Small Car Diving Tips
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bradells
Contributor
I have a 06 Mazda 3 hatch.
I use 2-3 half height rubber maid tubs to store wet/dry gear, have a welcome mat to put down for putting on drysuit and undergarments, and a Husky X Table ($50 @ Home Depot) for setting up/donning gear.
I can carry 5 tanks (doubles, 2-3 stages), my gear (BP/W, can lights, drysuit, exposure, camera rig) all in the hatch. The top cover gets my undergarments and such.
Unfortunately the X Table has to go in the back seat, along with my cooler and baggage. Could squeeze another diver in there (4 tanks/3 tubs). I usually have 11hr drives to where I dive, and get better mileage with the weight in the back driving through the mountains. I get around 650-700km/45L with gear, ~50km less without.
BRad
I use 2-3 half height rubber maid tubs to store wet/dry gear, have a welcome mat to put down for putting on drysuit and undergarments, and a Husky X Table ($50 @ Home Depot) for setting up/donning gear.
I can carry 5 tanks (doubles, 2-3 stages), my gear (BP/W, can lights, drysuit, exposure, camera rig) all in the hatch. The top cover gets my undergarments and such.
Unfortunately the X Table has to go in the back seat, along with my cooler and baggage. Could squeeze another diver in there (4 tanks/3 tubs). I usually have 11hr drives to where I dive, and get better mileage with the weight in the back driving through the mountains. I get around 650-700km/45L with gear, ~50km less without.
BRad
Dr Dog
Contributor
Dodge Caliber, handles two sets of dive gear with rear seats down. Including my doubles, stage, and a couple other tanks.
I store all my gear in a 60 gallon tote that fits nicely.
I store all my gear in a 60 gallon tote that fits nicely.
Peter_C
Contributor
I can get 4 tanks, our drysuits, etc, plus my scooter, into a Prius C. Our other Prius can hold even more...Learn to pack!
Phantom Menace
Contributor
I took up free diving 
I've gone for a weekend's diving with another person on a Mini cooper. Twinset plus single and pony (not sure I also took stage), all the other dive gear (dry suits, BP, Wing, regs, etc), extra clothes, sleeping bags and some food. It fits.
I have seen 3 divers in a rental Prius with 3 sets doubles & all the accouterments of cave diving. Looked tightly packed & the car sat low (maybe even on leaf springs), but the divers got it to work. I had a 1998 Toyota RAV4. I could get 4 sets of doubles or up to 12 AL cylinders in the back & other equipment in the back & front passenger seat.
I don't worry about the price of gas it is $0.50/litre here, about $1.89/US Gallon
I daresay if I was back in UK or Europe, I'd be running a VW diesel hatchback and not the 4 and 5 litre V8s that I currently own.
I daresay if I was back in UK or Europe, I'd be running a VW diesel hatchback and not the 4 and 5 litre V8s that I currently own.
greenliger
Registered
About the only car you should be worried about diving out of is a smart car. And don't let the name "mini" fool you they have tons of space.
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You don't worry about loose tanks ricocheting around the cab in case of a rollover or a t-bone?
I prefer to stow my tanks in the trunk of my wagon, well secured underneath other luggage, and with a sturdy, secured metal grille covering the open space between the trunk and the top of the back seat backrest. But I'm a low-risk type of person...
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