Kurt Kucera

Scuba Diver, Car Enthusiast, Outdoorsman

The Best Holiday Gifts for Scuba Divers

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The holidays are around the corner. Therefore, people need to start preparing gifts for scuba diving enthusiasts on their gift list. The gift a person will give to a scuba diver friend will depend on their budget.

Choosing the best holiday gift for scuba divers can be challenging, especially for people who aren’t enthusiastic about scuba diving. Moreover, they are many gifts for scuba divers. Therefore choosing the best one can be confusing. People can find these gifts at local dive shops or online. Here are the best holiday gifts for scuba divers.

Ocean-Themed Jewelry

Scuba divers love the ocean. They enjoy scuba diving and taking photos or videos of marine life. Ocean-themed jewelry such as earrings, bracelets, and necklaces reminds them of ocean life.

If a scuba diver prefers to wear a wet suit instead of a suit, handmade bracelet cuffs with marine life designs can be a good holiday gift for them. Masks, diving helmet cufflinks, and snorkels are also great holiday gifts for a scuba diver.

T-Shirts or Hats

Scuba divers don’t always spend all their time underwater. When they are not Scuba diving, they are probably basking on the beach. Hats help protect their head from sunlight rays, which can be harmful. When people buy PADI gear hats, they somehow help keep plastic out of the ocean. It is because they use recycled plastic to make hats.

A t-shirt is yet another gift a scuba diver would love to receive. Before buying a t-shirt, it is advisable to ask the scuba diver which dive shop they prefer. The t-shirt can have phrases such as “I work well under pressure.”

Books about Sea Creatures and Scuba Diving

Before sending a holiday gift to a scuba diving enthusiast, the sender should consider the diver’s interests. If they enjoy reading books about sea creatures and scuba diving, then such books are the best holiday gifts.

For instance, National Geographic books inspire individuals to love and protect the underwater world. Books about scuba diving can also help them become better scuba divers and safe places to do it.

Scuba Diving Gadgets and Accessories

Thanks to technology, there are several gadgets that individuals can give to scuba divers. It includes a dive torch, GPS devices, underwater cameras, etc.

The above are some holiday gifts for scuba divers. The gifts should be unique and fit their budget range.

Best Diving Spots for Beginners

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Scuba diving is a fun hobby or vacation activity everyone will enjoy. It’s a great way to explore the ocean and get a whole new view of life under the sea. If you have never gone scuba diving before, here are the best diving spots for beginners:

 

The British Virgin Islands

Not only are the British Virgin Islands a beautiful and relaxing vacation spot, but it is also an incredible place to go scuba diving. This is great for beginners because it has a huge span of protected coastlines and reefs. It also offers a lot of wreckage to explore to find souvenirs to take home.

 

Bonaire, Caribbean

The diving at Bonaire, Caribbean is a beautiful experience and very easy for beginners to handle. They’re also very affordable and known as one of the best places to dive in the world. This is a great area to explore either on your own or with a dive guide if you do not have enough experience to dive on your own yet.

 

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef, Australia is an amazing location of breathtaking views and an abundance of sea life. While it isn’t as full of life as it once was due to global warming, it is still a great place to dive and explore the sea. Beginners will find shallows reefs that are perfect for inexperienced divers. 

 

Best Winter Diving Tips

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Most of the time, when people think about scuba diving, they think of something tropical. They also think about it being primarily a summertime activity which isn’t true. In fact, if you live in British Columbia, Canada, some of the best diving comes during the late fall into the early spring. Now, when it comes to the winter months, it is obvious that no one enjoys being cold. So, the idea of being cold in water can put off many people considering diving in the winter. However, you could be missing out on some of the best diving conditions many places have to offer. The colder periods produce water that transforms into a beautiful shade of blue along with days where visibility can reach up to 20m. So, here some tips for scuba diving in the winter.

 

Layers

Layering up is going to be a sure fire way for you to stay warm in the water. You can typically lose between 30-40% of your body heat through your heat, hands, and feet. So, by adding a hood or a hooded vest along with gloves and socks, you will significantly reduce the amount of body heat that you lose in the water making the experience much more enjoyable. Another option you have is to use a Dry Suit. These are great pieces of technology, but they also require the correct layering to remain warm in the water.

 

Start The Dive Warm

You will want to arrive at the boat with plenty of warm clothing along with a dry bag to store it all in. Keep in mind that when you finish your dive, you should have a change of clothes that are easy to put on. Some examples would include track pants or something of the sort, and bring extra just in case. If you plan on diving from the boat, the wind-chill might be a major factor to consider. So, try wearing a Sharkskin Chillproof vest as they are windproof and fleece lined. They also have rapid drying which makes them the perfect layer to beat any chills on the boat.

