Introducing Squale: A Dive Watch Icon Teams Up With Sea Shepherd for Ocean Protection

Balance & Bridge
Jul 17
2 min read

Squale Sea Shepherd — Image Courtesy of Squale

This is the first time we’re singularly covering Squale on Balance & Bridge, and the timing couldn’t be better. The brand has partnered with Sea Shepherd, the international marine conservation group, to launch a limited-edition dive watch, with 100% of Squale’s profits funding Sea Shepherd’s ongoing campaign against illegal fishing in the Mediterranean.

The release is called the Squale 1521 Sea Shepherd Limited Edition, and it’s limited to just 100 pieces.

Squale: A Brand with Dive Credentials

Founded in 1959 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Squale earned its reputation building purpose-driven dive watches and supplying cases for dozens of other watch brands. Throughout the ‘60s to the ‘80s, Squale cases were used by high-end manufacturers and worn by professional divers including Jacques Mayol, Jean Tapu, and Enzo Maiorca.

Since the 1980s, Squale has been owned by the Maggi family, and continues to operate independently out of Chiasso. Its watches are still used by specialized branches of the Italian Armed Forces, including the Comsubin Frogmen, Carabinieri, and State Police. Squale has stayed consistent: mechanical dive watches with real-world capabilities and a straightforward design philosophy.

The Watch: 1521 Squale Sea Shepherd Limited Edition

This model is built around Squale’s 1521 platform, featuring a 42mm polished stainless steel case, a Sellita SW200-1 Elaboré automatic movement, and 500 meters of water resistance. The dial is matte black with the Sea Shepherd insignia at 6 o’clock. The orange aluminum bezel is a first for Squale and matches the included black-and-orange NATO strap.

Key specs:

42mm case diameter
44mm lug-to-lug
12mm thick
Flat sapphire crystal with A/R coating
Screw-down crown and caseback
SuperLuminova C3 on printed markers
20mm lug width
Individually numbered engraved caseback

This isn’t a tribute or a concept. It’s a watch produced in limited numbers, sold to fund a specific mission. Every piece sold helps finance real fieldwork.

Operation SISO: The Reason Behind the Watch

Operation SISO is Sea Shepherd Italy’s campaign to stop illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing off the southern Italian coast. In its eighth year, and working alongside the Italian Coast Guard, the group has removed more than 10 kilometers of illegal fishing gear in 2025 alone, helping protect species like loggerhead turtles and tuna in one of Europe’s most fragile marine environments.

All profits from the sale of this watch go toward supporting these efforts — covering patrols, gear removal, volunteer hours, and legal enforcement.

“It’s a partnership that strengthens our presence in the Mediterranean,” said Andrea Morello, President of Sea Shepherd Italy. “Thanks to the profit it generates, we are able to be here.”