I am also an amatuer diver. I have taken my SMP on several 100 ft+ dives and never experienced any performance problems. A couple of notes though...saltwater clouds the finish, always make sure you rinse your watch thoroughly with fresh water after a dive.
Second, be careful of turning the bezel while in saltwater. I have gotten sand jammed up under the bezel several times and (ouch) had to use a pair of Robogrip pliers to free it. Of course, at the time I was churning up a lot of sand searching for coins around an old wreck off the NC coast. I changed the bezel to extend my dive another 5 minutes (I was pushing it). I consider this a fatal flaw in the watch's design, espescially since it is designed for diving! The helium valve is for DRY DIVING! Don't open it under water! Unless you are going (Derek?) over 600 ft in a submersible with an oxygen system that contains the helium do you use the valve. I'd say for 99.999% of owners, that is never. Mostly it's just an ornamental differentiator from the Submariner.
I've also gotten quite a few minor scratches on my SMP from diving. It has almost become a true sports watch now that I'm not afraid to get nicked up, but it still looks great. I'f you're not willing to sacrifice your Omega to sporting activities, you might want to buy a cheaper dive watch and save you Omega for cocktails on the beach!
: My black pro has been on night and day since it
: arrived last week except for showers (soap).
: It was originally purchased last summer in
: Aruba in the Dutch Antilles (Caribbean) by a
: diver so it has seen action. Rubber strap
: and all. I will swim with it without
: hesitation but I have only gone diving
: twice......and only to about 40 feet! No
: helium problems for me.
