Like many Americans, this year has been very tough for my family. Last year I lost my job as a business manager at Motorola. I became a stay at home dad for our two daughters. This year, my wife lost her job as a career coach at Deloitte and Touche. As of this writing, neither of us have found a steady job yet. I’ve been teaching college classes part time for some extra cash. As Christmas approaches, we have had to make hard decisions as to what kind of gifts we will get the girls. As a parent, you want to give your kids everything, but many times that just isn’t possible. As I’ve thought about Christmas for my kids, I’ve thought about other people who are in a similar, or worse, situation than me and how this affects their diving Christmas season.

Obviously, it doesn’t matter if I’ve been good or not this year as we can’t afford to get us any presents. As I’ve been thinking about what to get the kids, I’ve been thinking about what kind of scuba presents I would like if we had just a little extra money. Below is my list.

• One of those portable work benches to gear up on
• Some kind of mat to put down on the ground so my dry suit doesn’t get dirty when I’m taking it off. Dive Rite has a nice one.
• Six inch HP hose
• Another Halcyon Scout backup light (Xenon not LED)
• Catheters, because you can never have enough
• A backup oxygen analyzer sensor

Of course, if money were no object, I would want more tanks, regulators, helium, scooter, etc. But I don’t live in a perfect world.

If you had a little extra money to spend in diving, what small items are on your Christmas list?

Dive Safe,
Duane
Precision Diving