When wearing dive watches, divers can avoid air embolisms in the lungs. These embolisms arise because the weight of the water, as well as the weight of the atmosphere above the water, allows the lungs to hold more air. If divers surface too quickly without controlling the ascent, the expanding air in the lungs will cause the lungs to over-expand and ultimately rupture. These ruptures can release air bubbles into the bloodstream that can block blood to the brain and other vital organs. A good Diving Watch will help the diver ascend at the proper rate and assist her in remembering to exhale properly.

Similarly, diving watches assist divers in avoiding the bends, or decompression sickness. This problem exists when nitrogen builds up in body tissues, possibly causing dizziness, blindness, paralysis, or convulsions.

With a dive watch, divers can control the time spent underwater. Also, by monitoring the speed of ascent divers can avoid many life-threatening situations.

Dive watches serve one other great purpose. Whether someone is a diver or not, a good dive watch tends to really look cool on anyone's wrist and it is often a great conversation piece.