Swatch has never been shy about leaning into theme-driven drops, and the latest Scubaqua release keeps that pattern going. The brand has introduced four new versions of its entry-level dive watch, each tied visually to a different species of jellyfish. Pricing stays at $155 across the board, which is notable given that two of the four include Swatch Pay at no additional cost.
The four references are the navy Sea Wasp, teal Medusae, orange Pacific Sea Nettle, and purple Flower Hat. Each pairs a colored case with a silicone strap that has a white stripe running along it. It’s a summer-leaning design choice, and whether it reads as playful or gimmicky is going to come down to taste. Swatch is clearly positioning these as seasonal pieces rather than year-round staples.
Construction is where things get a little more interesting. The opaque portions of the case use bioceramic, the same material Swatch rolled out on the MoonSwatch a few years back. The translucent sections are made from a castor-oil-based bioresin, and the crystal is biosourced as well. It’s a continuation of the material experimentation Swatch has been doing for a while now, and at this price, it’s one of the more accessible ways to get hands-on with the bioceramic format.
Spec-wise, the Scubaqua lineup sticks with what the collection has offered previously. You get a rotating dive timer bezel, minimalist dial markings with lume, and a Swiss quartz movement. Water resistance is rated to 100 meters, which is worth flagging for anyone reading the word “dive” and expecting ISO 6425 territory. These aren’t meant to sit next to a Seiko Prospex or a proper tool diver. They’re summer watches with dive styling, and Swatch isn’t really pretending otherwise.
The more meaningful update is tucked into two of the four references. The Medusae and Sea Wasp versions ship with Swatch Pay built in, enabling contactless payments straight from the wrist. It’s the kind of feature that tends to get buried in press materials because it doesn’t photograph well, but in practice it’s genuinely useful, particularly for a watch aimed at beach, pool, and travel scenarios where pulling out a phone or wallet is inconvenient. The fact that the two Swatch Pay references carry the same $155 MSRP as the non-equipped versions is the real story here.
That does raise an obvious question about the other two. If the payment tech adds no cost on the Medusae and Sea Wasp, it’s unclear why the Pacific Sea Nettle and Flower Hat weren’t included in the feature rollout. Regional rollout, chip sourcing, or some other logistical factor could be at play, but Swatch hasn’t offered much context in the materials released so far. Buyers drawn to the orange or purple colorways specifically will need to decide whether the color matters more than the utility.
At $155, the buy-in is low enough that most of this is academic. The Scubaqua has never been about chasing serious dive watch credentials, and these four don’t change that positioning. Whether the Swatch Pay split across the lineup is a signal of where the collection is heading or just a one-time quirk remains to be seen.
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Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.