Citizen Watch Promaster Series: A Look at Some of the Best Dive Watches in the World

Suppose you ask any scuba diver why they dive. They’re likely to offer different explanations, from the beauty of the ocean to the sense of weightlessness to the majesty of interacting with the planet’s largest fish and mammals.

Scuba diving is inherently thrilling and also somewhat dangerous. Noting and tracking time spent at depth is crucial to avoid running out of air and decompression sickness, also known as “the bends.” For decades, a professional diving watch was the best way to stay on top of time underwater. These days, most scuba equipment comes with a dive computer, but scuba divers still wear and dive with a dive watch. It’s reliable, sturdy, and looks good in or out of the water.

Citizen is one of the world’s leading watch brands, and its Promaster Dive series watches are some of the best quality dive watches on the market. The first Citizen dive watch was the Parawater model, introduced to the public in 1959. More than 60 years later, the Promaster Dive series is in use across the globe by recreational and professional divers alike.

According to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), a good dive watch should be depth rated (meaning it’s water resistant up to at least 100 meters), have a secure strap, and be resistant to scratches and breaking.

A great dive watch, like one from the Citizen Promaster Dive watch series, has multiple features, like depth gauges, compasses, and illumination, in addition to being self-powered. The Promaster Dive watches use Citizen’s proprietary Eco-Drive technology, which converts any light source into the energy to power the watch.

While the Promaster series also includes Promaster Air, inspired by pilots, and Promaster Land, for those who are into challenging terrain in the great outdoors, we’ve decided to focus on the Promaster Dive Series for now. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite available models and are certain there’s one perfect for you or your favorite sea-faring friend.

Promaster Dive “Ecozilla” 

Water-resistant up to 300 meters, the Ecozilla features a large face that’s easy to read without adding unnecessary heft or weight. The luminous hands are housed in a green dial face and are very legible, even in low light. The green polyurethane strap is sturdy and will hang on in the darkest of depths. According to a reviewer, “This watch is built incredibly rugged. It really appears to be able to take anything you could throw at it. Fit and finish are superb.”

Promaster Dive 45mm

Based on the original model of Promaster Dive, this updated version features a fresh look with a blue bezel, a darker blue three-hand dial, and luminous markers. It’s slick and sophisticated, making it suitable for any occasion. As a quality watch at an affordable price (just $296.25), it’s a great entry into the world of Promaster Dive watches. Plus, it’s really attractive and sure to be noticed anywhere it's worn. For casual beachgoers or serious divers, it goes from boat to black-tie without batting an eye and, like other Promaster Dive watches, it’s water-resistant up to 200 meters.

Promaster Dive 37mm

This new sized-down version of the Promaster Dive has a 37mm diameter for smaller wrists. Even with a sized-down watch case, however, nothing is sacrificed in the piece’s design and mechanics. With characteristics like an adventure-ready polyurethane strap and easy-grip dive bezel, this watch is as sleek as it is functional and durable. Accents of orange on the blue and black styles add to visibility in dark places, while the pink option features a pretty rose gold-toned stainless steel case with a bright material on the face for increased legibility.

Promaster Sailhawk

The Promaster Sailhawk introduces itself with an eye-catching bright orange strap g and makes a statement that’s backed up by the onboard functionality. Perfect for the world traveler, the watch can give time in up to 30 cities worldwide, can do split-lap times, has a yacht racing timer, a countdown timer and two different alarm settings. Made for sailboat racing, it’s perfect for the competitive sailor or the land-locked adventurer who likes a good-looking and functional watch. Water-resistant to 200 meters, one reviewer said, “I really love this watch. Feels like a luxurious sailing watch.” That’s because it is.

Promaster Dive Automatic

Based on the original Promaster Dive Automatic, released in 1989, this is an updated take on one of Citizen’s most classic watches. The bezel is serrated, making it easy to grip and use, and is based on the “Fugu,” or pufferfish, an image engraved is on the back of the watch face. The stainless steel construction makes it beautiful and rugged, and the blue dial makes the luminescent hands easy to read. Like classic watches, it’s mechanically wound and powered by the motion of your wrist. One reviewer raved, “It’s the most beautiful watch I’ve ever owned. I even wear it when I play piano! I can’t recommend it enough!”

Promaster Dive Automatic

The same model as above is available in black with a black polyurethane strap, should you want a version that is on the more casual side, and reviewers love it as much as the stainless steel version. Many love that it’s both beautiful, well-built and as comfortable on a dive as it is for everyday wear. “This is an absolutely beautiful and well built watch. The colors are superb and the watch itself is functional as both a dive watch and for everyday wear. The SCUBA tank packaging adds to the overall excellence of this well-built watch.”

Promaster Aqualand

The Promaster Aqualand really looks like the serious dive watch that it is. The black dial has slick red accents and it’s paired with a rugged polyurethane band, so it’s a beautiful timepiece. But it’s also packed full of valuable features every diver needs. It’s water-resistant to 200 meters, has a chronograph, remembers depth levels and shows time in 12- or 24- hour format. One reviewer called it “The coolest dive watch I’ve ever owned.”

Another reviewer, a regular wearer of dive watches for over 20 years, said, “I have for the most part always worn a Citizen Pro Master. The watch is always an ice-breaker in my meetings or when I take the train to work. It's like an old pair of your favorite jeans, you just love it. And, it's rugged, water-proof, eye-catcher, wear-it-and-forget-it. It just plain works!!”

Promaster 1000M Professional Diver

The Promaster 1000M Professional Diver is the marriage of all of the best technology Citizen Watch has to offer in a single mode. It starts with a super stable proprietary Super Titanium case that makes it five times stronger and 40% lighter than its stainless steel brothers. The proprietary surface-hardening tech makes it scratch resistant, and tosses in rust resistant, which is great as the watch that can go 1000M down into the salty depths. The Eco-Drive system means it’s charged by any light source and never needs a battery change. Professional divers love that it’s got a helium release valve, power reserve indicator, and an elapsed time mechanism in the bezel.

One professional diver said, “I'm a scuba instructor and have worn this watch on just over 125 dives. This weekend I taught a Deep Diver class and had a lot of heavy gear on, including thick gloves. I was able to move the lock and set the bezel with the 5mm gloves at depth without issue. I have other mechanical dive watches, but I never have to worry about this one quitting on me underwater. I can clearly see how much power it has before I go in. It's part of my kit on every dive. Thanks, Citizen, for making a professional watch for professional divers!”

Another raved, “The circular saw shaped Bezel can be engaged to lock to prevent rotation and inclusion of these six over-sized bezel extensions (like a circular saw) give a better grip. The numbers on the bezel are cool looking due to different size fonts. Underwater Lume is luminous & bright. This watch is very durable and certainly impressed that it can suffer 1000 m of water pressure (1000m saturation diving watch).” 

Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.