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Diving offers a number of physical and therapeutic benefits. It helps build flexibility and strength, relieves stress, and gives you a chance to visit underwater sites many will never see. But to dive safely, you need the right equipment, and that includes a good dive watch. Suunto watches are known for their attractive designs and rugged features, which are ideal for hiking, running, and fitness. The company also has a line of diving watches that essentially function as small dive computers that monitor your depth, tank pressure, ascent rate, and more. Our guide to the best Suunto watches for diving will help you find the perfect timepiece for your next underwater expedition.
Product FAQ
1. What Features Should a Good Dive Watch Have?
One of the most important features to look for when shopping for a dive watch is a watch face that can be clearly read underwater. The numbers or hands on any dive watch should be luminous so that they can be seen underwater. A good dive watch will also have a casing that is thick and sturdy enough to prevent water from leaking in.
2. What Water Depth Rating Should I Look for in a Dive Watch?
When you’re looking for a good dive watch, it’s not enough for a watch to be waterproof. The watch should also have a water depth rating. Watches that are water resistant up to 100 meters are generally suitable for snorkeling and diving at minimal depths. Most dive watches are water resistant up to 200 or 300 meters.
3. Can I Wear a Dive Watch When I’m Not Diving?
A good dive watch is an effective timepiece that can be worn day in and day out, regardless of whether or not you’re diving. Dive watches tend to be sporty, but they still look great with most outfits. If you plan to wear your dive watch routinely for everyday use, you might want to avoid some of the bulkier timepieces.
4. Do Dive Watches Require Special Care?
Taking a few special precautions will help extend the life of your dive watch. Protecting your watch from heat and greasy sunscreens is the first step toward safeguarding your dive watch. Steam and extreme temperature fluctuations can cause the gaskets on a dive watch to contract or expand, allowing water to enter the timepiece. It’s also a good idea to rinse your watch in fresh water after you’ve done a saltwater dive. Finally, plan to have your dive watch professionally cleaned and tested every 5 years and, if necessary, have the gaskets replaced.
How We Reviewed Suunto Watches
We took a range of factors into consideration when evaluating the best Suunto watches. We looked at the ease of use and reliability of each. We also determined which of Suunto’s sport watches are specifically designed for diving.
Overall Price Range of Suunto Watches
Suunto watches range in price from $170 to $1,200. The priciest Suunto watches essentially serve as wrist-based diving computers that monitor all aspects of a dive, often recording data that can be downloaded to a computer later.
What We Reviewed
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Suunto Ambit 2 HR GPS Watch
- Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR
- Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Running GPS Unit
- Suunto Ambit3 Sport HR Monitor Running GPS Unit
- Suunto Traverse
- Suunto Men’s DX Elastomer w/USB Athletic Watch
- Suunto D4 F Black Freedive Computer
- Suunto Unisex Ambit3 Vertical Multisport GPS Watch
- Suunto Spartan Ultra HR
- Suunto D4i Novo Dive Computer
Suunto Ambit 2 HR GPS Watch
Features
The Suunto Ambit 2 watch offers GPS technology as well asa number of performance monitoring features, making it an ideal watch for athletes and explorers. This watch is equipped with a heart rate, speed, and distance monitor. It also tracks sunrise and sunset times, storm alerts, tidal information, and barometric pressure, ensuring you’re prepared for any conditions you might encounter. Packed in a rugged exterior, the Suunto Ambit 2 also makes it easy to transfer data it collects using the included USB cable or by connecting wirelessly with certain devices.
Pros
- Capable of transferring data
- Fiberglass casing
- Equipped with several languages
- Available in different colors
Cons
- Maximum battery life of only 24 hours
- Bulky
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR
Features
The Suunto Spartan Trainer is a multi-sport watch that is lightweight and small. This watch is equipped with 80 different sports modes; simply tell the watch which activity you are embarking on and it will track all the relevant statistics. The Spartan Trainer will also track your heart rate and, if you wear it overnight, your hours of sleep and average nighttime heart rate. You can get a summary of your activity levels on a 7-day or 30-day trend. This watch is also equipped with GPS navigation, as well as a basic altimeter and heatmaps to track your routes. The Spartan Trainer makes it easy to explore new routes, while always ensuring you’ll be able to find your way back home.
Pros
- LED backlighting
- Lightweight
- Water resistant up to 50 meters
- 80 sports modes
- Heart rate monitoring
- GPS
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- No touch displa
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Running GPS Unit
Features
Suunto’s Ambit3 Peak HR is loaded with features that will support a range of athletic activities. This watch can track your speed, pace, distance, and heart rate. It will even track your heart rate while swimming. The Ambit3 is also equipped with navigational features, including a GPS and compass. This watch can be synced to a smartphone so that you can remotely see calls and notifications on your watch through its Bluetooth and Wi-Fi features. One of the most distinctive features on this watch is its Movescount app, which allows you take photos of your favorite hikes, combine them with a map of your journey, and share them as a short video with friends.
