A Christmas gift with a difference 🎅🎄

Give Memories, Not Landfill.

At this time of year it’s all too easy to feel the pressure to buy something—anything—to wrap up and hand over. But so many of those impulse buys bring only a moment of amusement before they’re forgotten, thrown away, and left to sit in landfill for decades. Slowly, silently, they break down into microplastics that seep into our soil, waterways and oceans. They might even end up in the very plankton on which everything else depends. Quite frankly… where’s the joy in that? 

A Marine Discovery Gift Voucher: The Gift of Adventure

A Marine Discovery experience voucher is a present of fresh sea air, wildlife encounters and time at sea sailing on Shearwater II. It allows your loved one to book a trip on the date of their choice over the next two years. A little bonus: we’re the only dedicated sea safari that heads out under sail — quieter for you, gentler on the wildlife, and lighter on fuel. With just 12 passengers on board, every trip feels relaxed and personal.

We offer specific vouchers for all our tours: the 2 hour Bay Discovery, the 3 hour Ocean Discovery and the 4 hour Discovery Voyage. There are options for children, for adults and for any combination.

Or, if you prefer flexibility, our gift cards let you choose the amount — £25, £50, £100 or absolutely any figure you like. Your recipient can put it towards the trip that suits them best, or even enjoy more than one voyage. Either way, it’s a present that lets them look forward to an wildlife filled sailing adventure in the year ahead.

You can buy by visiting the vouchers page on the website https://marinediscovery.co.uk/vouchers/ and following the instructions, or if you prefer you can give me a call on 07749277110. Vouchers are emailed out, but if you want something for the recipient to open, I can send out a card in the post. Instructions about how to make the booking are included with the email and the card. Even if they lose the codes then we will be able to track down the voucher using the name of the person who made the purchase.

A Note on Experience Vouchers (and Why Buying Direct Matters)

Not all experience vouchers are created equal. You may have seen large online corporations offering “dolphin watching” and similar activities. Their packaging may be glossy, but so are their prices. These companies rely on small independent operators yet add a hefty markup for themselves, while paying the actual providers less. It’s how their business model works.

Booking directly with the company you want to support isn’t just cheaper—it’s more flexible. For example, our vouchers are valid for two full seasons, while many online retailers offer only nine months to a year. Extensions are far easier to arrange when you’re speaking to a real person rather than navigating a faceless website—and without being charged extra for the privilege.

There’s also something else to think about. Small businesses are facing pressure like never before, from rising costs to the dominance of giant online retailers (many not even UK-based). When you buy directly, you know that 100% of your payment supports the people actually delivering your experience—not a corporation taking 25% off the top. I know you might think “Well she would say that, wouldn’t she?” But it’s true! Buying direct is better value, better service, and better for the businesses you want to support. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and our high streets.

So, if you’d like this Christmas to be the one where your gift doesn’t end up in landfill — and you’d like to support a small UK business — there’s no better place to start than with a Marine Discovery voucher. ☃️🎅🎄