Whether you’re a diver yourself or if you’re looking for a special gift for a diver, you might find yourself feeling a little light-headed at all the options that are available, particularly if the recipient is one of those people who already seems to have “everything.” Here, we’ll share some fun tips for all-occasion gifts for divers – pick one of these, and you can rest assured the gift you give will be well received.
Art
No one can resist a fine piece of art, and luckily, art divers will appreciate what comes in an amazing array of forms.
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Prints and Paintings – Granted, you’ve got to know a person pretty well to determine whether he or she will appreciate and/or have room for a print or a painting. Pick one that depicts a scene you think will appeal to the recipient’s sense of taste, and consider looking for one that portrays a place they love to dive. If you’re not sure where they took their last dive vacation, just ask in casual conversation. They’re likely to tell you about an animal that caught their attention or maybe they’ll just mention how mesmerizing the quality of light was at a particular dive site. It’s normally not at all difficult to get divers to talk about the things they love most about being underwater!
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Sculptures – Ranging from small to large, sculptures can either be used as a fun paperweight on a desk top, or can take pride of place on a mantelpiece or coffee table.
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Books – Coffee table books depicting marine life and underwater scenes make excellent art-type gifts for divers.
Jewelry
Whether it’s a necklace made with an actual or replica coin taken from a shipwreck, or a simple piece of jewelry depicting your friend’s favorite marine species, jewelry is a great gift most people will appreciate. Take the recipient’s sense of style into consideration as you shop!
Collectables and Commemorative Items
You’ll find all kinds of commemorative and collectable items available that will appeal to divers. If your friend loves wreck diving and mentioned diving a specific wreck – let’s say an old Navy ship that’s been sunk for use as an artificial reef – look for some kind of memorabilia having to do with that ship. Even if all you can find is a book about the ship’s glory days, it is certain to be appreciated. Use your imagination and a bit of sneaky interrogation, and you’ll certainly come up with some great ideas for fantastic and completely unexpected gifts.
Gear and Accessories
Dive gear and accessories can seem intimidating if you’re not a diver, but the good news is that shop attendants will be more than happy to help you select a gift that’s appropriate. If you’re not sure what to get, consider giving a gift certificate to a store that sells dive gear; that way, the recipient gets whatever he or she wants or needs, and you don’t have to stress about whether your gift will be put to good use.
Gifts to Avoid Giving
Lastly, we’d like to give you a tip on gifts not to give. There are a lot of unscrupulous companies out there selling jewelry and other items made with coral. Coral reefs are in danger worldwide and though buying and selling coral is common, it’s a practice that is unsustainable. Also, look out for items that are listed as artifacts rather than reproductions. These may be fake, or they may have been taken illegally. While some artifacts for sale are legal, many are not; do your homework before purchasing anything listed as an artifact.
Finally, if all else fails, consider giving the gift of diving or dive lessons. Many divers want to increase their knowledge, and we don’t know anyone who would turn down a dive charter gift certificate. Whether you accompany your friend or family member or if you simply send them out for a great time underwater, your gift is one that will be fondly remembered for a lifetime.