Christmas Gifts for Swimmers

Swimming Hole Heaven

Here are some unique gift ideas for the swimmer who has (almost) everything. Suitable for birthdays, Christmas, or just any gift giving occasion. As a swimming enthusiast and swimming travel guide author, these five items are amongst my most prized possessions for swimming. Above: One of Santa's helpers testing Christmas gifts in the water at Quarry Reserve (Order this image)

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This is not such an issue if at least one person from your swimming group is always with your gear, but if everyone is in the water (or if you often swim alone, like me, tsk tsk), it can be difficult to know how to keep your car key safe, particularly for long distance swimming. There are different approaches available to this problem, starting with leaving it in your bag or hiding it under your car and hoping no one steals it. I store my key in a waterproof key pouch that you can wear around your neck under your wesuit. If that solution might work for someone you know, you can order a waterproof key pouch here. It sits neatly on your back, between your shoulder blades, and for me, does not hamper my swimming, but there are various designs available to suit your needs. Above: My waterproof key pouch, which sits under your wetsuit, in between your shoulder blades (Order this image)

Whilst I have not experienced it, there is still a very small risk that the pouch may let some moisture in. If your electronic car key gets wet, it won't work. To get around this risk, I had a spare metal key (non-electronic) cut by a locksmith that I can take into the water without worrying whether it will get damp or not. This kind of key allows you to open your car door, but not start the car. You can then hide your electronic key inside the car in a hard to find place or in a lock box that you either leave in the car or leave with your gear. Your car still might get stolen, but at least you have made it challenging for the thieves. Some pouches are also designed to carry your phone, but I am not sure I would trust them enough if my phone was not waterproof. If you know someone who enjoys swimming, but cannot see clearly as soon as they take their glasses off to get into the water (i.e. they are short-sighted or myopic), why not order them a prescription snorkel mask or a prescription pair of goggles. These are great for seeing under the water while snorkelling, and for checking your position in moving water relative to objects on the shore. I was surprised at how cheap these are compared to the cost of my normal glasses and lenses. This is a fairly intimate gift, because you will need to know the recipient's prescription from the optometrist before you order your prescription mask or goggles online here. I find that prescription goggles are also handy at the local pool if you cannot read the clock or timer on the wall without your glasses. Above: My prescription snorkel mask, which looks like any other snorkel mask until you look through it (Order this image) If a lap swimmer you know is stuck in the same lane every week, and wants to experience a different kind of swim, or maybe they just love swimming in the outdoors, then I have two guide books available. These are the guide to Australia's swimming hole hot spots, covering over fifty swims in nine clusters that make for great holiday destinations for swimmers, and the guide to Freshwater Swimming Holes in Victoria, Australia, which covers my top 50 swimming holes in my home state of Victoria, Australia. Above: The guide to Australia's swimming hole hot spots They can look a bit weird but having a towel kaftan / hoodie has one huge advantage in that they allow you to change in and out of your swimming gear without exposing yourself in a public place. An excellent option if swimming in public places without access to change rooms. It also means you do not have to carry a towel to your swim, because you are already wearing it. Above: Wearing my towel kaftan on the way to Whian Whian Falls (Order this image)

I received a fairly plush hooded towel as a gift from a relative from Terry Rich, which is thicker and offers a bit more warmth in the colder climates where I often swim, but if you are after something lighter or cheaper, you can order a lighter towel kaftan here. A simple thing, but incredibly useful, is having a large plastic tub for storing your wet gear in your car after your swim. it means that your car or other gear does not get wet from your bathers, wetsuits and towels. You can order a plastic tub here or just as easily pick one up from your local hardware store. I usually also carry a coathanger in the tub so I can hang up my wetsuit on the hatch door of the car or on a nearby tree to drip dry a little bit before packing it in the tub. Above: A waterproof plastic tub and coathanger for wet gear (Order this image)

I hope that these suggestions will help satisfy your hard-to-buy-for partner, relative, or friend, or at least stimulate some out-of-the-box thinking for your next gift purchase.

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