This PADI Special Edition of the Seiko Prospex Diver's Automatic appears prominently on its wearer's wrist and is also very comfortable to wear. It fits perfectly, regardless of its ample size and weight. On the one hand, the good fit is due to the concave curvature of the middle part of the case, which devours the back like the crater of a volcano, and on the other, to the “accordion” wristband.

This intelligently designed strap, invented decades ago, alternately expands and contracts to conform to the wearer’s wrist, whether the

watch is worn directly against the skin or slipped over the sleeve of a neoprene diving suit.

Seiko prides itself on its involvement in numerous developments in professional divers’ watches that have become standards or even a part of international standards for dive watches. The much-modified give and take wristband, which is adequately long, thick and slip-resistant, is only one example. Another is the case’s modern helium insulation, which eliminates the need for an additional helium-release valve. And equally noteworthy is the fact that Seiko offers this state-of the-art equipment on divers’ watches in the entry-level price range – an indication that this Japanese watch manufacturer regards divers’ watches as professional devices for safety and comfort while diving rather than as fashionable luxury accessories. That’s also why Seiko has partnered with PADI, the professional divers’ training organisation, since March 2016. This special edition of the Prospex Diver’s Automatic was created in honor of this partnership and because of the popularity of the previous year’s model.

One of the most eye-catching features of this watch is the handsome, glossy blue bezel, which has markings for almost all 60 minutes and turns inside a second, unusually shaped ring atop the case. This second ring, made of ceramic, enhances the watch’s ability to cope with impacts and is designed to prevent inadvertent repositioning of the calibrated bezel. The double caseback is trademark of Seiko's dive watches. Thanks to a special interior design with L-shaped insulators and a screwed ring to affix the crystal, this watch is particularly pressure resistant ( up to 20 bar) and offers the efficient helium insulation mentioned earlier. Nevertheless, the divers’ bezel is easy to grasp at precisely the points where you intuitively reach to adjust it. Large, fluted riders further improve the nonslip grip.

The rotatable bezel snaps into place in half-minute steps, although an authoritative click at full minute intervals would have been even more professional and would have conformed to the relevant standards. The bezel is coated with titanium carbide to protect it from scratches. We were surprised to see that only the orientation point glows on this ring and that it shines comparatively weakly, but the so-called “shark” indexes gleam very brightly on the blue dial, which is why this watch’s admirers affectionately call it “monster.” Like the bold hands, the indexes are coated with Lumibrite, a special luminous paint developed by Seiko. The dial is protected by a Hardlex crystal, which is more flexible than sapphire and, therefore, less likely to shatter.

The back of the case is opaque, massive and screwed. Behind it, Seiko’s manufacture Calibre 4R36 hosts a bidirectionally active self-winding rotor and the so-called “Magic Lever.” This movement is regarded as highly robust and is accordingly used in many of Seiko’s divers’ watches. Compared to its predecessor (the 6R15), the newer calibre integrates several technical innovations, e.g., in the automatic winding mechanism and in the barrel, in the switching mechanism for the date display, in the balance and thus also in the fine adjustment. The model that we tested was quite competently adjusted. It gained between 4 and 5 seconds per day, and it performed with very well balanced results. The Prospex Diver’s Automatic PADI Special Edition has earned the right to accompany its wearer to more than just a scuba class for beginners.