I'm in the misunderstood camp. Dives are loved by the GP because they provide intense thrills that are accessible. They're not violent ejector machines but they still are are in the "high thrill" category. They dominate the skyline and add visual appeal to any park as well. Parks should have a diverse lineups that offer a wide range of experiences. Not every single coaster should be a record-breaking airtime machine that only appeals to enthusiasts. And I believe that a *true* enthusiast should recognize and appreciate this; how capable these amazing machines that we claim to love are at providing so many different kinds of experiences and sensations. That, to me anyways, is the spirit of being an enthusiast. Loving coasters and what they do regardless of their size, speed, elements, etc.
I’m in the Mid category. They’re just a drop tower, which most parks already have. The rest is usually an unfortunate, boring sequence of forceless inversions and swooping turns.
Same here, I love them and I've only been on oblivion since I am in the UK so I'd love them even more if I'd been on the bigger ones. Some day hopefully
Not a real thoosie!! I'd rather wait an hour for a coaster that has way more going for it than any dive coaster. I have ridden the biggest ones there are and they are still hella mid. There is "nothing" after the drop for me.
I love dive coasters, and I will always defend them. I prefer hangtime to ejector airtime, and this model works perfectly for that, on both the drops and the inversions.
Hey! Just got here from the youtube recommended page. Your channel definitely deserves a sub, I really like this analytic and informational content! I'm glad I made it here!
If my home park was rumored to get a headliner and then they announced a dive coaster I would be disappointed. But I always try to ride them at parks that have one and find them highly enjoyable. Reliable, fun, high throughput. Great ride model.
Dorney Park, after getting nothing but an Inverted Impulse coaster from sixflags (Possessed, 2008) and an Inverted boomerang from California's Great Adventure (Stinger, 2012) and the latter of which was removed in 2017!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We were rumored to get a Gravity Group shuttle coaster... I would've cried in happiness, at least it'd be something unique. I'm sure Iron Menace will be good, I HOPE it will be good, and while I'm just happy we're getting literally ANYTHING, I can't help but admit I am a bit disappointed :')
I remember when Valraven was announced for Cedar Point there were a lot of enthusiasts that were highly disappointed. When it was announced to be a big record breaker people were still pissed off. But when I finally got to ride it, I was VERY content with the ride. It was the first (and my only) dive coaster I've been on, so I can't really compare it to other dive coasters. But I still loved it, the first drop was amazing no matter which seat or row I sat in. I really don't understand why so many enthusiasts complain about dive coasters. They are extremely fun, and the GP love them too.
just rode griffon yesterday and it was very fun, not in my top 3 but it was gracefull and just fun, and the pause and drop were phenomenal. All my friends who were scared went and they loved it
i've only been on griffon before, but i think dive coasters are great. those three seconds of hang time imo is what makes it work. it makes for a fun photo op with a large group of friends, also. in BGW, in particular, the coaster is placed in a great spot so that it really stands out and is menacing. it's strategically placed next to a lot of sitting/eating areas, so that your less excited friends and family can sit back and still get excitement out of watching the ride
It’s a shame they didn’t incorporate the awesome curves/immelmans/copperheads etc that the others all had. The theming and first drop are class, and the way it curves around the enterprise.
Yes you are right there is something special when you watch them. I love riding them but also just standing in the park and watching the dive coaster pass me by is beautiful and the feeling is undescribable
It’s a unique experience to be positioned tightly together with a bunch of other riders in a square formation like a container of spam, and being able to fall vertically into a water feature or tunnel and do a few smooth inversions that are designed to have a bit of hang time.
All coaster types have their strengths and specializations. I just wish dive coasters would lean into their primary selling point more. Oblivion was cool because it went underground, and while that's a maintenance nightmare, they could at least have a taller drop in general
I personally love dive coasters for the drop, yes I know that they are “1 trick ponies” but those are some of the best drops ever, both the dives I’ve been on (Griffon and ValRavn) place inside my top 20
I definitely put dive coasters in the MID category, especially the mini-dive coasters like Emperor. When the biggest selling point is the freefall and hanging sensation, that means they need to have height. Dive coasters less than 200 ft don't really provide much of it and the overall layout is much shorter also. I have yet to go on Yukon Striker, but I feel a dive coaster would only be exciting at 250 ft+. They also say that you hang at 90 degrees, but even in the front row you really aren't. I would say the best free-fall sensation for a roller coaster would probably have to be on the Vekoma Tilt coasters. The slow crawl out to the end of the track and the tilt down has to be more intimidating as it even looks that way in the POVs.
