The watch has a plastic shell with a stainless back plate. It is a little bulky but what you can you expect from a "dive computer"? That being said, I don't see why it couldn't be used as a regular sports watch. One observation based on the comparison with previous dive watches I've owned, the strap is longer thus allowing the user to wear the watch over a rash guard or dive skin.
The functions are easy to modify and the indiglo backlight is just right for those swim throughs during your wreck dives or for night diving. So, yes!! I would recommend to a friend as a cheap backup computer.