O.K. What is a dive coaster?

Not sure, could use some help here, and I thought I knew a-lot about coasters....:(

> Not sure, could use some help here, and I
> thought I knew a-lot about coasters....:(

Unlike the "dive" horse at Lake George's Magic Forest, the coaster doesn't actually dive.

Kidding aside, a dive coaster is best demonstrated by Oblivion at Alton Towers. The feature of this genre of coaster is a 90 degree drop face first, straight down. Thus far, Alton Towers and a South Africa park have been running dive coasters (Oblivion being a B&M and South Africa's being a Giovanola). This year, Japan is getting a B&M dive coaster, but I have yet to see or hear if its course will be extended beyond the previous two which basically consist of a lift, turn, drop, rise, turn, station.

-sparky

I also think that TA2K could be considered a "dive" coaster. The thought of climbing a vertical upslope and then falling vertically sounds crazy to me.

Although by looking at Oblivion ,the word dive machine is more legit. The coaster pauses at the top of the drop like a diver in the Olympics and then literally "dives" under the ground. I think maybe only coasters that have a holding break at the top of a vertical drop should be considered a dive machine. Maybe an underground drop is necessary too? --K

Yes, a dive coaster is currently one which takes a nose dive ala straight down. Whether or not there will be a technical definition to exclude "wanna-be"s from this list remains to be seen. I can smell a SupermanThe escape debate brewing if we start to place coasters under the lash on account of theming and elements. Hopefully, we will start to see more of these things coming to the US. The trains are real expensive and are squat front to back leaving capacity to the width. Imagine a long coaster train plunging off a 90 degree cliff. the back car would get whiplash. Also, consider the restraints necessary to hold passengers facing downward. These would not be the usual horse collars. I can imagine the thrill would rival that of our highest giga coasters. I like to experiment with the versions you get on RCT. Sooner or later these will dot the landscape.

Unlike the "dive" horse at Lake
> George's Magic Forest, the coaster doesn't
> actually dive. Kidding aside, a dive
> coaster is best demonstrated by Oblivion at
> Alton Towers. The feature of this genre of
> coaster is a 90 degree drop face first,
> straight down. Thus far, Alton Towers and a
> South Africa park have been running dive
> coasters (Oblivion being a B&M and South
> Africa's being a Giovanola). The coaster in South africa, built by Giovanola is an Inverted Coaster not a Dive. But Giovanola can and will build also dive coasters. This year,
> Japan is getting a B&M dive coaster, but I
> have yet to see or hear if its course will
> be extended beyond the previous two which
> basically consist of a lift, turn, drop,
> rise, turn, station. -sparky

> The
> coaster in South africa, built by Giovanola is an
> Inverted Coaster not a Dive. But Giovanola can
> and will build also dive coasters.

if they were still making roller coasters they would...but they either quit the industry or went bankrupt, can't remember which.

> The
> coaster in South africa, built by Giovanola is an
> Inverted Coaster not a Dive. But Giovanola can
> and will build also dive coasters.

if they were still making roller coasters they would...but they either quit the industry or went bankrupt, can't remember which.

I think they quit, but I could be wrong there.

Tim.

> if they were still making roller coasters they
> would...but they either quit the industry or went
> bankrupt, can't remember which.

> I think they quit, but I could be wrong there.

> Tim.

I don't know why I am under the impression that Giovanola is still around. I thought they were still in some way working on rides.

Eric