TESTCENTRE
Key-keeper
Keypod 5Gs
Back when I had a rather ferocious-looking ( but soft as muck ) Airedale terrier , I could afford to be blasé about leaving my van unsecured when I went off for a shore dive . With Archie in situ , I could leave the doors wide open with scant regard to whatever kit , cameras or credit cards were on display .
My current cocker spaniel isn ’ t quite the same deterrent so I decided to search for a more secure solution . The Northcore Keypod 5Gs may sound more like a high-tech mobile phone , but it ’ s actually a rather neat and compact portable key safe .
I ’ ve often seen these devices hanging from the towing ring of many a surfer ’ s camper van , and came to the conclusion they were just as relevant to divers . Consisting of a thick , hinged , weatherresistant alloy body with an integrated shackle and four-digit combination lock , the Keypod has internal dimensions of 9cmx6.6cmx2.8cm . This should prove more than ample for the average bunch of house / car keys . After choosing my own unique combination I closed the shackle around the suspension coil of my van . This meant it was not only secure , but out of sight too . If left visible the pod ’ s buildquality should deter all but the most persistent and tooled-up of thieves . While there are 10,000 possible combinations with a four-digit code , some cheap , poor-quality locks can quite easily be opened in a few seconds if you ’ re in the know ( check it out online as it ’ s quite enlightening ).
The Keypod , I ’ m happy to say , is made of sterner stuff . Unless your local criminal is equipped with a lump hammer and heavyduty chisel or a hacksaw capable of cutting through stainless steel , you can safely assume your keys will be exactly where you left them come the end of your dive . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Northcore ’ s Keypod provides secure storage for car keys and acts as an effective deterrent against the casual thief while you relax and enjoy the dive .
Get a grip
Best Divers Tank Handle
Many years ago when I was new to scuba diving , friends and family would often present me with little accessories that they thought would come in handy for my new pastime . Without meaning to sound ungrateful , most of it was plasticky tat that was so poorly manufactured that it would break after a single dive .
One such gift had me fooled for a while , when I received a pair of folding cylinder handles . Those thoughts soon turned X-rated when the ‘ clever ’ folding half of the handle ,
designed to lay flat against the curved neck of the bottle , separated and trapped my fingers painfully .
Consigned to the bin with immediate effect , I never thought twice about replacing them until recently when I purchased a used cylinder . Its nylon handle – rigid , not folding – was very firmly attached to the neck of the tank via two stainless steel Allen bolts . It was chunky to grip and also worked in conjunction with the cylinder boot to prevent it rolling when laid flat .
I subconsciously began to favour this cylinder for its ease of carriage , finding that lifting it in and out of the car , loading onto the rib and even retrieving it from the water after a dive was making my life so much easier . Having identified said item as one of the Best Divers range , I ’ ve now treated myself to several more of these excellent handles . NH
SCUBA SAYS
Best Divers Tank Handles – couldn ’ t agree more !
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