California Diving Company
- Thread starter Clammy
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- You can make this box go away
Thanks for the input, Billy. When I designed the box, I selected the tank that I felt was the most commonly used around the world. In retrospect, I should have made it a little bigger, but modifying a mold cost a lot of $$$$$.
I have used my box to carry a steel 130 and a steel 95. The will both fit without a boot. I know that's not acceptable to some divers, but personally I can deal without a boot on my tank.
I wasn't trying to throw a sales pitch here or trying to convince anybody to buy one. I have already established who my market is and I realize that they are not for everyone. When I go to Catalina on any given weekend, I see them scattered throughout the dive park. I always approach divers who own them and they all tell me how much they love it. It gives me a great feeling to see divers enjoying my creation.
I wish I could sell them for $59 like Stanley and make a profit, but unfortunately, I can't.
Sideways
Contributor
few things that eliminated me as a customer
1.) Cost ($300 plus to get one, delivered. more if I want soft wheels)
2.) Size/weight. The thing is pretty heavy, before you fill it with gear. You also have to have a truck or large SUV to carry one. Don't bet on getting this into your Toyota (or your Lexus) unless it's a SUV.
3.) to big to haul to the beach to use.
4.) if I left it on the beach during a dive it just says "Steal me"
5.) too big to haul on a boat for a dive.
6.) airlines don't like it. (too big, heavy, which creates overage fees)
I actually fit mine in the back seat of my Mustang, with the pneumatic wheels on it. And yes, you are right about the weight and size for travel. I always tell prospective buyers who ask about airline travel that they can take it on a plane if they choose to (and they will probably have to pay extra), but the box was not designed with travel in mind. It was designed for local diving; beaches, lakes, quarries, etc. I don't use mine when I travel. I carry my gear in a Stahlsac bag.
I've left mine on the beach and attached it to something using a bicycle lock.
Thanks for considering it in the first place, though.
OP
Clammy
Contributor
Let's see... there's a catalina weekend with them at the end of sept. Magician on the 12th of sept and an Aug 30th magician trip that I'm on but I think that's sold out. So there you go. I probably shouldn't be helping you stalk her though.
B.L. Justice
Registered
Okay, I can't resist this. I know that I am a rookie by comparison to some of the old salts who post here BUT, after 11 years of diving and many more dives than I have posted in my log book I can speak from experience what I say ... WHAT??????
On any given weekend I see dozens of recreational divers who are wearing AL 80s as they enjoy the Southern California coastline. I have no idea where you get your "FACTS" but the fact is that I see FAR MORE AL 80s then I see of any other kind of tank. I have one steel 95 and three AL 80s and all four get used all the time.
Yesterday I dove with 12 other divers of all skill levels. Three had larger tanks (120s & 130s), I had my 95 and everyone else had AL 80s. It is an anecdotal account but it doesn't seem to support your assumption that California divers don't use AL 80s. The group you enjoy diving with may be devoted to BP/W, Huge Steel, DIR, Hogarthian diving but the majority of recreational divers just ....dive. Nothing techie, we just dive.
I have a Dive Box. I love it. I agree that the price tag is a little steep but it take a ton of punishment and had made the crossing to Catalina a number of times without a single mishap. I have seen many of these boxes at Casino Point which makes me think they must be okay. I intend to put the bigger wheels on it soon. I agree that I can't get my Steel 95 into the tank well but on a recent trip to La Jolla Cove, I had an AL 80 in the well and the 95 and two more 80s strapped to the top of the box for the hike from my parking space to the suit up area. The box handled like a trooper.
For the record, I own two Toyotas. I also looked at the Lexus. Same-Same in my book. I wouldn't rely on that analogy.
Dive Box - Good product.
Okay, I can't resist this. I know that I am a rookie by comparison to some of the old salts who post here BUT, after 11 years of diving and many more dives than I have posted in my log book I can speak from experience what I say ... WHAT??????
On any given weekend I see dozens of recreational divers who are wearing AL 80s as they enjoy the Southern California coastline. I have no idea where you get your "FACTS" but the fact is that I see FAR MORE AL 80s then I see of any other kind of tank. I have one steel 95 and three AL 80s and all four get used all the time.