Pros
- Photo capability
- Can sync to your smartphone
- Heart rate monitor
- Water resistant to 100 meters
- Compass
Cons
- Low-quality strap
Where to Buy
Warranty
The Suunto Ambit3 Peak HR Running GPS watch comes with a 2-year warranty.
Suunto Ambit3 Sport HR Monitor Running GPS Unit
Features
The Suunto Ambi3 Sport HR is a fitness-oriented watch equipped with GPS and a speed, heart rate, and distance tracker. It will also sync to your smartphone, ensuring that you don’t miss notifications or calls while exercising. This watch also can be paired with Suunto’s Movescount app, which allows you to take photos along your route and share your journey.
Pros
- Movescount app
- Can be synced to a smartphone
- Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Heavy
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto Traverse
Features
The Suunto Traverse manages to packa number of helpful features into a watch with a simple, modern design. GPS and GLONASS technology help you navigate new areas and routes, while also giving you the opportunity to track your way back with the help of a breadcrumb trail. Water resistant up to 100 meters, the Traverse also has a built-in compass, barometer, and flashlight, and can be synced with a smartphone so you’re alerted when calls or texts come in. This lightweight watch, which can be worn anywhere, comes with the Movescount app,
Pros
- Simple, modern design
- Built-in flashlight
- Compass
- Movescount app
- Water resistant to 100 meters
Cons
- Low battery life
- Display may be hard to view in bright light
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto Men’s DX Elastomer w/USB Athletic Watch
Features
The Suunto Men’s DX Elastomer is a premium watch that essentially serves as a wrist-based dive computer, complete with a 3D compass and wireless air integration. This watch can be used to plan and monitor all aspects your dive. The data collected by this watch can also be compiled into detailed graphical logs on your computer. Constructed out of hard-wearing materials such as titanium, the DX Elastomer is an attractive watch that will quickly become a must-have instrument on your dives.
Pros
- Built-in dive planner
- 3D compass
- Hard-wearing premium materials
- Attractive, compact design
Cons
- Expensive
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto D4F Black Freedive Computer
Features
Ideal for freediving, snorkeling and spearfishing, the Suunto D4F Freedive Computer tracks various aspects of your dive so you can focus on the underwater experience. During your dive, the D4F displays your present and maximum depth and calculates dive time and surface intervals for you. This lightweight watch also has an apnea timer. The Suunto D4F is also attractive enough for everyday wear.
Pros
- Apnea timer
- Lightweight
- Maximum depth of 100 meters
Cons
- Elastomer strap is hard and can be uncomfortable
Where to Buy
Warranty
The Suunto D4F Black Freedive Computer comes with a 2-year warranty.
Suunto Unisex Ambit3 Vertical Multisport GPS Watch
Features
Suunto’s Unisex Ambit3 Vertical Multisport Watch has a number of features that make your outdoor adventures more comfortable, including GPS, a breadcrumb trail feature that allows you to retrace your steps, and Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to keep up with calls and other notifications. This rugged watch can be used with Suunto’s Movescout app, which allows you to create routes with topographic maps, monitor your progress with a hill incline feature, and take pictures along the way.
Pros
- Digital display
- Movescount app
- Countdown timer
Cons
- Can be difficult to connect with iOS devices
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto Spartan Ultra HR
Features
The Suunto Spartan Ultra HR is designed to support your fitness goals and your adventures. Built-in GPS and GLONASS technology will keep you on track, as will the digital compass. This watch is also equipped with 80 sports modes that will track your personal activity metrics based on the specific type of exercise you are engaged in. In addition, this titanium watch will track your steps and calories burned. The Spartan Ultra HR also syncs with Suunto’s Movescount app, which offers up additional tools for planning and tracking your outings.
Pros
- GPS and GLONASS technology
- Step and calorie tracker
- 80 sport modes
- Movescount app
Cons
- Watch band quality not as high as some others
Where to Buy
Warranty
Suunto D4i Novo Dive Computer
Features
The Suunto D4i Novo Dive Computer is an ideal option for both tank and free diving. With 4 different modes — air, nitrox, free, and off — this wrist-based diving computer can monitor various aspects of your dives. The D4i has a number of user-friendly features, including a fast ascent alarm and an apnea timer. This watch, which is waterproof up to 100 meters, is also easy to read underwater.
Pros
- Easy to read underwater
- Fast ascent alarm
- Waterproof up to 100 meters
- Available in a range of colors
- Apnea timer
Cons
- No compass
- No GPS
Where to Buy
Warranty
The Suunto D41 Novo Dive Computer comes with a 2-year warranty.
The Verdict
The D4i Novo Dive Computer is one of the best Suunto watches when it comes to dive support. We loved this dive watch because of its ease of use and flexibility. It works well on both tank and free diving, offers a number of features that support your dives, and can be easily read underwater. Although it’s not the fanciest of the Suunto watches dedicated to divers, it is one of the most user-friendly options.
