Non Rolex (Blasphemy??) Vintage Dive Watches - Your Thoughts

Gents:

Hope you are all having a great weekend.

Just wondering about people's thoughts on non-Rolex vintage dive watches, and I thought VRF would be an interesting place to hear some thoughts, given the extensive knowledge of watch history and respect for dive watches that is here on this great and discerning forum.

I'm a HUGE vintage Rolex dive watch fan. My only two watches - a 1665 Great White and 16600 SD - are the absolute best in my eyes. I was just telling AG that I stare at them so much all the time that I am afraid one day I will have a car accident! HA! But, I know there are other great and legendary pieces out there. I see the Omega PloProf 600m pop its head up here occasionally. Same with the BP 50 fathoms.

I guess I'm just curious to hear people's thoughts on a few things. First, which other vintage dive watches do people here like and respect (or even own?) Secondly, for those established collectors, has anyone ever gone down the non-Rolex collecting road? How was it - did you turn back and return to Rolex?

And lastly, do other brands offer the seemingly endless variety of Rolex divers? What I mean is, Rolex just seem to have so much variation (red writing, bezel changes, case shapes, dial aging differences) and so much history and class that it just seems unavoidable. Does this exist elsewhere in the vintage diver world?

Anyway, as someone who was THIS close to getting a PloProf 600m over my 1665 (man, a 600m would still be nice one day!), I would love to hear others' experiences. Hope all is well gents!

V/R

Mike