Move from land to water; dive further with no care at all with a diving watch. Compared to regular watches, diving watches can go deeper and farther and will remain working perfectly. It is made from a tough, protective material that preserves the watch’s delicate components from pressure and temperature changes. And while most high-quality dive watches are very expensive, you can also find the best dive watches under 300.

These affordable dive watches may not be as fancy and as stunning as high-end sports watches but are as durable and as resilient as the top of the line men’s dive watches. You’ll still get accurate timekeeping and the waterproof protection you need in a dive watch.

So whether you’re looking for affordable dive watches as a gift, or you want a cheap dive watch for yourself, then check out our updated top ten best dive watches under 300 list.

Seiko PADI Prospex Solar Dive Watch

The Seiko PADI Prospex Solar Dive Watch comes with a blue case made of stainless steel. It has a gorgeous blue silicone strap that can take any size wrist. The date display is found at the 4 o’clock position, and the hands move in quartz movement. To keep its round face protected, it comes with a cover scratch-resistant crystal Hardlex. The crown is screw-down, and the back is a solid case.

This outdoorsman’s watch is one of the best dive watches under 300 with a water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet. It comes with handy functions like date, second, minute, and hour functions. It is also solar-powered, so you don’t need to wind up your watch or change its batteries every so often.

Key Features

With a shrouded stainless-steel case

With a durable blue silicone strap

Comes with a uni-directional blue rotating shrouded bezel

Bezel comes with a red and blue or Pepsi ring

With luminous hands, arrow tipped

Luminous dot hour markers

With analog dial type

Date display along with the 4 o’clock position

Japanese quartz movement

Hardlex crystal that’s scratch-resistant

Round case, solid back

Water-resistant at 200 meters or 660 feet

Solar-powered watch

The case size is 47 mm

Case thickness at 12 mm

Bandwidth at 22 mm

With a casual style

Weighs less than 9.6 ounces

Pros Will let you dive further and deeper at 660 feet

With easy to see luminous hands and markers

With tough, scratch-proof crystal

Shows the date

Does not need batteries or winding up Cons Complaints that the band is very uncomfortable

The second hand is too thin

Buy at Amazon

Seiko Prospex SRPC93 Samurai Diving Men’s Watch

The Prospex Samurai comes to an automatic watch with 24 jewels. It also works as a hand-wound watch and comes with a hackable 2nd hand. The case is stainless steel, while the band is stainless steel with a fold-over locking design. This also comes with a safety lock feature that keeps your watch secure on your wrist at all times, especially underwater.

Sale 143 Reviews Seiko PROSPEX Stainless Steel Men's Watch SRPC93 Seiko 24 Jewels Automatic/Hand Winding Movement with Hackable Second Hand (Calibre 4R36)

Stainless Steel Case and Band, Fold Over Deployment Clasp with Safety Lock Feature

Hardlex Mineral Crystal, Day/Date Display, Luminous Hands and Markers

Case Size: 44.5 mm Diameter, 13 mm Thickness

On the front is a Hardlex mineral crystal that’s strong and scratch-resistant. You have a date display on the third hour and also come with glow in the dark markers and watch hands. It has a screw-down crown and a black 44.5mm diameter case. The Prospex Samurai is water-resistant up to 200 meters and thus useful in swimming, diving, and other aquatic sports but not for scuba diving.

Key Features

Automatic or hand-winding movement available

With a stainless-steel case and steel band

The band comes with a fold-over clasp and safety locks

Display crystal made from Hardlex mineral

With date window display

With luminous markers and hands

Water-resistant at 200 meters or 660 feet

The case size is 44.5 diameter, case thickness is 13mm

Measures 4.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches

Weighs less than 12 ounces

Pros Choose from an automatic or hand-winding watch movement

With a stainless steel case and the watch band

Safe deployment fold-over clasp and safety locks

Very durable Hardlex mineral display

With date display

With luminous hands and hour/minute markers

Can go as deep as 200 meters or 660 feet Cons This is too heavy and too large

Problems with misaligned bezel

Buy at Amazon

Cressi Leonardo Underwater Diving Computer

If you don’t want an analog watch for diving, then try the Cressi Leonardo watch, which is more than a dive watch. It is an underwater diving computer available in twelve different colors. It is a single button diving watch that lets you set your air, nitrogen, and gauge modes ahead of time. These will help you check if you’re still good to go even when you’re underwater.

1,120 Reviews Cressi Leonardo, Black/Orange A single button Dive Computer makes it effortless to set Air, Nitrox and Gauge modes. Ideal for...