They’re fun. Sheikra at my home park of Busch Gardens is a great ride, short bit great visuals and themeing. I recently rode Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland and loved it. If only they could add a couple more inversions on Sheikra!
I am an Enthusiast and have yet to experience a dive coaster, but i find them very fascinating. I know they dont provide these fast snappy turns and strong forces, but they are so beautiful to look at. Especially the big ones with 10 seats per row. they just look insane and the frist drop looks so impressive. I want to ride one so bad and im pretty sure i wouldnt be dissapointed beacuse the first drop is the reason why i want to try it. I dont expect the layout aufter the first drop to be great. It just looks good and smooth.
I love ValRavn it's actually one of my favorite rollercoasters. Currently it's in my top 10 historically. Keep in mind I've only visited Kentucky Kingdom, Kings Island, Holiday World, and Cedar Point amongst Amusement Parks.
ValRavn was my first coaster and I thought it was so cool then I went back to it again after I had ridden all the other rides and I felt like it had no re ride value but that’s just me and we all have different tastes and that’s ok
I love the vertical drops of the dive coasters. But I don't get any thrill from the stops before the drop. The second stop is almost pointless. I'll rather take the brake run off and just let it continue through without having the 2nd dive
I think something that most enthusiasts don't consider is that roller coasters aren't built for us. They're meant to appeal to the average person, and a roller coaster that suspends you over a giant vertical drop draws a lot of attention, which is the reason why parks build roller coasters in the first place
I love how the main attraction of candas wonderland is the leviathan, but people don’t talk about the nightmare-ish record-breaking dive coaster out of hell (Yukon striker) in my opinion, YS is way scarier. 4 inversions, a dive, and don’t forget the two drops and sideways corkscrew
I LOVED going to Busch Gardens on a slow day and just lapping sheikra! Love the free fall and the smoothness of it all. Don't get me wrong I also love the fun whippy ejector rides like Iron Gwazi and Steel vengence, but sometimes I just like to close my eyes have my hands out and pretend I'm flying. Don't understand the hate Dives have gotten
CP is the home park, I hate valraven and i absolutely love shiekra. I don’t know how or why B&M thought it was a good idea to change what they were doing. Even with griffon, the layout is just cool to watch. With valraven I just get so bored.
I've only been on Valravn and Griffon, but I love them both. I actually preferred Valravn to Steel Vengeance when I went to Cedar Point because Steel Vengeance was way too intense for me.
Whilst i enjoy dive coaster for their free-fall feeling i will admit I think dive coasters need a lot of theming to really seal the deal. The reason oblivion is so popular with the gp is also the build up of anticipation and genuine fear. Talking to non-enthusiasts in england, oblivion is the most terrifying ride they can imagine. And if you know the theming to oblivion you will know that plays a huge part in that
This video is specifically addressing the "Dive Coaster" model by B&M. Although, Diving Coaster Vanish is pretty sick and will be in a future video for sure
I love Yukon Striker (home park), because of its elements - its mini ending allows 3 trains & great traffic flow. I do think dissenters/haters might feel like Dive Coasters are flat ride adjacent experiences? A big 3 rows of seats, barely feeling handshake with the tracking?
I think dive coasters are fun! Speaking from an enthusiast, I love the free fall sensation. It’s so fun. The inversions and meandering are, quite satisfying in my opinion. Not overly intense, just fast and fun! My first and only one I’ve done was SheiKra.
Sheikra and Griffon in the back row on either far end of the row, there's nothing else like those drops with the old restraints if you leave some room on purpose. Ejected from the seat and float 200 ft down. Noticed new dives vest restraints pin you down too much for that true "free fall" feeling.
@@Babycheeto Dont get me wrong, they are good coasters. I just enjoy Yukon Striker more. Its a more unique ride and gives me the fizz more than the other three.
They’re fine with me. A ride like Yukon or Sheikra should be considered a top 3 ride at most parks, except maybe if ur park is huge and has some world class stuff. Having said that, it really is the drop thats what you go for. The only parts I really enjoy on Yukon are the drop and the zero g roll. Sheikra is arguably more enjoyable
Alton Towers is awesome and Oblivion is the OG. That said, it takes longer to walk the path to the loading area that the ride. It is a crazy long walk. Still, it is the OG and its fun. I personally love dives and I am spoiled withe Yukon Striker being at my home park.
