Alright, let’s talk about this Casio dive watch I picked up. Wasn’t looking for anything fancy, you know? Just needed a timepiece that wouldn’t freak out if it got wet or knocked around a bit. I do a bit of swimming, sometimes kayaking, nothing extreme like deep-sea exploration, but enough that my regular watches would probably complain.
So I grabbed one of those Casio divers. Heard good things, mostly that they’re tough and don’t cost an arm and a leg. First impression? Felt solid enough. Heavier than I expected for the price, which was kinda nice. The strap it came with, the standard rubbery one, was okay. Not great, but functional. You know the type.
Getting it Ready
Setting it up was dead simple. Unscrew the crown, set the time, set the date, screw it back down. Done. That screw-down crown felt pretty secure, gave me a bit more confidence about the water resistance thing. The bezel turns, clicks into place. A bit stiff maybe, but it works. I figured I’d use it to time stuff, like how long I’m out on the water or cooking times, whatever.
Putting it to the Test (Sort Of)
So, the real test was getting it wet. Took it swimming at the local pool first. No issues, obviously. That’s like baby steps for a dive watch.
Then I took it out to the lake. Spent a weekend paddling around, jumping in the water. It got submerged plenty. Did some snorkeling, maybe down 10, 15 feet? Not exactly challenging its 200-meter rating, but it’s what I do.
- Readability: Underwater, I could still read the time. The hands are pretty bold. The lume? Well, it glows after you hit it with light, but don’t expect it to light up the room all night. It fades, like most cheap lume does. Good enough for a quick glance in the dark though.
- Bezel Use: Tried using the bezel to time how long I was swimming out. Set the marker to the minute hand. Yeah, it worked. Like I said, a bit stiff to turn, especially with wet hands, but it stayed put.
- Comfort: That rubber strap got a bit sweaty and sticky after a while. Might swap it out for a NATO strap later, seems like what everyone does with these anyway.
How’s it Holding Up?
Been wearing it on and off for maybe six months now? Banged it against a few door frames, scraped it while doing some yard work. Got a tiny scratch on the crystal, but you have to look close. The case itself seems pretty tough. It just keeps ticking. Changed the battery once, easy peasy. Still keeps good time, which is the main point, right?
Overall thoughts? Look, it’s a cheap watch. But it does exactly what it promises. It tells the time, it handles getting wet, and it can take a bit of abuse. It’s not refined, it’s not a luxury item, but it’s reliable. For the money, hard to beat if you just need a solid, water-resistant beater watch. It just works. No drama, no fuss. That’s my experience with it, anyway. Simple tool for a simple job.
