Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site decwrl.DEC.COM
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!hplabs!qantel!dual!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-mosaic!wasser
From: wasser@mosaic.DEC (John A. Wasser)
Newsgroups: net.rec.scuba
Subject: Beware of Casio \"50M\" rating...
Message-ID: <1577@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Fri, 7-Mar-86 18:53:53 EST
Article-I.D.: decwrl.1577
Posted: Fri Mar  7 18:53:53 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Mar-86 00:32:57 EST
Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 39



	The Casio watch company uses some fairly deceptive practices
	when rating the water resistance of their watches.  They chose
	to use the designations "50M", "100M" and "200M".  On first
	guess most people would say "Must be meters of depth...".
	This guess is unfotunately incorrect... the leter "M" in the
	designation has nothing to do with meters.  If you can find
	a list of what the designations mean (which I found out from
	a catalog one day) you will find the following:

		no designation = Can be splashed with water safely.
		50M = Can be immersed but not worn while swimming.
		100M = Can be worn while swimming but not diving.
		200M = Can be worn diving (I think to 150 feet).

	These limits will be spelled out in the fine print of the
	instruction sheet packaged with the watch.  I recommend that
	if you a buying a watch for diving that you read the
	instruction sheet before buying the watch.... regardless of
	the manufacturer (I think Lorus has similar designations).

	I bought a Timex Triathlon (about $30) which says "50 METERS"
	on the face and says "Guaranteed to 50 meters (150 feet) of depth"
	in the instruction sheet.  I have used it down to 40 feet
	with no problem and I recommend it for anyone who wants a
	watch they can use all the time, including while diving.

			-John A. Wasser

Work address:
Usenet:	 {adobe|acorn|allegra|amd|deccra|decvax|dual|flairvax|glacier|idi|
          ihnp4!imagen|ios|logitec|microsoft|mordor|nsc|purdue|pyramid|
          qubix|sci|sequent|Shasta|sun|turtlevax|ucbvax}!
	 decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-viking!wasser
ARPAnet: WASSER%VIKING.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
EASYnet: {VIKING|RAINBO|MOSIAC}::WASSER
USPS:    LJO2/E4; 30 Porter Rd.; Littleton,MA ; 01460
Phone:   (617)486-2505