They are designed to have good drops and they have good drops so what is wrong. Similar with Intamin accelerators, they are designed to have powerful launches and they do. They mostly have short layouts but they are all about the launch
Comparing the Yukon loop to Copperhead loop? Personally for me, I find the Yukon loop to be intense and you’re pinned to your seat, whereas the Copperhead loop you eject out and feel like you’re gonna fall out.
For me it depends on which Dive Coaster I'm on. I've been to BG Williamsburg several times and I can't get enough of Griffon. It's one of my absolute favorites at the park, and In fact I like it better than Pantheon it's just so much fun. But Valravn at Cedar Point for some reason does absolutely NOTHING for me. I enjoy Sheikra as well and I TRIED to ride Doctor Diabolical at Six Flags Fiesta Texas recently but it was closed all day. Overall, I enjoy dive coasters I think.
It amazes me that Oblivion is still the only coaster in the world that enters a tunnel vertically, as that drop is the only dive machine that feels special. It's a massive shame that there isn't an underground speed hill and immelman emerging from the ground. Still, it's the most thrilling element on any coaster in the UK imo
@@JakeCoasters Baron is the closest but you can see the pullout before the hole, and Italian Oblivion is more of a tunnel than a hole, you've levelled out a lot before it. The thrill of the vertical plunge is having no idea how deep it goes, and that fear is realised as only 60 of the 180ft drop on Oblivion is above ground. I'm just surprised no one in the 26 years of excessive dives since, has done a proper hole followed by a full layout
I think dive coasters are awesome. Even as someone who isnt scared of coasters it is just exciting to sit on the fron row and look down. This is especially cool on oblivion as you can look into the pit below but when goinng up the ligt hill and towards the drop it is alwayts nicve to take in the views of the park.
after watching several coaster channels review these dive coaster I feel like the general consensus is that the smaller dive machines are higher rated by the enthusiasts. they especially seem to think Emperor is superior. you are probably correct that dive coasters are misunderstood. perhaps because some of the channels put more value on air time rather than hang time? it comes down to what you like. some riders like airtime and laterals. some like hang time. when you get older you prefer a smoother ride rather than a bumpy one. some people can't take the high thrills and prefer a tamer coaster
Dives can be really great. I definitely prefer Griffon over Apollo’s Chariot. Not saying dives are usually better than hypers but just goes to show when done right dives can be top tier
There's nothing quite like Oblivion's drop, dropping vertically into that tunnel takes your breath away. Other dive coasters start to level out by the time it reaches it's head chopper moment at the bottom, but Oblivion is face first into the floor.
They're great usually. One of the "worst" ones I've ridden is Valravn just cause it's still designed for float, but has vests. Looks like B&M wants vests so the newer ones seem to be a slight bit more forceful to compensate.. so if I get to ride a newer one, I'd expect them to be just as fun (but different) as Griffon and Sheikra. I'm not saying Valravn is a bad coaster. Don't misunderstand this. It's a good ride, but just the worst of the few I've done
Personally, I dont really enjoy dive coasters because the main gimmick of the vertical drop and being held over it for a time dosent really scare me. Ive ridden valraven at cedar point and I remember being wholey disappointed (I was also stapled). Despite the height, the drop is still weak because of the lack of speed going into it.
Also, probably why I wasnt rly afraid of it was because I rode pretty much everything in the park before it. Real hot take: B&M is mid as hell (riding a giga soon, so we'll see if I still agree in a few months)
That ride is straight up boring. I’m biased towards any ride at CP too since it’s my home park, but like honestly the Gatekeeper is more thrilling than that snooze fest
I think it depends. If a Dive Coaster Just have the dive and 2 or 3 other elements, they are very short. No problem, if you have no waiting time. But If you have ... On the other side: If it is a full fledged coaster with a great design, it is a great coaster none the less.
The wide train design is why it takes most inversions slowly People in the outer seats would have an awful experience if those twists happen with to much rotational Speed.
