Best Watch Band for Diving

What’s the Best Band – Rubber, Stainless Steel or Titanium?

With respect to their ability to perform well when diving, and withstand an underwater environment, all work well. A decision regarding this choice comes down to additional features and longevity in harsher than normal dive conditions. For recreational scuba diving, it’s mostly a matter of personal preference.
In considering a rubber wristband, be certain it is actually rubber or a comparable synthetic. When new, rubber is plenty strong and pliable, and will actually last for quite some time. This also makes it comfortable to wear. However, it will age eventually to the point where to can become brittle enough to tear, or otherwise break. It can also be cut, which may be a consideration when wreck diving.
Metal bands should always be stainless steel or titanium to avoid rust and corrosion. Stainless steel has been around for years and continues to be an excellent choice for diving. More recently, titanium has become more and more common, mainly as it has become more affordable.
Titanium weighs about half as much as steel and it is nearly a third again stronger. Because of it’s light-weight characteristic, is will usually feel more comfortable. It is also more corrosion resistant than stainless steel.
While titanium is plentiful, the process of refining it is more time-consuming and expensive, which translates into a higher cost for this metal. However, due to its increased strength, it is more durable than steel. Also, it contains no nickel and is hypoallergenic, which may be a consideration for the user.
One last consideration is a wetsuit extension. Available on some metal bands, this folding link, when open, will allow the watch to be worn on the outside of a wetsuit. Note, this is not the same as a folding deployment clasp, which merely facilitates sliding the watch on over the hand. The extension actually makes the band expandable, so the clasp can still be closed comfortably around the larger circumference added by a wetsuit.

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