FO2 adjustable between 21% and 50%. PO2 adjustable between 1.2 bar and 1.6 bar. CNS oxygen toxicity...

User-selectable deep stop function. Adjustable unit of measure: imperial or metric. Battery life...

The interface (not included) uses IR to connect to the diving computer and a USB cable for PC...

The Cressi Leonardo computer has an adjustable FO2 from 21% to 50%, PO2 from 1.2 bar to 1.6 bar. It also comes with a CNS oxygen toxicity indicator. You can adjust these factors in three levels with visual and easy to hear alarms even when you’re underwater.

This dive watch uses batteries and comes with a battery life indicator. It will connect to your computer using IR or a USB cable. It comes with a diving watch software that’s compatible with Windows and Mac. This watch brand is from Italy; this is a brand that’s a pioneer in snorkeling, free diving, and scuba diving equipment.

Key Features

This is a diving watch computer

With adjustable features (FO2, PO2, CNS oxygen, and depth)

With adjustable functions

With loud alarms

Only one-button operation

Comes with a computer interface

Connects via IR and USB connection to a computer

Battery operated with battery life indicator

Pros Modern and functional watch

More than just a dive watch that tells the depth

With special monitoring functions

With an audible beep/alarm sounds

Backlit display, extended battery life

With power-saving processor and replaceable battery

Can connect to your PC using a user interface

Uses batteries, with a battery life indicator

Fully adjustable, with visual alarms

Available in different colors

Weighs only 4.8 ounces Cons Logs to the computer, only the current dive info.

Watch strap is too big

Buy at Amazon

Orient Men’s “Mako XL” Diving Watch

The Mako XL from Orient is a luxurious dive watch with a round face with a Japanese stainless-steel body and strap. It has a uni-directional bezel that gives you your depth information and a date and day window in the third hour. It is a 44.5mm stainless-steel case as the window is made from the quality mineral dial. This comes with a Japanese automatic movement with easy to read analog display.

Sale 992 Reviews Orient Men's 'Mako XL' Japanese Automatic Stainless Steel Diving Watch, Color: Black Dial, Orange... Round watch in stainless steel featuring unidirectional bezel and date window at three o'clock

44.5 mm stainless steel case with mineral dial window

Japanese-automatic movement with analog display

Stainless steel band with fold-over clasp with double push-button safety

The band is stainless steel with a traditional fold-over closer clasp. It comes with a double push-button clasp for enhanced safety. The Mako XL is a water-resistant watch at 200 meters or 660 feet. This is more than one of the best dive watches under 500. It can also be used as a marine activity watch, swimming watch, and a pilot watch as well.

Key Features

Available in five different color combinations (black, blue, black dial and green bezel, black dial and orange bezel, and a watch with a luminous dial.

Round face, stainless-steel body, and band

With a uni-directional bezel, 120 click

Date and day window

Japanese automatic movement

Comes with analog display

Fold over stainless steel closure band

Water-resistant up to 200 pounds or 660 feet

Measures 4.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inches

Weighs less than 12 ounces

Pros Lovely and colorful watch

Made from durable stainless steel

With a protective mineral glass window

With easy to see the analog display

With secure fold-over clasp

Water-resistant and ideal for tough marine or water activities

With five different colors and color combinations to choose from Cons Complaints that it has poor luminescence

Unwanted bezel movement

Buy at Amazon

You may explore 10 Cheap Men’s Watches That Look Expensive In 2020

Orient Men’s Diving Watch

The Orient men’s diving watch comes with a 41mm case with the mineral-crystal display. It comes with a diving bezel that was upgraded to 120 clicks for enhanced precision. This watch moves using Japanese-automatic movement to give you precise time day in and out.

Sale 1,841 Reviews Orient Men's FAA02004B9 Ray II Analog Display Japanese Automatic Silver Watch 41mm Case Diameter

Mineral crystal. The diving bezel has also been upgraded to be 120 click for improved precision

Japanese-automatic Movement

Water Resistant 200m (660ft): in General, Suitable for Professional Marine Activity and Serious...

This watch comes with a large date and day window at 3 o’clock, and the hands and markers are all luminous, perfect for checking the time in the dark. This watch is water-resistant at 200 meters or 660 feet, and aside from sports or recreational use, it is great for professional marine activities and other types of extreme water sports.