Oblivion at Alton towers wasn't my first thrill ride, nor my first coaster but it sure gave me a feeling that no other coaster has given me since. That forceful momentum and beautifully smooth transition into a bank really does it for me, the fact that its so short means I can just bath in the feeling of that heavy drop feeling. No worries of other elements after to distract or take away from what seems so simple, but yet so effective. I came to the conclusion of what exactly is a "dive coaster" and when does it become something else. Winged coasters are winged and the experience is being off to the side of the track, wild mouse are universally twisty and windy, and Dive coasters DIVE, adding additional elements is like adding fluff, jamming it into some where it doesnt fit. Sheikra Is cool for having 2 drops, but going into a hangtime loop really destroys that DIVE feeling, turning it into any other feeling you could get on any other ride, at that point its just a fat coaster, its like drops on hypercoasters, are they now dive coasters if their drop exceed 80 degrees? I think thats silly to conclude. Therefore Oblivion will always (to me) be the best, original and first DIVE coaster (Despite not being exactly 90, as if that matters) and I think Americas over the top adding of height does nothing but exclude rides for thrill seekers that just would rather not be 200miles into the sky on an empty metal track. Also dive coasters looping, or inverting just looks odd. Its like watching a fat man do a flip. (I would like to point out though that I dislike hangtime heavily, and any amount of hangtime makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable, Dive coasters are one of those coasters that are perfect without inversions and feels bastardised when designing literally all of them with large loops and/or hangtime elements)
Honestly, they’re definitely not bad but not one of my favs. I don’t like them as much as other coasters because the dive is the only thrill. I prefer longer ride durations and more thrills.
team misunderstood by enthusiast , but there is a point to be made why some think they are mid, the big 200+ feet dives especially the early ones drop down 200+ feet ,into a immelman and turn into midcourse/second drop thats not that great followed by a couple turns and small hills , maybe an inversion , but the pacing is gone and so are the forces/hangtime. valravn was the first one to actually have a good post midcourse section but still not great , yukon striker is the first of the big dives that actually uses big elements after the first drop and immelman witch makes it one of the best. the problem with dive's with a midcourse is that it takes all the force, pacing and excitement away , yukon striker does that right , keeping the pacing and excitement in the first section , its still not perfect though , the midcourse and drop with a helix into the station could have been another element instead of a boring weak section. Yukon striker is how a 230+ feet dive coaster should be, however 25 mil in 2019 for dive coaster is a lot of money , i wouldnt be suprised if striker is the last of the 230+ feet dives. However enthusiast have been shitting on the "mini" dives for years now , while atleast in my opinion (apart from yukon striker) are far better overall , they have far better pacing , better elements and forces (except for the first drop ofc) and cost a lot less money for the parks. look at Valkyria or iron menace , 150ish feet drop no midcourse brake run and second drop, 3-4 inversions 2200-2500 feet of the track , packed with forces ,hang time and excitement. unless a park is going al out and spending 30+mil to build one like yukon striker (pls don't way better options at that kind of money) stop caring about how tall the first drop is gonna be ,150ft and a great layout with 3-4 inversions and no midcourse is way more fun then a coaster with a big drop and shitty second sector
Why do coaster lovers think going slow and smooth through an element is the same as "bad"? If you think a coaster is just about high forces than you should be ashamed.
![Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride 2025 - Disneyland Ride [4K60 POV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8K3R7d9XuJ8/mqdefault.jpg)
Sound off: Are Dive Coasters Mid or Misunderstood?
Misunderstood: It's all about the GP, they bring in the bread....... and they can't get enough of the dive model.
Yeah they *love* dives, and I get it, I love them too
idk, I haven’t ridden one yet, but I hopefully will ride one this year.
I lean more towards Mid just because I'm not a fan of one trick ponies
Mid. For sure. Yukon Striker is much better than Valravn.
I'm in the misunderstood camp. Dives are loved by the GP because they provide intense thrills that are accessible. They're not violent ejector machines but they still are are in the "high thrill" category. They dominate the skyline and add visual appeal to any park as well.
Parks should have a diverse lineups that offer a wide range of experiences. Not every single coaster should be a record-breaking airtime machine that only appeals to enthusiasts. And I believe that a *true* enthusiast should recognize and appreciate this; how capable these amazing machines that we claim to love are at providing so many different kinds of experiences and sensations. That, to me anyways, is the spirit of being an enthusiast. Loving coasters and what they do regardless of their size, speed, elements, etc.
