Shoredives & Car keys

[John_Davis]

A while back there was a thread somewhere here that brought up the topic of "what to do with your car keys" when you're shore diving. Not so much regular car keys, but car remotes for alarms/starters/etc.

I was at my local Truck Accessory store looking to replace a back glass for my truck cap and saw an in-store display for a product called "Hitch-Safe". I thought it was a great idea.

Long story short, my girlfriend bought me one for Christmas. Not sure what she paid for it and I can't recall what they were going for. Figure around $75 or so.

Fits in any standard 2" hitch receiver and has enough room for credit cards, drivers license and keys. 4 tumbler number lock. pretty friggin solid too. They have a website here.

Thought it might help a few folks here. Yeah the promo video on their site is a tad cheesy, but you get the idea. I like it, and you don't need to make sure no one is watching you hide your keys

*edit*
Ah ha... found that other thread I mentioned. I was so proud of myself for thinking I found something new. Crap.

http://www.scubaboard.com/showthread.php?t=164042&highlight=hitchsafe

 

[Cheekymonkey]

Wow at first I started reading and though tit seemed a little bit ridiculous, but then I saw that it doesnt even look like safe with the cover on it, so that is pretty dam cool I would have to say.

 

[John_Davis]

Looks like a robust hitch cover you might see on a typical Reese hitch. The only other people that see it and know what it is (I'm guessing) are other safe users or safe retailers. I had the combination changed and safe installed in about a minute. And the nice thing is you can change the combination on the fly once the drawer is out.

 

[stepup]

I want one I want one I want one

 

[Hoosier]

Just small and cheap otter box can hold your remote, key, even CC. You can carry it anywhere UW...

 

[S. starfish]

Looks neat.
Although, since we're mostly diving dry over here what I do is to leave the remote in the car and take the spare along in my pocket. Doesn't get much safer than that.

 

[CompuDude]

Otter boxes can (and usually do, try a search) fail at depth, and alarm remotes and electronic car key replacements are EXPENSIVE.

I use a standard realtor's keybox which padlocks to my car's undercarriage. $25 on sale from some realtor supply website. Works like a champ. Someone who wants to break in badly enough to break into the realty box will smash a window instead, so the fact that it is not exactly a Sentry Safe is irrelevant.

 

[Web Monkey]

A while back there was a thread somewhere here that brought up the topic of "what to do with your car keys" when you're shore diving. Not so much regular car keys, but car remotes for alarms/starters/etc.

My Subaru uses real keys, so I just clipped one on my BC on the same ring with my DAN tag.

Not sure what would happen with my wife's Toyota, which has some sort of chip in the key, but it's probably not an issue since the chances of her letting me create two "smells-like-wet-dog-and-rubber-mobiles" are pretty slim.

Terry

 

[Charlie99]

Not sure what would happen with my wife's Toyota, which has some sort of chip in the key, but it's probably not an issue since the chances of her letting me create two "smells-like-wet-dog-and-rubber-mobiles" are pretty slim.

JUst in case you decide to sneak off with the Toyota, all you need is a "dumb" key -- no chip inside, but it opens the door. That's the solution for my Honda that has a chip inside the key. The smart key and the remote keyless entry stay in the car, and the dumb key goes on a lanyard around my neck.

IIRC, the dumb key was about $5 at the dealer (probably $2 at Home Depot if they carry it).

 

[Hoosier]

Otter boxes can (and usually do, try a search) fail at depth, .

Oh~~~...

I have used mine more than two years at the depth up to 160 ft. It hasn't failed me once. I used to put this small box in my dry suit pocket... I can't find any failure points unless you accidently open it in UW.