Yesterday I dove with 12 other divers of all skill levels. Three had larger tanks (120s & 130s), I had my 95 and everyone else had AL 80s. It is an anecdotal account but it doesn't seem to support your assumption that California divers don't use AL 80s. The group you enjoy diving with may be devoted to BP/W, Huge Steel, DIR, Hogarthian diving but the majority of recreational divers just ....dive. Nothing techie, we just dive.
I have a Dive Box. I love it. I agree that the price tag is a little steep but it take a ton of punishment and had made the crossing to Catalina a number of times without a single mishap. I have seen many of these boxes at Casino Point which makes me think they must be okay. I intend to put the bigger wheels on it soon. I agree that I can't get my Steel 95 into the tank well but on a recent trip to La Jolla Cove, I had an AL 80 in the well and the 95 and two more 80s strapped to the top of the box for the hike from my parking space to the suit up area. The box handled like a trooper.
For the record, I own two Toyotas. I also looked at the Lexus. Same-Same in my book. I wouldn't rely on that analogy.
Dive Box - Good product.
Thank you B.L. Justice for your input, and thank you for purchasing a Dive Box. I'm glad you love it and your description is a true testament to how durable and well-built the box is.
I have packed it with a full set of gear (including weights), a steel 130 in the well and an Oceanic DPV on top (which weighs about 60 lbs.). Just like you, I hauled it to my destination with ease, because of the weight distribution.
You can fit your steel 95 if you remove the boot. I know this makes it a little awkward to handle the tank, but it only really comes into play when you are attaching your BCD. The rest of the time, the tank is usually laying down and doesn't need a boot. At least that is my opinion. I've also seen people with steel 130's and they throw the boot in the box and put it on when they get where they are going.
I'm getting a chuckle out of the Toyota/Lexus thing..... I know they are the same brand. I guess I was trying to say that they are both cars, they both do the same thing, but Lexus is more expensive because they are supposedly more "luxurious"?
I wouldn't know the difference... I drive a Chevy !
Empty V
Contributor
Okay, I can't resist this. I know that I am a rookie by comparison to some of the old salts who post here BUT, after 11 years of diving and many more dives than I have posted in my log book I can speak from experience what I say ... WHAT??????
On any given weekend I see dozens of recreational divers who are wearing AL 80s as they enjoy the Southern California coastline. I have no idea where you get your "FACTS" but the fact is that I see FAR MORE AL 80s then I see of any other kind of tank. I have one steel 95 and three AL 80s and all four get used all the time.
Yesterday I dove with 12 other divers of all skill levels. Three had larger tanks (120s & 130s), I had my 95 and everyone else had AL 80s. It is an anecdotal account but it doesn't seem to support your assumption that California divers don't use AL 80s. The group you enjoy diving with may be devoted to BP/W, Huge Steel, DIR, Hogarthian diving but the majority of recreational divers just ....dive. Nothing techie, we just dive....
I never said that California Divers don't use AL80's I said that I don't know any that do, you didn't read what I typed. Regardless, the last 4 open boat trips I was on I don't recall seeing a single AL80 tank and those were all recreation trips as I'm a recreational diver. I don't know a single beach diver that has over 50 dives that's still diving an AL80, it's just not the right tank for our cold water. Aluminum, for the most part, is inferior to steel when it comes to a SCUBA cylinder but no reason to get into that. Obviously with 11 years of diving experience, and I'm guessing that you dive frequently, I'm sure you know about the differences in buoyancy characteristics, pressure ratings and capacity. I've also seen the percentage of California divers using HP steel tanks increase and an exceptional rate over the past 4 years (since I started diving). We all started on AL80's, then we grew up.
My facts are what I see, obviously your experiences with other diver's equipment is different. I see Aluminum tanks all the time when I see classes heading out but that's about it. I'm also not quite sure what a BP/W or DIR has to do with steel tanks. I was diving a HP119 long before I bought my bp/w setup and I was very anti-DIR.
Billy
fnfalman
Contributor
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