Dive Coaster

Product
Dive Coaster
The very first Dive Coaster, Oblivion at Alton Towers
Status In production
Number built 12
First built Oblivion (1998)
Latest built Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger (2022)
Statistics
Manufacturer
 Bolliger & Mabillard, Switzerland

The Dive Coaster (previously called Diving Machine) is a steel roller coaster product built by Bolliger & Mabillard. It can be distinguished by its wide trains, seating six, seven, eight or ten riders per row.

Oblivion at Alton Towers was the first Dive Coaster, featuring a near vertical drop, as well as an underground tunnel and turnaround. It was also the first roller coaster with a near vertical drop.

Since the opening of Oblivion other companies have built rides with drops steeper than 90 degrees but Bolliger & Mabillard remain the only company to build roller coasters with such wide trains.

History

A train on SheiKra in its original configuration, before it was converted to a floorless roller coaster

The first Dive Coaster to be built was Oblivion at Alton Towers, England, in 1998. However it didn't have a "true" vertical drop, but a maximum angle of 88.8 degrees to make sure that the wheels could stay in contact with the track. Despite this, it is still considered and accepted as the first vertical drop. Later Dive Coasters had spring-loaded wheels, keeping the wheels firm against the track and thus allowing "true" vertical drops.

Since then, eight more Dive Coaster installations have opened. SheiKra, opened in 2005 at Busch Gardens Tampa, is the first Dive Coaster to feature inversions. Griffon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg introduced floorless trains in 2007. The same year, SheiKra's trains were modified to be floorless.[1] All Dive Coasters built since have inversions and floorless trains.

When it opened in 2016, Valravn at Cedar Point was the first Dive Coaster with three inversions and also the first installation to use vest harnesses instead of over-the-shoulder harnesses.

The largest installation so far is the Yukon Striker at Canada's Wonderland.

Design

All Dive Coaster installations hold the train at the top of the first drop for approximately three seconds. A small section of chain is used, which holds the train while pushing it very slowly over the edge.

Some Dive Coasters feature water brakes, where fins at the ends of the trains spray water over spectators.

Trains

Dive Coaster trains are unique in that they seat six to ten riders per row. The trains employ stadium seating, with each row raised higher than the one in front to maximise the view.

Installations

Name Amusement Park Country Train width Layout Opened Status Operator
Oblivion Alton Towers
UK
8 Oblivion March 14, 1998 Operating Merlin Entertainments
Diving Machine G5 Janfusun Fancyworld
Taiwan
8 Oblivion March 29, 2000 Operating
SheiKra Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
USA
8 SheiKra May 21, 2005 Operating SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
Griffon Busch Gardens Williamsburg
USA
10 Griffon May 18, 2007 Operating SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
Dive Coaster Chimelong Paradise
China
10 Custom February 7, 2008 Operating
Diving Coaster Happy Valley (Shanghai)
China
8 SheiKra August 16, 2009 Operating Happy Valley
Krake Heide Park
Germany
6 Custom April 16, 2011 Operating Merlin Entertainments
Oblivion: The Black Hole Gardaland
Italy
6 Custom March 28, 2015 Operating Merlin Entertainments
Baron 1898 Efteling
Netherlands
6 Custom July 1, 2015 Operating
Valravn Cedar Point
USA
8 Custom May 7, 2016 Operating Cedar Fair
Flying Apsaras in Western Region Happy Valley (Sichuan)
China
6 Custom February 10, 2018 Operating Happy Valley
Draken Gyeongju World
South Korea
8 Griffon May 1, 2018 Operating
Valkyria Liseberg
Sweden
6 Custom August 10, 2018 Operating
Yukon Striker Canada's Wonderland
Canada
8 Custom May 3, 2019 Operating Cedar Fair
Emperor SeaWorld San Diego
USA
6 Custom March 12, 2022 Operating SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
Dr. Diabolical's Cliffhanger Six Flags Fiesta Texas
USA
7 Custom July 31, 2022 Operating Six Flags
Iron Menace Dorney Park
USA
7 Custom 2024 Under construction Cedar Fair

Images

References

Bolliger & Mabillard