Underwater Wednesday focuses purely on the divers watch. What is a divers watch? Well, to be technically accurate, a true contemporary diver’s watch is in accordance with the ISO 6425 standard, which defines test standards and features for watches suitable for diving with underwater breathing apparatus in depths of 100 m (330 ft) or more.

Watches conforming to ISO 6425 are marked with the word DIVER’S to distinguish ISO 6425 conformant diving watches from watches that might not be suitable for actual scuba diving.

This week we look at long established divers watch brand DOXA. You may have thought the Seiko Orange Monster was the first and most famous exponent of the mighty orange faced diver, but DOXA, founded in Switzerland in 1889, claim to be the first to introduce the phenomenon known as ‘orange mania way back in 1967.

DOXA introduced the world’s first orange-faced dive watch equipped with a patented no decompression dive table bezel.

The DOXA SUB was issued to the Swiss Elite dive troops, the German and Korean Navies, and also to the U.S. Navy Sealab Aquanauts in the late sixties and early seventies.  The DOXA Sub was also  Dr. Clive Cussler’s choice for his best-selling Dirk Pitt® action-adventure novels and has been worn by members of the Cousteau family and Ocean Futures team, among other professional divers and underwater explorers.

DOXA Mission 31 SUB

Now DOXA has been chosen to provide the official timepieces for Fabien Cousteau’s Mission 31 endeavour, to be conducted this autumn on Aquarius, the only undersea marine habitat and lab in the world located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The 31-day underwater mission will set a new submersion record for human oceanic exploration. DOXA will also set a record for the longest continuously used dive watch under water.

DOXA will commemorate the mission by manufacturing a special edition of 331 pieces of the famous orange face DOXA SUB dive watch, 31 of which will spend 31 days under water with Fabien Cousteau’s mission team.  Fabien is the grandson of well-known undersea explorer and oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau.

A few lucky individuals will be able to acquire these commemorative watches when they become available for pre-order; sold exclusively by DOXA.

Fabien Cousteau’s Mission 31 endeavor will be conducted on the Aquarius, which is owned by NOAA and managed by Florida International University.  Saturation training for Mission 31 starts mid-Sept. and Fabien Cousteau’s team will submerge on September 30th for the first full day on Aquarius, on October 1st.

Fabien Cousteau and his team will spend 31 days submerged underwater in the name of science and discovery, breaking his grandfather’s Conshelf  Two underwater saturation mission record by one full day to honor the 50th anniversary of Jacques-Yves Cousteau’s original mission.

“Mission 31 will broadcast every second on multiple channels exposing the world to the adventure, risk, and mystique of what lies beneath. DOXA will be instrumental in the support of our scientific endeavours while also helping us keep track of time down below.”

Fabien Cousteau

The Mission 31 Sub is available for pre-order on the DOXA site for $2,890.00

Other great DOXA’s

The DOXA SUB 5000T Seaconqueror Caribbean

The DOXA SUB 5000T Caribbean is a watch designed to meet the needs of both professional divers and enthusiasts.

Crafted from a single piece of stainless steel, and water resistant to a depth of 5000 feet (1500 metres), the 45 mm DOXA SUB 5000T Caribbean is powered by the ETA 2892, and its standard equipment includes a helium release valve, a ratcheting dive suit extension clasp, and DOXA’s patented no-decompression dive table bezel (US patent N. 3505808). Price: $2,490.00.

DOXA SUB 5000T Seaconqueror Sharkhunter Military Edition

This is also a watch designed to meet the needs of both professional divers and enthusiasts.  Water resistant to a depth of 5000 feet (1500 meters), the 45 mm Seaconqueror has been made even more durable thanks to its PVD coating. PVD, (Physical Vapour Disposition), is a process where a thin film is applied to enhance the strength and performance of the watch.  Beautiful and rugged!  The DOXA SUB 5000T is powered by the ETA 2892, and its standard equipment includes a helium release valve, a ratcheting dive suit extension clasp, and DOXA’s patented no-decompression dive table bezel (US patent N. 3505808).  Price: $2,590.00

DOXA SUB 1200T Searambler

The 1200T combines the look and feel of the original SUB 300T Conquistador, with the high quality and reliability of a modern DOXA SUB. At just over 42 mm in diameter, the DOXA SUB 1200T Searambler is the ideal option for those looking for a more traditional, smaller sized DOXA SUB. The SUB 1200T Searambler has a depth rating of 1200 metres (3937 feet), and is equipped with an integrated (automatic) helium release valve (HRV).

The watch features a solid 120-tooth, unidirectional, stainless steel bezel. In addition, the bracelet is thicker and more substantial than previous versions with solid piece end links. A 100% Swiss-made, self-winding movement powers the SUB 1200T, and just like the original, DOXA’s patented no-decompression dive table bezel (US Patent N. 3505808) is standard. Price: $1,890.00