Holiday Gift Guide for Travelers and Scuba Divers

With the Holidays at our doorstep, we prepared a list of gift ideas for every traveler and scuba diver on your shopping list. Just to be clear, we do not receive any compensation for telling you about these products. We bought every item listed in this gift guide and use them regularly while traveling, scuba diving, or when we’re at home. By the way, these products make excellent stocking stuffers and are all easy to pack!

Travel Tech Ideas

Power Banks

This is something that I can’t travel without because it’s not always possible to plug in. I use my smartphone a lot, even more so when I’m traveling. I use it to check my flight status, for my boarding pass, or to change my flight in case of a last-minute flight cancellation. I use it to check the weather, as an alarm clock and to check my social media accounts. It’s my book, my travel guide, my map, my camera, and even my flashlight. With some apps it seems that my phone’s battery depletes very quickly, and I need to be able to charge while on the go!

See our post: How to Select a Great Power Bank for Travel

Memory cards

Memory cards make a great gift idea for the photographers on your list. I enjoy taking photos of the places I visit, the people I travel with, and of course the wildlife that I encounter! Running out of space on a memory card and being forced to delete precious memories isn’t something I like doing while traveling and it’s not very practical while scuba diving. I prefer to wait until I’m back home so that I can take a closer look at the pictures on a large screen. And on the small camera display or on a smartphone, it’s impossible to see if someone is smiling, has their eyes closed, or is making a funny face! Believe me, I have plenty of those!

Camera batteries

Know someone who missed that perfect shot? Bringing at least one spare set of batteries is essential if we want to capture our travel moments and bring home those memories. Not being able to take a picture because our camera battery is empty seems to always happen just when the perfect shot presents itself.

USB sticks

These are great stocking stuffers, and you can even preload them with a surprise Holiday picture. We use them to store copies of our pictures and to share photos with fellow travelers that we meet on the road. We got the idea from a fellow diver who brought extra memory sticks to share some of his scuba diving pictures with other divers.

SIM cards

Unless you have a plan that includes unlimited data with little or no roaming fees or free international calls, you may want to get a travel SIM card to avoid bill shock when traveling abroad.

USB chargers

There never seems to be enough plugs around a hotel room to efficiently charge all our electronics and camera batteries. Also, a USB charger that works in the cigarette lighter can be useful because not all rental cars have a USB plug, or sometimes they don’t work. Look for the fast chargers that are more efficient, some also have multiple ports.

International travel adapters

When traveling abroad these adapters are essential to plug in anywhere around the world and charge all our travel electronics and gadgets. Some also come with built-in USB plugs, which is practical.

Noise cancelling headphones

These are wonderful to tune out the airplane’s engine hum as well as the crying baby or chatty passengers nearby. Noise cancelling headphones simply dim the ambient noise around you and make for a more relaxing and peaceful flight. For that very special person, consider the Apple noise cancelling AirPods.

Digital luggage scale

More and more airlines are enforcing weight and size limits for all luggage including carry-on bags. So, weighing your bags before leaving is a good idea. Nobody wants to be the one having to remove items from their suitcase at the check-in counter and putting on display their undergarments for all to see. Not to mention being glared at by other passengers for holding up the line!

Useful gifts for scuba divers

DRYFOB waterproof car key container

Every scuba diver on your list will be happy to get this waterproof container. It’s made of rugged anodized aluminum and has dual O-rings. Rated to 330ft (100m) it’s the latest and greatest thing. Ok, I’m biased, because I designed it! Made for shore divers, it also makes a great gift for anyone wanting to keep their electronic car key fob dry while in the water. We use our DRYFOB all the time and it’s the only waterproof container that we felt confident with to take with us in the water. Also great for non-diver friends that might kayak, surf, or paddleboard.

Nautilus GPS Beacon

The Nautilus Personal GPS is a security signaling device for scuba divers. It’s a way for divers in trouble (i.e.: caught in a strong current, lost at sea, etc.) to signal a marine emergency which can be heard within 30 miles. Look also at the new Garmin InReach which has two-way communications but needs a monthly subscription plan.

See our post: Staying Safe on the Water with the Nautilus GPS Beacon

Bungee fin straps

These replacement straps for open foot fins are great to get your fins on and off quickly and effortlessly. A great alternative to having to adjust and fasten fin straps.

Dry bags

Another useful gift idea for scuba divers are dry bags. These will keep towels and clothes dry on a dive boat and can be stashed under the seat. I find it a lot more convenient than keeping my stuff in the so called ‘dry area’ on the dive boat!

Microfiber beach towels

These quick-dry towels are great for dive trips or for going to the beach. They are very compact and fit nicely inside a small dry bag or beach bag. It’s amazing how much they soak up. I also use mine as a wrap after diving.

Reef-safe sunscreen

We all know how important it is to protect ourselves from the sun’s UV rays, but we also need to protect our reefs so do use the reef-friendly products like Stream2Sea.

Leave-in conditioner

Coming out of the water after a dive is brutal on my long hair. I’ve found that using Stream2Sea leave-in conditioner before and after diving is a great way to detangle my hair. These eco-conscious products also smell really good.

Easy to pack sun protection gifts

Rash guards

Rash guards are an effective way to protect us from the strong and dangerous rays of the sun. On top of that, they also help to protect our reefs because most sunscreen will damage the ocean environment.

Sunhat

A quick-dry UPF 50+ sun protection wide brim hat is an effective way to protect us from the sun. Some might prefer other alternatives such as a baseball cap, however, these don’t protect the ears and the back of the neck. My husband loves his Sahara UPF packable shade cap from Eddie Bauer. It comes with a foldable neck shade. Travelers will appreciate lightweight and easy to pack hats and divers will appreciate quick-dry ones.

UPF buffs

A nice UPF 50+ buff is a must for anyone hanging out in the sun all day. Small and versatile, they can also be used in different ways (cap, head scarf, etc.).

Sun sleeves

Sun sleeves with UPF 50+ are handy to protect sun-sensitive skin and with them on there’s no need to repeatedly apply sunscreen. They are lightweight and breathable and easy to slip on. I’ve used mine many times while hiking and sightseeing.

Environmentally friendly ideas

These items are great to satisfy eco-conscious travelers and ditch single use plastics!

Insulated stainless steel bottles

Double walled insulated bottles that keep liquids cold up to 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. We started bringing these with us everywhere we go to avoid buying single use plastic bottles. At the airport, we go through the TSA security checkpoint and then fill them up at the water fountain (of course, only if the water is drinkable) to stay hydrated throughout our flight. They are leak proof and we bring them with us while sightseeing or even when walking around in our neighborhood.

Stainless steel travel cutlery

We bought these to skip on the plastic cutlery when eating out on the run. Having your own cutlery comes in handy for take-out and picnics too. Stainless steel or bamboo straws are also an excellent alternative to single use plastic ones and are easy to pack.

Silicone travel bottles

These refillable TSA approved bottles are great for traveling. They are leak proof and perfect to bring your favorite shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash, lotion, and sunscreen. There’s no need to drag regular sized heavy bottles in your luggage when traveling. Since they are BPA free and FDA approved, it’s ok to use them for food. Going camping or barbecuing: Use them for mustard, ketchup or mayo, no need to clutter the cooler with full-size condiment containers. I also use one for vinegar (useful for jellyfish stings). It’s been stashed at the bottom of my beach bag for months and I haven’t had any leaks or problems. Great product!

Hope these gift suggestions will be useful and make your holiday shopping easier!