Are NATO straps good for Diving? What You Need to Know
One of the most common questions asked by divers when shopping for a new dive watch is “are NATO straps good for diving?” This article will help answer that question and more. The short answer is yes, but only if you know how to use them properly.
This guide will give you everything you need to know about using NATO straps for diving or any other sport where water resistance is important. We’ll show you how to choose the best type of strap based on your needs and how to care for your new strap so it lasts as long as possible without harming your watch in any way!
What are NATO straps and what do they look like?
NATO straps are named after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which is a military alliance between several different countries. The straps get their name from the fact that they were originally designed to be used by NATO soldiers as watch bands. Today, NATO straps are made of nylon and can be used for a variety of purposes, including diving.
There are many different types of NATO straps available on the market today. They all have their own benefits and drawbacks. Some of the most common types include:
- Standard strap: This type of NATO strap is very simple and consists of one piece of fabric that goes around your wrist. It’s usually the cheapest option and is good for everyday use.
- Two-piece strap: This type of NATO strap is made up of two pieces of fabric that are connected by a metal buckle. It’s more durable than the standard strap and is good for activities like diving and sailing.
- Zulu strap: This type of NATO strap is similar to the two-piece strap, but it has a long tail that can be wrapped around your wrist multiple times. It’s very sturdy and ideal for extreme activities like rock climbing.
When shopping for a NATO strap, it’s important to consider the activity you plan on using it for. If you’re going to be diving, make sure to buy a strap that is specifically designed for use in water. Remember, NATO straps are not meant to replace traditional watch bands.
They should only be used as an alternative to the original strap that came with your watch.
The benefits of using NATO straps for diving
The benefits of using NATO straps for diving are many. For one, they are much more comfortable than traditional rubber straps because of their smooth nylon construction. They are also easily adjustable so you can tighten or loosen them to fit around your wrist perfectly every time.
Finally, NATO straps come in a variety of colors and designs that allow you to personalize your watch while still giving it the functionality needed for diving purposes.
When buying a NATO strap for use during diving activities, make sure that it is made out of durable materials like stainless steel or anodized aluminum hardware components rather than plastic parts (which aren’t strong enough for this particular type of activity).
Also, be aware that some bands feature Velcro closures instead of buckles; these may not give the tight seal necessary when submerged underwater.
Nato straps are a great choice for divers because they can be quickly adjusted to fit your wrist perfectly every time. Since the strap is made out of fabric, it will expand and contract with water pressure changes no matter how deep you dive down.
They also feature special keepers that hold onto your watch’s lugs securely so that it won’t slip off even if you are doing flips underwater or any other aquatic acrobatics. Plus, since there are typically more holes in these bands than on traditional leather watches, they allow for perfect sizing based upon personal preference rather than being limited by one pre-determined hole layout common among other types of watch bands.
How to use NATO straps for diving
The first thing you need to do is make sure your watch’s band fits snugly around your wrist. You can tighten or loosen the strap based on personal preference, but it should always fit tightly enough that you feel some resistance when pulling outwards away from your wrist.
This will ensure a watertight seal between the fabric and your skin so that no water enters through any gaps in-between them during use underwater. Once they are fitted correctly, put on a diving suit as normal and submerge yourself into an aquatic environment such as a pool or lake for practice runs before taking this new setup scuba diving with you just yet!
The reason being is that now comes the tricky part of adjusting each individual NATO strap hole to properly match up with the corresponding lug hole on the watch case. This is a crucial step that should never be skipped, as an improperly fitted NATO strap can lead to water leaking into the watch case and damaging its inner workings over time.
Once you have found the right fit, it’s important not to forget about your NATO straps during a dive! Be sure to check them every so often to make sure they are still tight and haven’t moved out of place. If they have, just give them a quick adjustment before continuing with your dive.
And there you have it! Now you know everything there is to know about using NATO straps for diving or any other sport where water might be a factor.
So what are you waiting for? Get yourself some quality NATO straps now. They are fun, easily changed, and the cheapest way to inject some new life into your dive watch.
How to care for your NATO strap
NATO straps are actually quite easy to care for. They also don’t scratch or damage easily and are as comfortable to wear as a latex strap.
Here are a few extra tips to care for your NATO strap:
- Keep them away from heat and direct sunlight.
- Never use any type of harsh chemical or cleaning agent on your NATO strap.
- If they get wet, allow them to air dry before storing them away.
- Wash them in freshwater after being in saltwater. This helps protect any metal components and ensures sand does not aggravate your skin when it is dry.
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Meet the Chief Wasted Talent and ultimate dive watch enthusiast behind WastedTalentInc.com and ExpertDiveWatch.com, whose love for timepieces runs as deep as the ocean. Having amassed a wealth of knowledge about dive watches and dive computers over the years, he decided to share his passion and expertise with a wider audience.
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