10 Gifts for Scuba Divers
Scuba divers are a passionate bunch. They love their sport and they love their gear – you only have to listen to the conversations on dive boats! So, I’ve put together our top 10 gifts for scuba divers which you might not have thought about. I’ve deliberately avoided any actual gear (masks, fins etc) as these really need to fit well and it’s a bit like try to buy a pair of shoes for someone else.
Reef Friendly Sun Cream
Many people don’t realise that most sunscreens contain chemical which can contribute to coral bleaching. There are a lot of products out there claiming to be reef-friendly but beware. Active ingredients to avoid are Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3), Butylparaben, Octinoxate (Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. Organic Badger Balm doesn’t contain any of these nasties and get’s our vote for the best coral reef friendly sunscreen.
Floating Cellphone Dry Bag
Phones and water don’t mix (and I speak from personal experience on this one!) After my last sorry experience, I invested in a dry bag, just for my phone. I’ll be honest, I’ve not found one yet which I’m totally happy with. The first one broke fairly quickly and the second one doesn’t seal very easily so I’ve been on the hunt for something new. This one from Dry Case doesn’t come cheap but looks the business. After all, they do say “buy cheap, buy twice”. In this instance, I think that’s true. It’s worth investing a bit more to get something which really works.
Bheestie Bag
This was in my Christmas stocking this year. I’ve never had to use it, I hope I never will but I’m really glad I’ve got it. It gets packed in my hand luggage. The Bheestie Bag is a bit like an Emergency Room for my phone. (And you can use it for small cameras, and iPods as well
Scuba Diving Whistle
Safety equipment is often the last thing that the divers think about. We had a near ‘Open Water’ experience while diving in Fujairah. We were lucky on this occasion but the first thing I bought when I got home was a whistle. You can easily buy on Amazon or Ebay but I’d suggest getting one which is (a) sturdy and (b) loud. I’ve not tried this one myself, but it looks interesting and the makers claim that it works underwater. If anyone’s tried the Storm Whistle, let me know what you think about it. Is it as good as the manufacturers claim? (You can leave a comment below)
Microfiber Ultra Fast-Dry Towel
Day boat diving means 2 or even 3 dives in one day. This Microfibre Quick Dry Drying Sports Towel is light super absorbent, and dries in minutes. It folds down nicely so doesn’t take up loads of space when you’re packing. I’ve had mine for years and wouldn’t be without it.
Water Bottle
Our oceans are full of litter. Plastic pollution is getting worse. The North Atlantic garbage patch is testament to this. Refillable water bottles are one step towards reducing the rubbish that can end up in our seas. This lightweight bottle from Mountain Warehouse is a favourite.
Swimease Eardrops
This is a gift which probably won’t get used but when you need them, you really need them! Swimeze Eardrops effectively remove and dries trapped water in your ears so no more ear infections to spoil your holiday. And not just for scuba divers
Shaker
Another useful piece of safety kit to attract attention underwater. A shaker alarm with magnetic holder that can be clipped to a hose. The shaker is also fitted with a wrist lanyard from Simply Scuba
Diving the World
Shaun and Beth Tierney, authors of Diving the World know their stuff. They haven’t exactly dived the whole world but they’ve certainly sought out some gems in this book. Not just about life underwater, they include travel tips, hotel suggestions and general no-nonsense advice. We consider it our diving bible.
Road ID Bracelet
In the words of the makers…. “In the event of an accident, if you can’t speak for yourself, your RoadID bracelet will.
So, that’s it. These are just my own personal favourites. If you have a good gift idea, just add it in the comments box below. Thanks and happy shopping!