Totally agree, tried to get that across in the video
I will admit that in parks where attendance is high, I hope the dive takes a huge chunk of the GP from the coasters I actually care about
No these are a gimmick. For the dumb dumb gp. Same morons that’ll say maverick stinks cause it isn’t 300ft.
I’m in the Mid category. They’re just a drop tower, which most parks already have. The rest is usually an unfortunate, boring sequence of forceless inversions and swooping turns.
Agreed. They’re not the most wild rides I’ve ever been on, but they’re still fun!! I always try to hop on Sheikra when I’m in Florida.
You explained this very well, a lot of people do not understand that dive coasters are more about anticipation more than anything
Thank you
I understand it. I just do not care for it at all.
I’m a coaster nerd and still think they’re highly underrated by enthusiasts
Same here, I love them and I've only been on oblivion since I am in the UK so I'd love them even more if I'd been on the bigger ones. Some day hopefully
Not a real thoosie!! I'd rather wait an hour for a coaster that has way more going for it than any dive coaster. I have ridden the biggest ones there are and they are still hella mid. There is "nothing" after the drop for me.
@@Babycheetonot a real thoosie for having a different opinion? 🤦♂️
Same I love sheikra
I wouldn't call them underrated moreso polarizing
I love dive coasters, and I will always defend them. I prefer hangtime to ejector airtime, and this model works perfectly for that, on both the drops and the inversions.
I agree, things feel very ejector heavy recently...a Dive is a nice change of pace
I love dive machines, Sheikra is one of my favorite coasters in the world, it's just fun
Hey! Just got here from the youtube recommended page. Your channel definitely deserves a sub, I really like this analytic and informational content! I'm glad I made it here!
Glad you're here too, appreciate it
yukon striker is a really good dive coaster, probably the best one. Dive coasters have potential
My fave
I’m probably biased, then. I’ve only ever experienced one dive coaster in Yukon Striker, and it slaps.
If my home park was rumored to get a headliner and then they announced a dive coaster I would be disappointed. But I always try to ride them at parks that have one and find them highly enjoyable. Reliable, fun, high throughput. Great ride model.
Dorney Park, after getting nothing but an Inverted Impulse coaster from sixflags (Possessed, 2008) and an Inverted boomerang from California's Great Adventure (Stinger, 2012) and the latter of which was removed in 2017!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were rumored to get a Gravity Group shuttle coaster... I would've cried in happiness, at least it'd be something unique. I'm sure Iron Menace will be good, I HOPE it will be good, and while I'm just happy we're getting literally ANYTHING, I can't help but admit I am a bit disappointed :')
That's a genuinely fair perspective
They are capacity machines. So whether they’re mid or not is irrelevant. They are here to stay, so we gotta appreciate what they are and what they do.
That Oblivion ad is unmatched!
It's so sick, just had to include it
0:17 someone lose their hat?
The Loop on Yukon Striker is a tribute to the roller coaster it replaced called Skyrider
Very cool!
I didn't know this, that's really cool to know
Im going to Alton towers with a group of friends from work and Oblivion is the most talked about ride, still has the fear factor with general public.
Oblivion is iconic
I remember when Valraven was announced for Cedar Point there were a lot of enthusiasts that were highly disappointed. When it was announced to be a big record breaker people were still pissed off. But when I finally got to ride it, I was VERY content with the ride. It was the first (and my only) dive coaster I've been on, so I can't really compare it to other dive coasters. But I still loved it, the first drop was amazing no matter which seat or row I sat in. I really don't understand why so many enthusiasts complain about dive coasters. They are extremely fun, and the GP love them too.
just rode griffon yesterday and it was very fun, not in my top 3 but it was gracefull and just fun, and the pause and drop were phenomenal. All my friends who were scared went and they loved it
Love this! Can't beat the pause at the top 👌
i've only been on griffon before, but i think dive coasters are great. those three seconds of hang time imo is what makes it work. it makes for a fun photo op with a large group of friends, also. in BGW, in particular, the coaster is placed in a great spot so that it really stands out and is menacing. it's strategically placed next to a lot of sitting/eating areas, so that your less excited friends and family can sit back and still get excitement out of watching the ride
I wouldn’t say it’s Mid. It’s more of a Mid Course Break Fun
I see what you did there lol
I absolutely adore oblivion. It is such an incredible feeling and so terrifying. My 2nd favourite at towers
It’s a shame they didn’t incorporate the awesome curves/immelmans/copperheads etc that the others all had.
