This Seiko watch is an updated version of the Pepsi dial Seiko Solar Dive Chronograph we reviewed in 2017. It’s functionally identical to the earlier version but is now branded as PADI and part of the Prospex collection – marked by an X on the dial. 
The Seiko Solar PADI Air Diver is big. It’s bigger than it looks. In fact, I’d say it’s bigger than the infamous Big Orange Monster. The long lugs make it feel a bit too heavy on my 7.5″ wrist. It’s really thick for a quartz replica watch, with large pushers and a substantial bezel. The case back is sturdy metal and can be made water-resistant to 200 meters. The solar movement is very good and never needs winding or battery replacement.
The negative for me, other than the weight of the watch, is the bezel, which has a lot of spring back. I find it hard to align at 12 o’clock which means I often spend a lot of time adjusting it to make it look right! I think this is important. The pushrod is screwed down to prevent water ingress and when unscrewed there is a very positive action.
The Seiko Solar PADI Air Diver dial is really nice. The bottom layer is the solar panel that charges the watch. It contains three sub-dials that are easy to read. As you would expect from Seiko, the luminous – with just a hint of sunlight – glows amazingly. The hands are borrowed from the SKX007 design and are very easy to read. There’s a lot going on here, but the Seiko Solar PADI Air Diver manages to stay clear – Seiko really knows how to make a dive watch.
The bracelet of the Seiko Solar PADI Air Diver is very strong, but for me, it is the weakest point. It feels sturdy, but no matter how hard you try to protect the fake Rolex watch, the mirror-polished links will get scratched – as you can see in my photos.
The bracelet also lacks flexibility: the center link is slightly higher than the outer portion of the bracelet, so the bracelet doesn’t bend in the opposite direction of the curvature of your wrist. I know I didn’t have to bend the strap in the wrong way, but it bothers me that you notice it when you pick up the watch.
Overall, I can understand why people like the Seiko Solar PADI Air Diver, but unfortunately, I just can’t get along with this watch. It’s too big and heavy for everyday wear, and its bulky nature means I’m forever banging it into things, leaving it with more scratches than ever before in its lifetime.