A visit to Cairns armed with the new Seiko PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition Diver
David BogiStepping off the plane on a chilly Melbourne morning, the warm, humid embrace of Cairns’ subtropical climate was a welcome shock to the system. I had just touched down in Far North Queensland alongside members of the watch press for an exclusive trip hosted by Seiko Australia. This was not just a standard product showcase; it was an immersive journey into the heart of the Great Barrier Reef to witness the real impact of Seiko’s global Save the Ocean initiative.
Our itinerary kicked off at the Cairns Aquarium with a private tour of the facilities operated by the Cairns Turtle Rehabilitation Centre (CTRC). We had the privilege of listening to a lecture by CTRC co-founder Jennie Gilbert on the state of the local sea turtle population. Seiko Australia is a proud, ongoing partner of the CTRC, an organisation dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing injured sea turtles back into the wild.
This partnership is far more than a corporate logo on a banner. In 2025, the brand celebrated this alliance by releasing the Limited Edition ‘Kame’, a stunning Prospex diver restricted to just 1,000 pieces exclusively for Australasia. Crucially, a portion of every ‘Kame’ sale was donated directly to the CTRC to further support their vital work in protecting Australia’s marine ecosystems. During our aquarium tour, we actually met the real-life ‘Kame’ (Japanese for turtle), a rescued sea turtle officially adopted by Seiko Australia.
The following day, we boarded a ferry to Fitzroy Island to tour the main CTRC facility and meet more of the resilient rescued turtles in their care. The significance of the CTRC’s work truly hit home later that afternoon when we went snorkelling in the Coral Sea. Swimming alongside wild sea turtles in their pristine natural habitat is a surreal experience, one that hammered home exactly what Seiko and the CTRC are fighting to protect.
Of course, a Seiko trip wouldn’t be complete without some spectacular horology. That evening, against a tropical island backdrop, the Seiko team displayed a robust lineup of their iconic dive watches. The showstopper of the night was our exclusive first look, in the metal, at the newly announced Seiko Prospex Diver’s Watch PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition: HBB002. Celebrating six decades of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
The watch, in its aptly chosen “turtle” case, featured a bright blue sunburst dial sporting the PADI logo, surrounded by a ceramic dive bezel insert, and topped with a sapphire crystal. Under the hood, it runs the ubiquitous workhorse 4R36 movement. While the case diameter of 45mm might seem intimidating on paper, the compact 47.5mm lug-to-lug measurement makes it comfortably accessible to a range of wrist sizes. It comes as a full kit with an additional high-strength silicone strap; it’s limited to 8,000 pieces worldwide, and hits shelves this July for A$1,200.
The watch wasn’t the only major reveal of the evening. Proving that their commitment goes far beyond a beautiful dial, Seiko Australia capped off the night by presenting the CTRC team with a cheque for A$25,000. This substantial financial injection is set to immediately kick-start the conservation group’s next chapter in expanding its critical rehabilitation infrastructure and accelerating important marine education programmes across the Great Barrier Reef.
Heading back home, I reflected on the experience; it left a lasting impression. The trip was certainly a fantastic opportunity to preview the striking new PADI Limited Edition, but more importantly, it served as a powerful reminder of the necessity of corporate and conservation partnerships. By spreading awareness, funding critical wildlife rehabilitation work, and building incredible purpose-driven timepieces, Seiko Australia is helping ensure that the vibrant marine ecosystems their watches were built to explore will continue to thrive for generations to come.
Seiko Prospex Diver’s Watch PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition “King Turtle” pricing and availability
The Seiko Prospex Diver’s Watch PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition “King Turtle” is limited to 8,000 pieces worldwide and will be available from Seiko boutiques starting July 1st. Price: £650/A$1,200/US$750
| Brand | Seiko |
| Model | Prospex Diver’s Watch PADI 60th Anniversary Limited Edition “King Turtle” |
| Reference | HBB002K1 |
| Case Dimensions | 45mm (D) x 13.2mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 200 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Electric sunburst blue with embossed globe motif, PADI signed |
| Bracelet | Stainless steel 3-link bracelet, black accordion silicone strap |
| Movement | Calibre 4R36, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 41 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, day, date |
| Availability | Limited to 8,000 pieces |
| Price | £650/A$1,200/US$750 |