The theming and first drop are class, and the way it curves around the enterprise.
Thank you for making a whole video about dive coasters they are amazing
I like them too 😊
Yes you are right there is something special when you watch them. I love riding them but also just standing in the park and watching the dive coaster pass me by is beautiful and the feeling is undescribable
It’s a unique experience to be positioned tightly together with a bunch of other riders in a square formation like a container of spam, and being able to fall vertically into a water feature or tunnel and do a few smooth inversions that are designed to have a bit of hang time.
I went on Yukon Striker yesterday for the first time and that had me floating like in my dreams
I feel like The Barron is a perfect fit at Eftaling
All coaster types have their strengths and specializations. I just wish dive coasters would lean into their primary selling point more. Oblivion was cool because it went underground, and while that's a maintenance nightmare, they could at least have a taller drop in general
I personally love dive coasters for the drop, yes I know that they are “1 trick ponies” but those are some of the best drops ever, both the dives I’ve been on (Griffon and ValRavn) place inside my top 20
If you do one trick, make it a good trick
@@JakeCoasters exactly
One of my best coaster rides was a Sheikra downpour ride
I bet that was crazy
I love Sheikra
A classic
I definitely put dive coasters in the MID category, especially the mini-dive coasters like Emperor. When the biggest selling point is the freefall and hanging sensation, that means they need to have height. Dive coasters less than 200 ft don't really provide much of it and the overall layout is much shorter also. I have yet to go on Yukon Striker, but I feel a dive coaster would only be exciting at 250 ft+. They also say that you hang at 90 degrees, but even in the front row you really aren't. I would say the best free-fall sensation for a roller coaster would probably have to be on the Vekoma Tilt coasters. The slow crawl out to the end of the track and the tilt down has to be more intimidating as it even looks that way in the POVs.
I think a coaster with multiple of those dives would be great
They’re fun. Sheikra at my home park of Busch Gardens is a great ride, short bit great visuals and themeing. I recently rode Yukon Striker at Canada’s Wonderland and loved it. If only they could add a couple more inversions on Sheikra!
I am an Enthusiast and have yet to experience a dive coaster, but i find them very fascinating. I know they dont provide these fast snappy turns and strong forces, but they are so beautiful to look at. Especially the big ones with 10 seats per row. they just look insane and the frist drop looks so impressive. I want to ride one so bad and
im pretty sure i wouldnt be dissapointed beacuse the first drop is the reason why i want to try it. I dont expect the layout aufter the first drop to be great. It just looks good and smooth.
This video earned you a sub! Fantastic job and I can’t wait to watch the rest of your portfolio!
Thank you!
Shiekra is sentimental, and my favorite to ride first when i go to BGT. Really shocks the system into being into coaster mode
I love ValRavn it's actually one of my favorite rollercoasters. Currently it's in my top 10 historically. Keep in mind I've only visited Kentucky Kingdom, Kings Island, Holiday World, and Cedar Point amongst Amusement Parks.
ValRavn was my first coaster and I thought it was so cool then I went back to it again after I had ridden all the other rides and I felt like it had no re ride value but that’s just me and we all have different tastes and that’s ok
I love the vertical drops of the dive coasters. But I don't get any thrill from the stops before the drop. The second stop is almost pointless. I'll rather take the brake run off and just let it continue through without having the 2nd dive
Seems that's the trend as of late with some of the more abbreviated dives
Exactly. That nonsensical trim braking ruins it. There is no thrill at all in those rides, they’re honestly boring and short
Misunderstood, admittedly the only one I’ve been on is Oblivion. Yes it’s a one trick pony, but that one trick delivers some spectacular airtime.
Oblivion is my second favourite coaster in the park. The drop is like nothing else including other dives. Sheikra is in my top 5
The holding brake was added at a cost of £10000 on Oblivion.during the design stage
Fr? That's awesome, never heard this before
I think something that most enthusiasts don't consider is that roller coasters aren't built for us. They're meant to appeal to the average person, and a roller coaster that suspends you over a giant vertical drop draws a lot of attention, which is the reason why parks build roller coasters in the first place
The general public pays the bills!
I love how the main attraction of candas wonderland is the leviathan, but people don’t talk about the nightmare-ish record-breaking dive coaster out of hell (Yukon striker) in my opinion, YS is way scarier. 4 inversions, a dive, and don’t forget the two drops and sideways corkscrew
I love Leviathan to death, but YS still freaks me out. It’s the most intense ride at Wonderland.
