Do you need a perfect gift for a scuba diver but are not sure what type of gift to choose from? Are they technical divers? Perhaps they are a PADI Master Scuba Diver looking for new gear?
Before you rush off to the sports store to answer these questions, there are some things you need to know about gift ideas for scuba divers.
Favorite Underwater Activities
Before considering gift ideas for scuba divers, it’s essential to understand how often they dive and their favorite underwater activities. If your scuba diver friend spends most of their time doing deep technical dives, but you buy them a new snorkel or mask, you’re going to be in trouble.
The same applies if they spend most of their time spearfishing and you buy them an adorable plush seahorse toy. A basic understanding of what your scuba diver friend does under the surface is the key to selecting the perfect gift.
Suggested Read: 20 Underwater Photos That Will Blow Your Mind
Types of Scuba Diving
There are different types of scuba diving. Knowing what your friend does will help you select the perfect gift. Are they a new diver, learning in shallow warm waters? Perhaps your friend is an experienced technical or cave diving expert with their equipment. Maybe they occasionally go for dives, but most of their time is spent on land.
Buddy or Solo
The next question you should ask your scuba diver friend is if they like to dive with buddies, as a pair (buddy diving), as a solo diver, or whether they are comfortable both ways. If your friend prefers to buddy up for dives, but you buy them a personal submarine, you’ll end up with an awkward gift.
Spending Habits
Many scuba divers love to spend their money on new equipment and dive accessories. If this is the case, you can bet they’ll be excited to receive a new GoPro camera or underwater fishing lens. Other divers may prefer something not related to diving at all. Perhaps they would appreciate a massage voucher or tickets to see their favorite band.
There are also scuba divers who don’t spend money on gear; these divers usually prefer experiences over physical gifts. If your friend falls into this category, you should focus more on adding memories rather than adding equipment to their collection.
Gift Ideas for Buddying Divers
For those who like to buddy up and spend most of their time diving as a pair, many gift options are available. Duo tanks or tanks designed for two divers are one option.
These tanks make it easier to buddy up and share a tank and have an air-sharing system. Perfect for those who want to buddy up but don’t have twins or triplets available to use as one-person air tanks!
Another excellent dive gift is a sports watch. These watches are perfect for ensuring both divers know where they are underwater and help track dive times. They are also helpful in determining depth if the scuba diver is using nitrox, which can be dangerous if not properly tracked.
A photo book is a great gift for your diver buddy. Imagine the best photo book out there full of high-quality colorful diving images. You can pick the best pictures from your favorite dives and integrate them into a photo book that they’ll keep forever. Having a real photo book is so much better than keeping the photos on social media or on your phone. Being able to pick it make and flick through it makes for a great gift. You can gift your greatest dive pictures over time or instead go for pictures of a specific trip you’ve taken.
Gift Options for Solo Divers
If your friend likes to go on dives alone from time to time, consider a gift that will provide entertainment underwater and help increase safety, such as a scuba diving flag. These flags are an easy way for boats and other divers to see your solo-diver friend underwater and ensure they don’t get accidentally left behind.
For solo divers, a dive light and/or waterproof flashlight is an excellent gift idea. These lights provide increased visibility in murky or dark waters, perfect for novice or experienced scuba divers.
Wrapping Up
For scuba divers who spend their time on land, consider something that will enhance their diving memories or help them create new ones.