nato straps 22mm
The Rolex Submariner was introduced at the Basel Watch Fair in 1954 which coincided with the development of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, known as scuba. In 1961 Rolex began to include a skindiver handbook with the Submariner, then available in two models, one water resistant to 200 meters/660 feet, the other, less expensive version, to 100 meters/330 feet. It was the choice of watch for the character of 007 in the first ten James Bond films, causing the "Sub" to achieve an iconic status.[4]
In 1959, the United States Navy Experimental Diving Unit evaluated five diving watches that included the Bulova US Navy Submersible Wrist Watch, Enicar Sherpa Diver 600, Enicar Seapearl 600, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms,and the Rolex Oyster Perpetual.[5]
During the 1960s commercial work in the oceans and seas created professional diving organisations that needed more robust watches designed for diving operations at greater depths. This led to the development of the first 'ultra water resistant' watches like the Rolex Sea-Dweller 2000 (2000 ft = 610 m) that became available in 1967 and was produced in several variations and the Omega Seamaster Professional 600m/2000ft also known as the "Omega PloProf" (Plongeur Professionel) that came available in 1970 and was produced in several variations.[6][7][8][9][10]
The vast majority of divers now use electronic, wrist-worn dive computers.[4] Diving watches are however still commonly used by divers as a backup instrument for overcoming dive computer malfunctions.
In 1983, the US Navy Experimental Diving Unit evaluated several digital watches for use by US Navy divers.[11]
Many contemporary sports watches owe their design to diving watches.