Christmas Gift Guide
Shop diving gear can be confusing and for that reason we created this Diving Gift Guide. Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift for a diver or something to show your love of the ocean, our gift ideas have something for everyone.
We have compiled a list with the best gear that any diver, beginner or experienced, would love to receive!
Gift Ideas for the New & Beginners Scuba Divers
A diver's kit starts on the essentials: mask, snorkel, boots & fins.
- A good diving mask allows for a good fit on the diver's face, keeping the water out, and the snorkel protects the diver's air ways when at surface.
- The fins allow the diver to move in the water with less drag, caused by the scuba kit. Fins with a more worked-on design provide a better performance with reduced effort, making the dive more enjoyable.
- Diving boots are neoprene shoes with a protective sole. It keeps the diver's feet warm during the dive and protected when walking to and from the water with scuba gear on.
The next thing a diver will need is Thermal Protection. Good thermal protection is the difference between enjoying the whole dive and not just the first 20 min of it.
- Base layers (Enth Degree base layers) are just like a jacket that you can use underwater, and it works! A thermal layer used under a wetsuit adds an equivalent of 3mm warmth, it also provides extra comfort with a soft fleece in contact to the skin.
- Wetsuit: thermal comfort is a must when diving. A wetsuit can be a big investment, but it pays off from the first dive when the cold doesn't get the best of the diver. Wetsuits can be found in many thicknesses, depending on the diver' needs. Sydney divers are usually comfortable in a 5mm wetsuit during summer months and can add thermal layers underneath the suit as needed on colder months.
- Female and slim divers tend to feel the cold a bit more, a must have is: diving hood, gloves and socks.
Don't forget the accessories: every diver needs a dive torch, compass, dive slate, gear bag, etc.
Gift Ideas for the Advanced Divers
After the gear essentials are ticked, there are a few pathways a diver can go to keep on building their dive kit.
- Dive computer: dive computers have a range of functions, and which one to choose depends on how far (or deep!) a diver wants to go. For the recreational and seasonal divers, usually an easy to use computer suffices (e.g: Suunto Zoop, Oceanic VEO 4.0 or Oceanic Geo 2.0 and AIR). For the divers who want to go that step further, a more capable computer is better, with some even offering wireless air transmitter functionality (e.g Garmin computers, Shearwater Perdix or Shearwater Teric).
- Regulator: a lot can come into regulators, but to simplify: the more features the regulator, the better performance of the gear.
- Scuba Tank: can be steel or aluminium. Steel is the most popular, as it reduces the amount of weight carried by the diver. Aluminium tanks are still an excellent choice, as the maintenance is overall easier as aluminium does not rust.
- Accessories: Complete the kit with a dive site guide, SMB and reel for safety, dive knife, gear bag, etc.
Gift Ideas for Freediver & Spearfishing
The freediving/spearfishing diver will need:
- Mask: a good mask allows for a good fit on the diver's face and has a low profile, as to avoid mask squeeze when diving.
- Snorkel: protects the diver's air ways when at surface, usually are simple without bulky pieces to avoid drag.
- Fins: freediving fins have "slip-on" foot pockets and are long, allowing the diver to move in the water with less effort.
- Neoprene socks: are a must when using long fins to avoid discomfort and blisters, plus keep the diver's foot warm and protected.
- Wetsuit: when freediving, wetsuits are usually 3mm thick and must be tight on the body, keeping the diver warm but without excess buoyancy.
- Hood and gloves: keep the diver warm and protected.
- Weight belt: helps to keep the diver underwater without struggle.
- Speargun: a lot goes into the choice of a speargun, to make it simple: when spearfishing near the shore and rock bottoms, a smaller gun (600, 800 and 1000 cm) is better. Beginner spearos also benefit with smaller guns, as it is easier to load. Longer guns (1100 and 1200 cm) are usually better for deeper water and bigger fish.
- Accessories: it's about safety. A freediver should always have a float with a dive flag, knife and small torch. Complete the kit with a gear bag, speargun accessories, etc.
Diving is a rewarding experience, and by giving diving gear you are giving experiences, adventure, lifestyle and the best memories. We love diving and we are so happy to share this passion with you. If you have any questions or need extra help to choose the next course or gear, you can contact us on the form below: we are happy to help!