The Other Seiko 6105 “Willard” Story
This article explores the lesser-known story of Hawaiian lifeguard and big-wave surfer Eddie Aikau, who was frequently photographed wearing a Seiko 6105 "Willard" dive watch. While the "Captain Willard" moniker is famously tied to Martin Sheen's character in Apocalypse Now, Aikau's connection highlights the watch's durability and reliability for watermen in challenging conditions.
Several surviving photographs appear to show Eddie Aikau wearing a Seiko dive watch consistent with the 6105-8110, though official brand records do not definitively confirm the reference.
Aikau, Hawaii's Lifeguard of the Year in 1971 and winner of the 1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship, was known for his deep respect for the ocean's power.
Archival photos from the 1970s show Aikau wearing a robust Seiko cushion-case dive watch, similar to the 6105 family, in the period leading up to his final voyage in 1978.
Other Hawaiian surfers and lifeguards of the era also favored Seiko divers for their affordable reliability in heavy ocean conditions.
Archival photos from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography showcase one of the all-female team of Aquanauts in the Tektite II program, Ann Hartline, wearing a Seiko 6105-8000 dive watch.