Key Features

With a 41mm diameter case, stainless steel band

With mineral crystal with an upgraded diving bezel

With Japanese automatic or hand-winding movement

This is water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet

With a date and day window

With luminous markers and hands

Weighs less than 12 ounces

Pros With an upgraded watch bezel with more clicks

Scratch-proof mineral display

Water-resistant watch

Choose from automatic to hand-winding movement

Made from durable stainless steel Cons Watch is too heavy

Some complaints that the bezel is hard to rotate

Buy at Amazon

Seiko Men’s SSC017 Prospex Solar Dive Watch

The Seiko Men’s Prospex is a stainless-steel dive watch that’s solar-powered. No need to use batteries or wind up the watch to get precise time all the time. It has a black dial and glow in the dark hands as well as three chronograph dials.

602 Reviews Seiko Men's SSC017 Prospex Analog Japanese Quartz Solar Stainless Steel Dive Watch Solar-power bracelet watch with black dial featuring luminous hands and markers and three...

43 mm stainless steel case with Hardlex dial window

Stainless steel bracelet with fold-over clasp and double-push-button safety

Recharge by light satisfactory(i.e. 3.5 with 10,000 lux etc)

This Prospex watch is very durable with a stainless steel case and band. It comes with a scratch-proof Hardlex window. The bracelet is very secure with a fold-over safety clasp as well as a double push-button closure system. Your watch will remain secure on your wrist at all times, even when you go deeper and further. It recharges by light with a very energy-efficient battery.

This is water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet and is suitable for marine activities, diving sports, and all other water sports. The best thing is that it falls in the best dive watches under 300 list.

Key Features

Solar-powered watch, no need for batteries or winding up

Black dial and luminous markers and hands to easily see the time from a distance

With three chronograph sub-dials

With 43mm stainless-steel case

With durable, scratch-proof Hardlex dial window

With very strong stainless-steel bracelet

Very secure clasp and closure system

Water-resistant watch up to 200 meters or 660 feet

Ideal for marine activities and water sports

Measures 5.3 x 5.1 x 5.3 inches

Weighs 12.8 ounces

Pros Solar-powered watch so there’s no need for batteries

With black dial so it’s easy to check the time

With durable stainless-steel case and bracelet

Very secure fold-over clasp and lock system for safety

Water-resistant watch, ideal for professional marine activities and sports Cons Very small, hardly-noticeable date window

Watch is very heavy

Buy at Amazon

Stuhrling Original Men’s Sport Analog Dive Watch

The Stuhrling Original is a Swiss quarts stainless-steel analog dive watch that’s water-resistant up to 200 meters. This is one of the best dive watches under 300 that are designed to be tough and to bear with extreme underwater pressure. It comes the category of best dive watches under 300 with a screw-down crown that, when screwed down, creates a water-tight seal that prevents water from ruining the case.

983 Reviews Stuhrling Original Mens Swiss Quartz Stainless Steel Sport Analog Dive Watch, Water Resistant 200... WATER-RESISTANT 200 METERS (660 ft) - Features A Screw-Down Crown Found in many Professional Diver's...

CASE FEATURES -Surgical Grade Stainless Steel Case 42 mm, Screw down case back, Unidirectional...

A TOP TEN DIVE WATCH rated by Adventure Junkies – Luminous Hands, Quick Set Date, deep-sea royal...

SWISS QUARTZ Stuhrling Original specialty Ronda 515 movement. Fold over push button clasp with...

It is made from surgical-grade stainless-steel with 42mm diameter and a uni-directional coin edge ratcheting bezel. This also comes with a fully-adjustable bracelet that has removable links. It has luminous hands, easy to set a date, and date window with a Ronda 515 movement.

Key Features

Screw down crown for water-resistance, water-resistant up to 200 meters

Surgical-grade stainless steel

Adjustable bracelet

Ratcheting bezel with a coin edge

Luminous hands and markings

Krysterna crystal

Date window

Ronda 515 movement

Fold-over push-button lock clasp

Water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet

Pros Great water-resistant watch

Very durable surgical steel case

Adjustable bracelet to fit any wrist size

Easy to check the time

Very secure strap

Scratch-proof crystal Cons Very heavy watch

Very small date window

Hard to see the second hand

Buy at Amazon

Invicta Men’s 89280B Pro-Diver Watch

The Invicta Men’s Pro-Diver Gold Stainless-Steel watch may be the most beautiful diving watch you have ever seen with a gold and stainless-steel case, bezel, and bracelet. It has a round face with a corrugated bezel with unidirectional movement. It has luminous markers and hands plus an easy to read date window so you can check the time and date even at night. This has a 23K gold-plated steel case that’s water-resistant at 200 meters or 660 feet.

