Wore my 20yr old SD surfing

[Island-Life]

Originally Posted by JP.

Amazing watch. My favorite Rolex. Well the 16610 is better on MY wrist because it's flatter but SD is THE Rolex to me.

Here's a little story of my 16600 purchase. Cheers.

My Sea-Dweller 16600

Great write up on the 16600. That made me appreciate my watch even more! Mine is from 2001 also. Love it!

[jaxex]

Superb with the white rubber strap.

[Island-Life]

Originally Posted by StillTrying

I surf in my Exp II, but always throw it on a nato in case a spring bar breaks.

Great pic, btw.

Does a nato use something different than the Rolex spring bar? If so I'm interested

[Danny83]

Nice

[Innocenti]

Originally Posted by Island-Life

Does a nato use something different than the Rolex spring bar? If so I'm interested

Use same spring bars but for a nato to fail both spring bars would need to break.

[Brian Page]

Well....I guess you probably know how I feel about the matter.....

[kieselguhr]

If my 50 year old Datejust can survive cloudbreak, raja empat, and Haleiwa, your Sea Dweller with its >1000m WR will be fine

[ippon20]

nah I wear my G shock surfing....too afraid I'lll ding my board not to mention I live in the Shark Bite capital of the world. No need to attract anymore attention to my body parts.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

If my 50 year old Datejust can survive cloudbreak, raja empat, and Haleiwa, your Sea Dweller with its >1000m WR will be fine

Going to need a CloudBreak pic

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

Going to need a CloudBreak pic

I don’t think I have any in the water. I do plan on going back to Fiji when the world opens back up. The wife has never been and I would love to show her. Will have photos then.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

I don’t think I have any in the water. I do plan on going back to Fiji when the world opens back up. The wife has never been and I would love to show her. Will have photos then.

This is my home break I grew up surfing. Nahoon reef in South Africa. It has great waves and a lot of great whites. I’ve got way too many shark stories from surfing there but way more memories of good waves with friends



Would love to do a bucket list surf trip to the Mentawai Islands

Cloudbreak would be an insane break to see in the flesh.

[ippon20]

Maybe we should set up a GTG board meeting!!

[99tjadams]

Great to see it getting the use it deserves.
Don’t forget to rinse it off afterwards.

[B2 Stealth]

Great thread! A Rolex honoring its legacy. Wear the watch!

[interestedwatcher]

When in doubt a pressure test costs like 20 dollars. Nice to see a Rolex being used though!

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

This is my home break I grew up surfing. Nahoon reef in South Africa. It has great waves and a lot of great whites. I’ve got way too many shark stories from surfing there but way more memories of good waves with friends



Would love to do a bucket list surf trip to the Mentawai Islands

Cloudbreak would be an insane break to see in the flesh.

I stick to the break closest to Namotu. Swimming pool I think it’s called? Don’t think the water is cold enough for Great Whites but I have seen Makos and honestly any shark gives me the Heebee Jeebees when I’m just sitting on a board. It’s why I loved surfing Indonesia. Not a shark in sight!

I myself grew up surfing the California coast. Too many tourists.

South Africa looks beautiful! I would love to go there some day. I would also love to see Teahupoo as well!

[StillTrying]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

This is my home break I grew up surfing. Nahoon reef in South Africa. It has great waves and a lot of great whites. I’ve got way too many shark stories from surfing there but way more memories of good waves with friends



Would love to do a bucket list surf trip to the Mentawai Islands

Cloudbreak would be an insane break to see in the flesh.

That is a beautiful break! How big is it usually? How big does it get? Oh yeah, this is TRF, what reference has been out in those waters?

We need Cloudbreak pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[StillTrying]

For those that are in the dark. This is cloudbreak. Very obviously, this is from the web. Never been myself, and probably never will. Pretty sure the dude on that wave wears a 40mm day date; and if he doesn’t, he should.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by StillTrying

For those that are in the dark. This is cloudbreak. Very obviously, this is from the web. Never been myself, and probably never will. Pretty sure the dude on that wave wears a 40mm day date; and if he doesn’t, he should.

