A dive centre gift card: the Christmas present that actually gets used

Every December the same problem turns up: a person who has everything, and a gift budget with nowhere to go. A voucher for a day on the water solves it, because it hands over something no shop can wrap — a story to tell in summer.

Who it works for

• The person who has always said they'd love to try diving. A Discover Scuba session is built for people who have never breathed underwater.

• The newly qualified diver who wants to keep going — a guided dive on the Clare coast is a good next step.

• The sea swimmer or snorkeller who is curious about what is under the surface they already love.

• The diver who has everything — and still needs a new mask, hood or gloves from the shop.

Why a gift card beats a guess

Sizes, certification levels and what someone already owns are all things a gift-giver gets wrong. A card lets the person you're buying for pick the experience, or the kit, that suits them. You choose the amount and the quantity on the gift card page, and it's a present you can sort in a couple of minutes.

Planning the day itself

The dive centre on the East Pier in Kilkee is open seven days a week from May to September, so the card is really a promise of next summer. Kilkee bay is sheltered and often workable when other sites on the coast are not, and we choose the site on the day to suit the weather and the people in the water. Give it as a surprise, or wrap it with a small clue — a mask, or a photo of the bay.

Ask us if you have any questions about how a card can be used before you buy: ring 085 255 2064 or email hello@oceanlife.ie. The gift card is on our website at oceanlife.ie/gift-card.