The purpose of a diving watch is to offer information on the time elapsed while underwater. As such, these need to be powered by an accurate and reliable movement (usually a Swiss quartz mechanism with lengthy battery life). In addition, the best dive watches are still visible in the dark, which is especially important as you go deeper.
The market of watches designed for divers and people who are mostly on the water is quite extensive and varied. Still, when you’re looking for a design that’s under $200, it can be a bit difficult to find high-quality materials and mechanisms.
However, it’s not impossible, as proven by the models we reviewed in this piece.