You’re going to need a jet ski to get to and ride that wave unless you’re Kelly slater



This is the cloudbreak I remember. Smaller waves that go for miles! A DJ can survive this one

[kieselguhr]

This thread brought back so much nostalgia.

Made me dig up the old board. Hasn’t seen water in years... I think a California trip is in order

[StillTrying]

MG looking good and wax still there. Get to CA on the double.

[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by padi56

Cannot understand why you were worried about a bit of seawater as long as your watch has been correctly serviced in its life.Below a picture of my own personal working tool watch 16600 SD from the very late 1990s,it was used and many times abused for many years underwater as a real working tool with well over 600 hours underwater. And has been serviced and polished by 3 different RSC world wide, picture taken in Singapore after last service.This working tool has seen more use that todays mainly pampered watches will see in ten lifetimes, the SD one of the last real working tool watches.

That’s a cracking watch and no cyclops which makes it look so much better.

Congratulations, long may your partnership continue.

[waterman1]

This thread is the best ever on TRF! Some serious waves ridden here - cloudbreak and Namotu.
As for me I’ve surfed a lot - wish more, and usually wear my sea dweller although always on nato. I like the white rubber but I’d be nervous of ripping out 1 springbar. And would only take one to lose that amazing watch.
Ive had many great sessions in Hawaii. All time Ma’ili Point, W side Oahu. 6-8’ perfect lefts. I was nervous at first but such a perfect wave it was hard to fall. What a day!!
.

[StillTrying]

Originally Posted by waterman1

This thread is the best ever on TRF! Some serious waves ridden here - cloudbreak and Namotu.
As for me I’ve surfed a lot - wish more, and usually wear my sea dweller although always on nato. I like the white rubber but I’d be nervous of ripping out 1 springbar. And would only take one to lose that amazing watch.
Ive had many great sessions in Hawaii. All time Ma’ili Point, W side Oahu. 6-8’ perfect lefts. I was nervous at first but such a perfect wave it was hard to fall. What a day!!
.

Completely agree! First time I was on the North Shore it was around 6’. I was nervous, but the waves are so perfect and because they have “shoulders” it’s way easier to maneuver and to stay up. Plus, the coral underneath you provides an incentive not to fall.

Rolex should sponsor a big-waves surfer. The physics that the watch (and surfer) must withstand on huge wipeouts would be a testament to its robustness. (If Rolex does sponsor a surfer I’m sure someone will chime in.)

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by StillTrying

That is a beautiful break! How big is it usually? How big does it get? Oh yeah, this is TRF, what reference has been out in those waters?

We need Cloudbreak pics!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It’s probably one of the most consistent surf spots in South Africa. It is usually around 3-6ft and can handle up to 12ft.

Bigger than that and the point further down is a better spot.

It never has more than 15 guys out at any time and averages around 10



Unfortunately it has a bit of a history with incidents involving great whites...

I was surfing there the day this happened...

[waterman1]

Marcjvr
How many years in S Africa? Yes the great white situation there is insane. The craziest was the incident w Mick Fanning in middle of the WCT contest several years ago.
Are you on the outer banks now by chance? Plenty of good waves there and power and quality can be excellent when swell and wind is right.

[dannymiller]

Looks stunning under water.

[iTreelex]

Awesome OP! I have been on the fence between the 126600 or a 16600. I currently have a 116600 and have been wanting to just collect sea dwellers from now on.

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by waterman1

Marcjvr
How many years in S Africa? Yes the great white situation there is insane. The craziest was the incident w Mick Fanning in middle of the WCT contest several years ago.
Are you on the outer banks now by chance? Plenty of good waves there and power and quality can be excellent when swell and wind is right.

Think Mick said he socked the shark in the nose in the interview. Can’t remember.



More importantly was Mick wearing his Rolex??

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by waterman1

Marcjvr
How many years in S Africa? Yes the great white situation there is insane. The craziest was the incident w Mick Fanning in middle of the WCT contest several years ago.
Are you on the outer banks now by chance? Plenty of good waves there and power and quality can be excellent when swell and wind is right.

27 years. Still go back every year to see family and do some surfing down there.

I am in Charlotte but a handful of times a year I head down to the coast and get wet. Never much surf though. I would love to retire to OBX and surf there.