Scuba diving with an Exp II?

[Atomant]

Am just thinking if the EXp II and GMT II/ GMT IIc is water proof to a depth of 100m, does it mean that it is safe to go scube diving with it? I don't think I'll dive deeper than 100m. What are your thoughts?

[Deyn Man]

yup! it can handle the pressure at indicated depths!
oh! asn as with all watches, do screw down the crown tight... happy diving!

[JimC]

I don't think you'll go much past 100 feet (not meters)... In that case the Explorer can certainly go with you.

[sakuraba]

I don't see why not

[AWATCH]

I have used mine for scuba many times

[swatty]

Go for it

[Gerardus]

No problem!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Atomant

Am just thinking if the EXp II and GMT II/ GMT IIc is water proof to a depth of 100m, does it mean that it is safe to go scube diving with it? I don't think I'll dive deeper than 100m. What are your thoughts?

Although not regarded as a dive watch for normal recreational diving say max
depth around 40m it should be fine.And to dive to 100m you would have to be
a very very experienced diver, with a lot of planning and back up for that deep dive.

If I remember the deepest recorded dive just on scuba gear was in the Red Sea a few years back.By a guy called Nuno Gomes total depth was just over 318m.Now it only took him about 20 minutes to reach that depth.But because of breathing different gasses at that depth and pressure, a little over 12 hours with all the safety stops to finally return to the surface safe, and without any decompression treatment.

Now at these extreme depths,there are several diving related problems to overcome nitrogen decompression sickness, oxygen toxicity,sheer dehydration and the different affects of the gases when changing over tanks containing the different gas mixtures.Now while breathing the high helium mix the gas wants to leave the blood while the nitrogen wants to rush in.Now this dive would have not been possible without a huge back up and very careful planning.

Gomes is in a very small group of guys that have gone over 250m with just scuba gear. Fact there have been more guys that have gone to the moon,than over 250m underwater just on scuba. But most recreational divers today stick to around 39m- 40m max depth

[DRAWTOOL]

DIVE!..DIVE!

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by padi56

Fact there have been more guys that have gone to the moon,than over 250m underwater just on scuba.

I think this is amazing!

So few of us really need anything else than a standard Oyster case. Actually I have done some calculations on the Oyster case, and the first thing that gives is the caseback. It will start to bend at a certain pressure (well below the given rating), and from a pressure perspective the only difference between the Explorer II and the Submariner is the crown, and the thickness of the back. The following models have the same casebacks: Explorer II, GMTII, and YM, and I know that people have had those tested to 300 meters. They are extremely over engineered!

So any Rolex Oyster is good for any water activity any of us non professional divers will ever do.

But, there is a reason for the Submariner to exist, and it is built for the professional diver, but few of them have taken it even close to its limits.

Best,

A

P.S. Do not forget to pressure test your watch at least every second year, every if you are very active in water. Could be an idea to change gaskets also.

[Puffy]

I went down 15m with my Exp II back in January, no worries.

[Jason71]

Not sure why you would want to dive with it other than just being able to look at the time, and maybe admire your timepiece underwater??

[AWATCH]

Originally Posted by jclevoy

Not sure why you would want to dive with it other than just being able to look at the time, and maybe admire your timepiece underwater??

This is sorta a condescending statement, not everybody needs a rotating bezel to remember how much time you have

[CorruptedSanity]

I doubt you will be going past 40m on a recreational dive. Unless its not a recreational dive then perhaps 100m. But at any depth greater than 30m I would not want to put too much thought into a watch. I would rather concentrate on my dive gear & the dive itself.
Its very intimidating after 25 meters IMO.
Take a pony tank with you.
Keep the expII for shallower depths so you can enjoy viewing the watch.

[Subfiend]

Do it!

[cdnwatchguy]

I used my GMT Mater for diving, to a depth of 85 feet. No issues whatsoever.

[Atomant]

Don't ya'll think the EXP II is a really cool watch without being over engineered? You can pretty much wear it for everything and it comes with a functinal dual time zone. Love it. Now if anyone's got an underwater picture of a Polar EXP II???? EXPLORE!!

[1000ftSub]

It will work

[RebreatherDiver]

If you want, send it to me and I will be happy to test it out to 100M

Padi is correct, LOTS of planning! Last fall I was on an expedition (privately funded by us) and we discovered the second deepest blue hole in the world (could be the deepest). I was on a "safety team" and went to around 400ft. The deep team went to 530ft.

What did we find? Nothing, it still went down past where our 50W HID's could penetrate! It could still be the deepest blue hole, we are just not sure........yet. But like Padi said, I am only but a half dozen humans (the rest of the team) to ever travel to this location on earth (12 people have walked on the moon). Innerspace is one of the last true frontiers left to be conquered by man, it is quite a feeling.

The difference between what a group of explorers and I do and what Gomez does is that we have a scientific reason or inquiry. We were looking for new fresh water flow and the relationship between inland underwater cave systems and the blue holes. This last one we found still intrigues us, turns out it intrigues the Bahamian government as well, as they are looking at funding the next expedition (thank god!!!).

Dive Safe!

[RebreatherDiver]

Here is one of the pictures from one of the underwater photojournalist's that accompanied us on the expedition. Photo courtesy of Curt Bowen, Advanced Diver Magazine.

