mentioned.

Of course today there are better equipment and modern techniques (e.g. Nitrox and other mix gas) which allow for more depth and more underwater time safely, but when you see how far the surface is from your head and think in the need to reach the surface in an emergency it makes me think if the risk is worthwhile for a sport diver. That was exactly what I thought when I experienced my deepest dive at a wreck in around 120 feet.

As it has been said in the thread there is no need of a watch anymore, or in any case, there is no need for 600 meters or more water resistance for a sport diver, as well as there is no need for a Helium valve if you don´t make a saturation dive which is beyond the need and capability of a sport diver.

So my Submariner 1680 or 14060 or my Sea Dweller 16600 are the best choice I can find in my collection and my favorite diving watches.

Of course I love to collect and wear diving watches and in spite of the fact I find no need of larger and heavier watches rated to higher depths I fell in love with many big monsters of the deep which I know wear just for the joy of it as the armchair diver I am at present. I show them below.

At present, when I wear any of my diving watches I day dream and remember with some nostalgia the many dives I made along more than 40 years and specially remember those made in company of my son and daughter whom I accompanied in their certifications when they were very young and I´m proud to say they are safe and accomplished sport divers today and superb dive buddies.

Thank you for a wonderful thread!!

Cheers! Abel

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