NFW Shumate Dive Watch

In Memory of SGM Walt Shumate

The Shumate dive watch was requested by, and designed for, the U.S. Special Forces Green Berets and one model for the Navy SEALs. The watch is named after Sergeant Major Walter L. Shumate, a legend in the Special Forces community and the man who was instrumental in the creation of the Special Forces Underwater Operations School.

This customized Shumate, in collaboration with NFW, is a top-shelf, extremely refined yet rugged dive watch that looks & feels fantastic in any setting and no matter what you’re wearing – a business suit or a wetsuit. 

Proceeds from the GBF Edition featuring the Special Forces Crest will be donated to the Green Beret Foundation.

SGM Walt Shumate

Our new watch is a dive watch that was built in memory of SGM Walt Shumate, who I knew personally back in the day. Walt was, in his own words, a divemaster extraordinaire. And he was.

He helped generate the start of the Special Warfare School at Key West on diving. And he really helped promote diving within the Special Operations community of the US army. Walt and I served together in the 5th Special Forces group. Then, later on we served together at the unit where Walt was one of the original plankowners of the training division of the unit. He did a superb job there and spent much of his life, even after he retired he stayed on and remained at the unit as a firearms instructor and training instructor. He even went so far as to ensure that his mustache - he had a hell of a handlebar mustache - is mounted on a plaque in the unit dining facility. And his ashes when he passed away were scattered over Range 19.

Walt was a hell of a guy and it’s great to be associated with and have the ability to generate funds to help Special Operations Soldiers and their families. And that’s exactly what this watch will do.

— Richard Rice
5th Special Forces Group
US Army 1966-94

Features

• Includes two (2) straps: black ballistic nylon NATO strap + black Italian leather strap
• 300 meters / 1000 feet water resistance
• Custom dive watch case, 44mm diameter, impact forged from surgical-grade 316L stainless steel, coated in black DLC finish. Screw-down crown and caseback.
• 120-click, unidirectional stainless steel dive bezel, with full markings and lumed at the 12 o'clock marker for dive timing in low-light
• Citizen precision quartz, with 10-year battery life
• Domed sapphire crystal (2nd hardest material other than diamond), for extreme scratch-resistance, with anti-reflective coating on underside
• Multiple layers of Swiss C3 SuperLuminova on hands & hour markers for enhanced visibility in all low-light conditions

Specs + Materials

• STRAP 1: Black Ballistic Nylon Nato Strap, 24mm width
  
• STRAP 2: Black Italian Leather Strap, with reinforcement rivets at stress point and custom-machined heavy-duty buckle, 24mm width
• STRAP RETENTION: Hex-head Screw bars for an extremely strong connection, eliminating the "weak-link" of traditional watch spring bars
• TOOLS: 1 Pair of Hex Driver tools included (for case lug screw bars, needed for strap changes)
• BOX: Latching metal box, with either GORUCK or Special Forces Crest, printed on the lid
• CASEBACK: Polished stainless-steel with special GORUCK etching

Wearing the NATO Strap

At first glance, the NATO strap can be a bit confusing and there are many ways to wear and configure NATO straps. Rich's preferred method will keep your watch secure in a "nice, neat package."