 

Bring A Thermos

One of the holy grails when it comes to winter diving is a thermos filled with warm soup. You will want to use this to refuel and reheat from the inside out. It adds both a physiological and psychological benefit when you eat/drink something warm in between dives and you will enjoy the second dive much more. Although, you will want to avoid eating anything too heavy between dives because it could cause stomach discomfort which is why soup is the ideal winter diving companion.

Diving Spotlight: Florida

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If you’re taking a vacation to Florida, or already live in the Sunshine State, activities like scuba diving and snorkeling might be on your agenda.  Don’t be too concerned about which coasts are nearest to you, fortunately for visitors and residents alike, Florida’s diving sites are located on multiple coasts throughout the peninsula.

 

Here are some of the best sites for scuba diving throughout Florida!

 

Biscayne Maritime Heritage Trail  

Biscayne National Park

Dive into some maritime history on the heritage trail at Biscayne National Park.  Groups of divers and snorkelers can take a visit here to experience an underwater history lesson spanned with shipwrecks dating back to the late 1800’s.  Provided with waterproof maps, divers can make their way to each separate wreck to explore the sites below.

 

Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary

Big Pine Key

If you’re looking to experience one of the states beautiful living reefs, Looe Key is a great place to start.  A protected underwater ecosystem, this site is full of high rock ledges, colorful exotic marine life, and of course, miles worth of living coral reef structures that are more than just a site to see.  In fact, the reef was previously home to the HMS Looe shipwreck dating back to 1744. Though the wreck is no longer present in the reef, but it’s a great back story to how the site obtained its name!

 

Devil’s Den

Williston

A name with an interesting history, the Devils Den is a warm spring set in an underground cave with a ton of ancient history behind it.  It’s name was given by early settlers who, due to the warm steam coming up from the above ground at the caves location, thought that the site may be the pathway to hell.  While in the following years that theory was debunked, visitors can experience this underground wonderland while enjoying the warmth and scenery of this 2 million year old cavern.

 

Half Moon Preserve

Biscayne National Park

An early 1900’s racing yacht originally named the Germania, is the setting to this underwater diving site.  From it’s build date in 1908, the Germania had a number of different captains, homes, and two name changes, officially taking its final name “Half Moon” around 1920.  By 1930, the Half Moon was being used as a fishing vessel, until its ultimate demise during a storm.  Today, the wreck sits about 10 feet underwater, is a home for marine life, and a great attraction for divers looking to experience a little piece of history.  

 

Blue Grotto

Williston

Quite close to our previously mentioned diving site, the Devil’s Den, Blue Grotto is a stunning clear water cavern, that is open to divers and snorkelers of all experience levels.  With a maximum diving depth of 100 feet, divers can experience what is said to be one of the clearest waters in Florida.  An additional perk for divers is the diving bell at the 30 foot mark, where divers can take an opportunity to take a quick break and converse with their diving partner.

Oceanic Wonders Only Scuba Divers Can See

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When you become a fully certified Open Water Diver, it does not simply mark the end of your scuba diving course; it marks the beginning of the endless underwater adventures that are now available to you. Those who are now certified do not just go out and practice their skills in a swimming pool. This is your opportunity to break out the map and start creating your scuba diving bucket list to find the top spots where you will make your memories. You can explore historic shipwrecks, go up close and personal some of the world’s most feared underwater apex predators, and even venture into caverns and peruse underwater museums. Becoming a certified diver ensures that there will be something out there for you to explore. Let’s take a look at some of the oceanic wonders out there for scuba divers to explore.

 

Great Barrier Reef – Australia

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is the world’s largest coral reef system and has over 2,900 individual reefs along with 900 islands that stretch for over 2,300 kilometers and over an area of about 344,400 square kilometers. It’s not just the immense size of the area that makes for the unforgettable experience; it is also the diversity of the encounters you can have. From the scores of great humphead parrotfish swimming past to the spying giant clams, the Great Barrier Reef has so much at its disposal. Some of the best times come in June and July when there is the migration of the curious minke whales.

 

Underwater Museum – Cancun, Mexico

The Underwater Museum in Cancun was installed as the first underwater sculpture park in 2009 by sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. It includes life-size figures that act as a foundation. Each work in the underwater museum has become a habitat for many of the creatures in the surrounding area such as the budding coral, sponges, and shrimp and other crustaceans. Jason deCaires Taylor himself has recommended viewing his works at night as your view will be limited to what the light can illuminate which adds to the overall experience.

 

Ocean Cave – Palau

One of the most famous sites in Palau is Chandelier Cave which as mandarin fish who flit about near the entrance. Diving in this marine cave, you will find yourself along with stalactites and even find some reef fish as well. One of the things that make this place so spectacular is the four chambers that also have air pockets so that divers can travel through the dark tunnels and then pop their heads out to see a ceiling supported with formations that are as big as columns.