Seiko Prospex and PADI: love for the sea is becoming increasingly… green 

In this article we explore a collaboration with few equals in the watch industry: the partnership between Seiko and PADI— the world’s largest recreational scuba diving training organization. We examine the two latest references born from this alliance, distinguished by their green colorway, and how the collaboration has inspired numerous initiatives supporting marine ecosystem protection. We also look at Seiko’s presence at the European Dive Show 2026 in Bologna.

THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN SEIKO AND PADI

The partnership between Seiko and PADI is a well-established global collaboration that, in 2026, celebrates its 10th anniversary. Over this period, the Japanese manufacture has introduced numerous special editions of Prospex diver’s watches created in cooperation with PADI. Highly professional references have been joined over time by models suited to more urban use, without Seiko ever compromising its focus on performance.

Commitment to marine environments is also an integral part of the brand’s history. This dedication is rooted in Seiko’s long tradition of dive watch production, which began in the mid-1960s and has continued uninterrupted: from Japan’s first diver’s watch in 1965 — an automatic model water-resistant to 150 meters — to the 1968 Diver 300 m with hi-beat calibre, the 1975 Professional Diver’s 600 m in titanium, and the 1978 model, the world’s first quartz dive watch certified for saturation diving.

This commitment to the sea is reflected both in concrete initiatives carried out with PADI — as we will see later — and in the Prospex diver’s collection, which grows year after year with professional references developed thanks to the valuable contribution of the world’s leading scuba training organization.

SEIKO AT THE EUDI – EUROPEAN DIVE SHOW IN BOLOGNA

The Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch PADI Special Edition and the Prospex Samurai PADI Special Edition are the latest examples of the collaboration with PADI. Two high-performance divers united by a green colorway inspired by the underwater world. Both were among the highlights of the latest edition of the EUDI Show — European Dive Show 2026, one of the leading platforms for diving, freediving, and marine tourism enthusiasts, held in Bologna from February 20 to 22, 2026. This year’s event recorded 24,000 visitors, a 5% increase compared with the 2025 edition.

Seiko was the only watch brand present at the exhibition, Europe’s key event dedicated to the diving world, where it shared its deep connection with the sea. The Bologna show serves as a meeting place for education and dialogue, promoting a conscious and responsible marine culture with a focus on protecting marine ecosystems. 

These values naturally align with the vision of the Japanese brand, as Filippo Nembrini, Managing Director of Seiko Italia, explains: “Participating in EUDI Show represented for us a unique opportunity to engage with a community with which we share a deep bond: the sea. For Seiko, the sea is a source of inspiration and technical challenge, but also a precious heritage to be preserved.”

SEIKO PROSPEX 1965 HERITAGE DIVER’S WATCH PADI SPECIAL EDITION: CASE AND DIAL

Among the watches displayed at EUDI Show, the two green models stood out. The Prospex 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch PADI Special Edition (ref. SPB501J1), as befits a professional dive watch, offers water resistance up to 30 bar, indicated on the dial at 6 o’clock. This is ensured, among other elements, by the generously sized screw-down crown with pronounced knurling, allowing easy operation even while wearing diving gloves.

The stainless steel case measures 40 mm — consistent with other 1965 Heritage Diver’s models — featuring a brushed top surface and polished sides. Its 13 mm thickness is notable for a professional diver, as is the 46 mm lug-to-lug distance, allowing comfortable wear both over a wetsuit and under a shirt cuff.

The dial is green, with a texture evoking the rippling ocean surface seen from a diver’s perspective — a motif found in other Prospex models and now characteristic of Seiko. The same green covers the unidirectional bezel with aluminum insert, made more resistant through an IP treatment. Legibility is ensured by the luminescent marker at 12 o’clock, housed within the classic triangle and coated with LumiBrite, Seiko’s proprietary luminous compound known for its brightness and longevity.

SEIKO PROSPEX 1965 HERITAGE DIVER’S WATCH PADI SPECIAL EDITION: MOVEMENT AND BRACELET

Inside the case beats one of Seiko’s most reliable movements: the automatic calibre 6R55, with manual winding capability and a daily accuracy rating of +25/-15 seconds. Operating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (vph) and offering a 72-hour power reserve, it eliminates concerns about frequent winding.

The robust satin-finished three-link steel bracelet features a secure clasp with quick adjustment, allowing it to fit different wrist sizes and be worn over a wetsuit. It offers six adjustment positions, each approximately 2.5 mm, for a total of about 15 mm. The watch also includes a second strap made from recycled nylon sourced from discarded fishing nets, woven using the traditional Japanese Seichu technique often used for kimono belts — a dual reference to Seiko’s Japanese heritage and its commitment to protecting marine environments.

SEIKO PROSPEX SAMURAI PADI SPECIAL EDITION: FEATURES

The second watch, the Prospex Samurai PADI Special Edition (ref. SRPL53K1), is the classic “Samurai” beloved by enthusiasts, characterized by a stainless steel case with sharp, angular lines reminiscent of a traditional Japanese sword blade. The satin finish extends across the sides. The case is larger than that of the 1965 Heritage Diver’s Watch: 41.7 mm in diameter, 12.3 mm thick, and a lug-to-lug of 49.5 mm. Water resistance is 20 bar.

Two robust crown guards protect the oversized crown, which features a lattice structure rather than traditional knurling — a typical Samurai design detail. The unidirectional bezel shares this finish and features a green IP treatment.

The green theme continues on the dial, finished with the same marine texture and hands and indices coated with LumiBrite. The indices display the iconic “shark tooth” design, enhancing visibility.

The watch is powered by the automatic calibre 4R35, with manual winding capability, operating at 21,600 vph, with an accuracy of +45/-35 seconds per day and a 41-hour power reserve. It is paired with a three-link steel bracelet featuring a folding clasp, extendable but without micro-adjustment. The watches are priced at €1,750 (1965 Heritage Diver’s) and €670 (Samurai).

SEIKO AND PADI: PROMOTING DIVING CULTURE AND PROTECTING THE OCEANS

The partnership between the Japanese brand and PADI is driven not only by a passion for the depths but also by a shared awareness of the fragility of marine environments and the need to protect them. Through the “Save the Ocean” initiative, together with PADI and the PADI AWARE Foundation, Seiko supports marine conservation programs such as the Marine Debris Program and Dive Against Debris — the world’s largest citizen science initiative dedicated to ocean cleanup. Thanks to contributions from more than 70,000 divers, the largest global database of marine debris has been created and shared with NGOs, governments, and local communities to develop sustainable long-term solutions. The watches therefore represent only the visible tip of a much broader commitment to ocean preservation — a source of pride for Seiko.

In Italy, this synergy also took shape through the “Seiko Summer Class” project held in Ustica in 2021, in collaboration with PADI and DAN, an international organization dedicated to diver safety and underwater medical research. This educational initiative targeted younger generations, combining diving training, citizen science, and marine ecosystem education to promote a conscious and responsible sea culture.

Fabio Figurella, PADI Regional Manager Italy, concludes: “We are particularly proud of our collaboration with Seiko, a brand that has transformed its historic connection with the sea into concrete action for its protection. The partnership with PADI goes beyond the product and translates into tangible actions supporting marine ecosystem conservation and the diving community. Through education programs and Ocean Literacy initiatives, we work together to promote a more aware and responsible sea culture.”

By Davide Passoni