Holiday Gift Guide 2018
Trying to find a gift idea for the scuba diver in your life this holiday season? Look no further than our scuba diving holiday gift guide, where we break down some of the coolest gifts for divers, with options in every price range from stocking stuffers to main gifts.
Aqua Lung$39.00 - $44.00; available in Galaxy Blue or Galaxy Camo.
Whether you’re diving in balmy tropical weather, layering for comfort or passing time on the boat, it pays to have a sleek, quality rash guard.
GarminPrice: $399.99
Want a simple imaging option that will produce gorgeous 4K video footage? Well, there are plenty of action cameras, but the Garmin VIRB is one of the best. With a simple design, the VIRB allows you to easily flip a switch to take a video and snap a button for photos, cutting out confusion while you’re taking footage of sharks passing by.
TusaPrice $74.94; available in a wide variety of colors.
Tusa’s line of Freedom masks use a number of features on the skirt to ensure a comfortable and effective seal for a wide variety of faces. This mask in particular also offers an uninterrupted, panoramic view thanks to the domed windows on the sides. The design pushes the frame way out of view, making it surprisingly easy to forget the big mask is there at all.
Innovative Scuba ConceptsPrice: $24.96; available in three colors.
This tool pack has a lifetime warranty and features 11 stainless steel tools including 4 open end wrenches, flat and phillips head screwdrivers and o-ring pics. It’s the perfect addition to your save-a-dive it and small enough to throw in your suitcase on scuba diving trips abroad.
Scuba DivingPrice: $7.50 (Kindle), $14.97 (Print)
Shameless plug alert! There’s no better way to pass those long layovers than flipping through the latest issue of Scuba Diving magazine, where you’ll find in-depth gear reviews, travel features, training tips from the pros and more. And, a year’s worth of magazines is about the same price as a fancy bottle of water at the airport.
IST SportsPrice: $33.99
Compact and capable, this line cutter is one of the handiest tools around. The ceramic blades are razor sharp and impervious to rust. The design allows you to quickly dispatch entanglements without risking an accidental cut — which is a very good thing considering it’ll slice through most things without a second thought.
IkelitePrice: $184.95
Camera floods are a constant risk for photographers that ply their craft beneath the water’s surface. This easy-to-install kit upgrades compatible underwater housings with a vacuum system, allowing underwater shooters to verify that their equipment is water-tight before dropping into the drink.
OTSPrice: $399.00
Full-face masks offer a host of benefits; they keep your face dry, reduce jaw fatigue, support communication equipment and most importantly — look badass. But they are fairly expensive, which makes them a rare site among recreational divers. Unlike other full-face masks, the Spectrum is compatible with most regulators (i.e. yours), which reduces the cost of owning such a mask significantly.
SeikoPrice: $318.00
This rugged, iconic 200-meter diver looks at home whether you're in a coat and tie or a wetsuit. Powered by Seiko's practically indestructible automatic movement (you can also manually wind it) with a 40-plus-hour power reserve, it has a one-way rotating bezel and day/date display. The black dial and large, luminous hands and markers make it as easy to read in pitch dark as in bright sun, and the silicone strap is long enough to slip over a thick wetsuit sleeve.
XS ScubaPrice: $24.50
One of our least-favorite after-dive cleanup jobs is rinsing out BC air cells, because you either need to wait forever while rinse water trickles into the oral inflator or remove a dump valve to speed things up. This little gadget eliminates the hassle. Just thread it on a garden hose, clip it onto the inflator and squeeze a little water in.
Hammerhead IndustriesPrice: $19.99
A streamlined diver is a safer diver, and better for the reefs we love, too. This handy retractable tether attaches to your BC with a heavy duty clip and has 101 uses — gauges, lights, compass, small action cameras, to name a few — and keeps things close, except when you need a little more distance, for example for middle-aged eyes to focus on smaller displays. (Perfect for diving moms and dads!) The split ring is stainless, so it won't rust, and the retraction means you avoid entangling accessories.
SeaLifePrice: $99.00
The Sea Dragon Mini 900 compact dive light was a hit with staff and ScubaLab test team divers, earning it a Testers Choice award. And for good reason: It's a compact light that does it all: wide and narrow beams, charge-indicator light, SOS and emergency strobe modes, all in a streamlined package that's a nice fit in the hand. Suitable for backup or primary light, the Mini 900 also can be purchased solo, without the accessories. It's depth-rated to 328 feet and puts out from 225 to 900 lumens depending on setting, with a burn time of two to eight hours.
Kwik TekPrice: $9.99
What's better than sticking a wet hand down a dark dry bag to fish around for something you need? A clear dry bag that lets you see everything in it at a glance. This round-bottom, heavy-duty vinyl and polyester tri-laminate bag with RF-welded seams comes in five sizes, from 9.5 x 16 inches to 12.5 x 28 inches.
HollisPrice: $449.95
Built out of 8-, 7- and 6-mm compression-resistant neoprene, this semi-dry is seriously warm and an excellent choice for any diver that hates getting cold but doesn’t want to dive in a drysuit. The built-in hood further improves heat retention while the front-zip makes it possible to get the suit on and off by yourself.