Sale 7,067 Reviews Invicta Men's 8928OB Pro Diver Gold Stainless Steel Two-Tone Automatic Watch Round watch featuring corrugated unidirectional bezel, luminous hands/markers, and magnified date...

Japanese automatic movement with analog display

Gold & Stainless steel tone bracelet with foldover clasp with safety closure

Water resistant to 200 m (660 ft): In general, suitable for professional marine activity and serious...

Key Features

Round face with a 23 k gold-plated stainless-steel case

With a mineral dial window

Luminous markers and hands

With a magnified window for the date located at 3 o’clock

Japanese auto movement

Analog display

Safety closure and folding clasp

Water-resistant at 200 meters or 660 feet

Pros Very lovely diving watch

Can go farther at 200 meters or 660 feet

Precise Japanese movement

With a safety clasp bracelet

With a magnified date window Cons The watch is too heavy

Very delicate look

Not a sporty watch

Buy at Amazon

Orient Men’s ‘Mako II’ Diving Watch

The Orient Mako II is a Japanese automatic diving watch with a stainless steel case and bracelet. It has a stunning mineral crystal cover that’s scratchproof. This comes with an updated 120-click bezel with unidirectional movement. It is automatic but may also be wound by hand. It has a power reserve that lasts for 40 hours. This is water-resistant for 200 meters or 660 feet and is used in marine activities and underwater sports.

Key Features

With scratch-proof mineral-crystal case

Unidirectional 120-click bezel

With automatic movement but can be wound up

Water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet

Power reserve for 40 hours

With date and day window

Pros Does not need batteries to operate

With an updated 120-clicks bezel

Luxurious look

Water-resistant watch Cons Very heavy watch

Very small, the pin-like second hand

Buy at Amazon

Vostok Amphibian Men’s Diver Wristwatch

The Scuba Dude is Vostok’s Amphibian men’s wristwatch with a self-winding feature. It available in a variety of colors and is water-resistant up to 200 meters or 20 bar. Under the hood is a precise Vostok auto self-winding mechanism with 30+ rubies. This comes with luminous hands and markings.

71 Reviews Vostok Amphibian Automatic Self-Winding Russian Military Wristwatch #710662 (Black) Watch of official supplier of the Defense Department of the Soviet Union.

200 m (20 Bar) Water Resistant

Dimensions: approx. 41x45x15 mm. Lug size 22mm

Automatic VOSTOK self-winding movement with 31 ruby jewels (no hands winding required, but watch can...

Key Features

The watch brand is the official supplier of the Soviet Union’s Defense Department

Water-resistant up to 200 meters

Self-winding

With 31 rubies

Measures 45 x 41 mm

Lug size at 22 mm

With luminous hands and markings

Pros With a compact and classy style

Very accurate with automatic winding

No need for batteries

Available in many colors Cons Complaints about wobbling crown and bezel

Buy at Amazon

What should I look for when buying a dive watch?

Before settling for any kind of diving watch or best luxury dive watches, remember the following tips:

Water-resistance – diving watches must be resistant. Standard diving watches come with 200 meters or 660 feet water-resistant, but some brands remind users not to use these watches for deep diving and scuba diving.

Bracelet/strap – the strap may be leather, nylon, or stainless steel, but the later can be very heavy. Choose the strap that will work with your needs.

Mechanical – choose between automatic or wound-up watches. Read reviews about best automatic watches because sometimes brands may over claim, especially when it comes to reserve power. Some users complain of their automatic watches being a few seconds late to several seconds faster. And for men’s automatic watches, you need to wear this every day sometimes even during sleep to preserve its movement.

Bezel and dial – the bezel must be movable with at least 120 clicks while the dial must be lockable to create that water-resistant seal.

Build quality – this is the overall construction of the watch, including the material it is made of together with the bracelet. Most dive watches are heavy, this is expected. But you can still get a lighter one if you choose a nylon, plastic, or leather strap rather than a stainless-steel band.

Final verdict

From our list of the best dive watches under 300, we recommend the Seiko PADI Prospex Solar Dive Watch as the top watch. There are many reasons why. First, it has a gorgeous blue silicone strap while the watch face is covered with a scratch-resistant crystal Hardlex. It has a screw-down crown while the back is a solid case.

This is one of the best dive watches under 300 with a water-resistant up to 200 meters or 660 feet. It is also solar-powered, so you don’t need to wind up change its batteries. Aside from these, it has a lot of cool features for divers and casual users. Check this dive watch if you think that the Seiko PADI Prospex Solar Dive Watch is the best for you.