What should I do with electronic car keys while shore diving?

[ianmichael]

Can anyone suggest what do with your electronic car keys when shore diving (barring hiding them or getting a non electronic copy made).

I have found what looks to be a pressure sealed case that Cressi manufacture and it looks just the ticket - has anyone used it or is there something similar on the market? See this link:

http://tiendaargonautas.com/tienda/product_info.php?cPath=55&products_id=572&osCsid=82e41c713a79e40747332afc62e1f1ce

[David Walker]

Never tried anything like that myself - what you can get for a lot of cars is a non-electronic key that will only open the doors (but not start it). I just carry that on a neck strap inside my drysuit, means I can get it without taking my suit off (through the neck seal), and don't have to worry too much if my suit leaks or anything like that - no electronics to get wet! And the biggest advantage... it only cost me £5, and any key place should be able to do it for you - although it depends on your car of course.

David

[rossc]

hi i've got one of these http://www.boardridersguide.co.uk/acatalog/DenkoPakPakWaterproofWallet.html

the first time i tried it one of the guys on the rib fell laughing about so i got a cigarrette paper (cos that would show any moisture ) and slide it inside along with a tenner put it in a pocket on my bc and bet him they'd both be dry a nice dive to 35m and i was a tenner better off :) so now i just put my key in that and either put inside my suit or not

[Chris aka divingchef]

Never tried anything like that myself - what you can get for a lot of cars is a non-electronic key that will only open the doors (but not start it). I just carry that on a neck strap inside my drysuit, means I can get it without taking my suit off (through the neck seal), and don't have to worry too much if my suit leaks or anything like that - no electronics to get wet! And the biggest advantage... it only cost me £5, and any key place should be able to do it for you - although it depends on your car of course.

David

Hi
I do more or less the same, my suit is front entry so I just have a carabiner on the braces and it is easerly available.

Neaver had any problems.

Chris

[Dave Sydenham]

Leave them with whoever is doing shore cover. :D

One thing never to do is to put them in your drysuit pocket when you have finished diving for the day which is what I did at a training dive once. One of the trainees did not have enough weight so as I waded out to the instructor clutching a couple of lead blocks the sudden realisation that my keys were still in my pocket...Oops! :D

[Nigel Hewitt]

I have a busted key, the electronics are trashed, and I keep that in my undersuit breast pocket. My front entry drysuit completes the equation.

[Woz]

My Audi came with a plastic key as part of the set. So it now has a boltsnap on it- I lock the car with the fob then lock the keys in the car with the plastic key. Plastic key then goes in my drysuit pocket. Works a treat.

[Chris aka divingchef]

Can anyone suggest what do with your electronic car keys when shore diving (barring hiding them or getting a non electronic copy made).

I have found what looks to be a pressure sealed case that Cressi manufacture and it looks just the ticket - has anyone used it or is there something similar on the market? See this link:

http://tiendaargonautas.com/tienda/product_info.php?cPath=55&products_id=572&osCsid=82e41c713a79e40747332afc62e1f1ce


Hi
Have a look at page 44 of this months Dive magazine, there is another option,,,if youve got the dosh !:D

[Nick Kay]

Top pocket of the weezle thinsulate, buttons facing outwards

Can then lock/unlock the car with drysuit still zipped up!

[Grant]

I use a large waterproof plastic container. This is yellow two parts screw together with an o ring on the joint. The keys fit easily inside and it is waterproof. This is then attached to Bcd with attached lanyard.
These are avaiable in most dive shops and the shops in resorts that sell allsorts tend to stock them. Or try ebay. Donot get the small one keys donot fit.
Grant

[ianmichael]

Thanks for all the advice. I would consider putting the key in my undersuit to keep dry but my main concern is that the pressure differential (since the key electronics are partially sealed). The air in the drysuit is at the correspoding depth pressure and the air inside the fob is at atmospheric - so maybe there is a chance the key will be crushed and damaged. I don't want to risk doing this however since replacements cost a fortune. So I think I will take the advice of getting a replica made and hide the real key in the car (although this is a compromise since it wont have the imobiliser on)

Thanks again

[scubaclogger]

I have used an aquapac for the last three year with no problems, they are water proof down to 40m. Have a look at the following website

Aquapac key holder at 7DayShop.com (http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_8&products_id=25)

[Nick Kay]

Thanks for all the advice. I would consider putting the key in my undersuit to keep dry but my main concern is that the pressure differential (since the key electronics are partially sealed). The air in the drysuit is at the correspoding depth pressure and the air inside the fob is at atmospheric - so maybe there is a chance the key will be crushed and damaged. I don't want to risk doing this however since replacements cost a fortune. So I think I will take the advice of getting a replica made and hide the real key in the car (although this is a compromise since it wont have the imobiliser on)

Thanks again

Never had a problem, can't quite see how you could get that much of a pressure differential - esp as (a) you want to avoid suit squeeze and (b) you're shore diving - mine have been to the deep hydrobox at Stoney and boat dives at the Farnes

[PeteM]

can't quite see how you could get that much of a pressure differential

Inside key = 1 bar
Outside key/inside drysuit = ambient pressure at current depth

Potentially a big differential

[Janos]

Inside key = 1 bar
Outside key/inside drysuit = ambient pressure at current depth

Potentially a big differential

The key is at ambient as the aquapack is flexible.

I used to put my key, in an aquapack, inside my undersuit pocket. The principle being that I'd be ok if either the drysuit or the aquapack flooded [1]

However I have since been told that some modern keys don't like being pressurised - think reverse tooth squeeze - and so I prefer not to take the risk.

Janos

[1] - I have had a flooded suit, and also a flooded aquapack when diving wet, but fortunately the aquapack was abroad and it was a non-electric jeep key in Malta. I wouldn't trust an Aquapack on it's own.

[sharkhunter]

I have always used an Aquapac keymaster...they are brilliant and come with a cord to hang round your neck and can be worn under your wet suit. They are water proof to 50m / 150ft and only cost £10. They will also hold credit cards and money, so a really cool accessory.

Here is the link to the page on their site:
http://www.aquapac.co.uk/ukstore/erol.html#600X1151

[Janos]

I have always used an Aquapac keymaster...they are brilliant and come with a cord to hang round your neck and can be worn under your wet suit. They are water proof to 50m / 150ft and only cost £10. They will also hold credit cards and money, so a really cool accessory.

Here is the link to the page on their site:
http://www.aquapac.co.uk/ukstore/erol.html#600X1151

Yep. That's the one that broke on me. The other is still going strong though.

Janos