Enjoy!

[acce1999]

I understand that this might get us off topic, but please tell us more! Any external links for me to learn more?

I am truly fascinated by any type of exploration.

Best,

A

[jrssv]

That's what I love about this forum. A simple question sometimes leads in very interesting and informative directions.

[Subfiend]

Originally Posted by RebreatherDiver

If you want, send it to me and I will be happy to test it out to 100M

Padi is correct, LOTS of planning! Last fall I was on an expedition (privately funded by us) and we discovered the second deepest blue hole in the world (could be the deepest). I was on a "safety team" and went to around 400ft. The deep team went to 530ft.

What did we find? Nothing, it still went down past where our 50W HID's could penetrate! It could still be the deepest blue hole, we are just not sure........yet. But like Padi said, I am only but a half dozen humans (the rest of the team) to ever travel to this location on earth (12 people have walked on the moon). Innerspace is one of the last true frontiers left to be conquered by man, it is quite a feeling.

The difference between what a group of explorers and I do and what Gomez does is that we have a scientific reason or inquiry. We were looking for new fresh water flow and the relationship between inland underwater cave systems and the blue holes. This last one we found still intrigues us, turns out it intrigues the Bahamian government as well, as they are looking at funding the next expedition (thank god!!!).

Dive Safe!

Tom,

My hat is off to you. That is really, seriously awesome stuff.

Dive safe!

[ersnyder]

I've done some fairly shallow diving with mine but no problem at all.

[sunburst]

Originally Posted by RebreatherDiver

If you want, send it to me and I will be happy to test it out to 100M

Padi is correct, LOTS of planning! Last fall I was on an expedition (privately funded by us) and we discovered the second deepest blue hole in the world (could be the deepest). I was on a "safety team" and went to around 400ft. The deep team went to 530ft.

What did we find? Nothing, it still went down past where our 50W HID's could penetrate! It could still be the deepest blue hole, we are just not sure........yet. But like Padi said, I am only but a half dozen humans (the rest of the team) to ever travel to this location on earth (12 people have walked on the moon). Innerspace is one of the last true frontiers left to be conquered by man, it is quite a feeling.

The difference between what a group of explorers and I do and what Gomez does is that we have a scientific reason or inquiry. We were looking for new fresh water flow and the relationship between inland underwater cave systems and the blue holes. This last one we found still intrigues us, turns out it intrigues the Bahamian government as well, as they are looking at funding the next expedition (thank god!!!).

Dive Safe!

Thomas, that's owesome!!.
You are true Tec Diver.

[Fofo]

Yes, the watch can take it. Put it underwater!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by RebreatherDiver

If you want, send it to me and I will be happy to test it out to 100M

Padi is correct, LOTS of planning! Last fall I was on an expedition (privately funded by us) and we discovered the second deepest blue hole in the world (could be the deepest). I was on a "safety team" and went to around 400ft. The deep team went to 530ft.

What did we find? Nothing, it still went down past where our 50W HID's could penetrate! It could still be the deepest blue hole, we are just not sure........yet. But like Padi said, I am only but a half dozen humans (the rest of the team) to ever travel to this location on earth (12 people have walked on the moon). Innerspace is one of the last true frontiers left to be conquered by man, it is quite a feeling.

The difference between what a group of explorers and I do and what Gomez does is that we have a scientific reason or inquiry. We were looking for new fresh water flow and the relationship between inland underwater cave systems and the blue holes. This last one we found still intrigues us, turns out it intrigues the Bahamian government as well, as they are looking at funding the next expedition (thank god!!!).

Dive Safe!

Great stuff, Thomas............so very interesting!! Thanks for sharing this with us.

Cheers - JJ

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by AWATCH

This is sorta a condescending statement, not everybody needs a rotating bezel to remember how much time you have

My statement was not meant to be condescending. And yes, you do need a rotating bezel to be safe when calculating your bottom time, and DTR.........unless you are not counting on your timepiece and are using a computer. If this is the case, then you really don't need a watch underwater. I didn't say that there was anything wrong with wearing the Exp II, I just really don't understand the point unless it is going to give you valuable information while diving. A diver needs a rotating bezel to time his/her dives because they CANNOT depend on sharp cognition while diving. They might think that it was 9:10am when they entered the water, but they also might not be thinking clearly. If you don't believe in the Martini Rule while diving, try taking a book underwater and give it a read while diving. My wife brings a fish indentification book underwater from time to time. Try making heads or tails of that at 80'.

My point is that it is foolhardy to depend on your vague memory to determine DTR if you truly are depending on your watch while diving.

If the OP just wants to wear it, and admire it, and photograph it...........There really isn't anything wrong with that. Understand that this is coming from someone that dives often, and doesn't depend on a computer. I ABSOLUTELY depend on my Sub or SeaDweller while underwater.

[f16570]

Wear it it will be fine. Not a true dive tool though, but nontheless competent.

[RRGHOST1]

As somebody said all ready, the Explorer is not a dive watch as such, but can be used as one, as can all watches that are water resistant to do diving in. The bezel would be the issue with me as the Explorer is different to the Sub or DSSD. I know nothing about the rules of diving but i would have thought over a safety issue of using Scuba tanks and the likes, a proper Dive watch would be mandatory.