Hope that B&M Dive Giga will come
Also Zero-G rolls on dives are so good, the one on baron is so whippy on a edge seat
Just love Sheikra!
I LOVE dive coasters!
I think the taller the better Val at cp has a awesome view and the first drop is great
Yes, I agree
I LOVED going to Busch Gardens on a slow day and just lapping sheikra! Love the free fall and the smoothness of it all. Don't get me wrong I also love the fun whippy ejector rides like Iron Gwazi and Steel vengence, but sometimes I just like to close my eyes have my hands out and pretend I'm flying. Don't understand the hate Dives have gotten
Wow, this was a great video! I am part of the misunderstood camp. I feel like every type of coaster has their place.
Thank you! That's my motto, "every coaster is trying to accomplish something"
So was Sheikra the very first coaster with a true vertical drop? Or was there another one before this?
It was! Oblivion claims to be, but it was just shy of that
CP is the home park, I hate valraven and i absolutely love shiekra. I don’t know how or why B&M thought it was a good idea to change what they were doing. Even with griffon, the layout is just cool to watch. With valraven I just get so bored.
Agreed. Valravn is boring as all hell
Gonna try Griffon at BGW as my first coaster... Seriously, I've never been on one. I'm missing out.
Only been on one (griffon) but that first drop is so much fun
Those drops slap!
I've only been on Valravn and Griffon, but I love them both. I actually preferred Valravn to Steel Vengeance when I went to Cedar Point because Steel Vengeance was way too intense for me.
I feel that, luckily Cedar Point has an extremely diverse lineup for this very reason
6:40 aww... that guys hat...
lol
Whilst i enjoy dive coaster for their free-fall feeling i will admit I think dive coasters need a lot of theming to really seal the deal. The reason oblivion is so popular with the gp is also the build up of anticipation and genuine fear. Talking to non-enthusiasts in england, oblivion is the most terrifying ride they can imagine. And if you know the theming to oblivion you will know that plays a huge part in that
Yes, theming always enhances the experience
Does "Diving Coaster Vanish" count as a dive coaster to you? Or only vertical drop coasters?
This video is specifically addressing the "Dive Coaster" model by B&M. Although, Diving Coaster Vanish is pretty sick and will be in a future video for sure
Just a thought but imagine if they had a backwards dive coaster. For me would make it a must ride coaster.
That would be crazy
The scariest part about dive coasters is the ungodly noise on the way up 😂😂😂
They not mid they just not airtime machines and thats all enthusiasts care about now
I love Yukon Striker (home park), because of its elements - its mini ending allows 3 trains & great traffic flow.
I do think dissenters/haters might feel like Dive Coasters are flat ride adjacent experiences? A big 3 rows of seats, barely feeling handshake with the tracking?
Amazing. I enjoy rhem, but would love better pacing seems like Dorney got it right
I think so too
I think dive coasters are fun! Speaking from an enthusiast, I love the free fall sensation. It’s so fun. The inversions and meandering are, quite satisfying in my opinion. Not overly intense, just fast and fun! My first and only one I’ve done was SheiKra.
I agree, can't beat the drop on dive coasters tbh
@@JakeCoasters fr
My brother liked Dr Diabolical's Cliffhanger.
Anybody else see the hat fly off at 6:45 😂
lol wasn't sure if it was a hat or park map
If Dive coasters are to be a thing then themeing is definitely part of that element of success!
Agree
0:16 RIP to the person that lost the hat :(....
Sheikra and Griffon in the back row on either far end of the row, there's nothing else like those drops with the old restraints if you leave some room on purpose. Ejected from the seat and float 200 ft down. Noticed new dives vest restraints pin you down too much for that true "free fall" feeling.
The OTS restraints are the way to go!
Im so Biased as i lived off of Yukon striker so I was celebrating when you showed it
My top dive!
Yukon Striker might be my current favourite at Wonderland.
Mine too
Bro what? What you smoking? Leviathan and Bememoth clear Yukon. Vortex is more fun then Yukon even lol.
@@Babycheeto Dont get me wrong, they are good coasters. I just enjoy Yukon Striker more. Its a more unique ride and gives me the fizz more than the other three.
I love yukon striker at my home park, and I loved sheikra when I went to busch gardens. They are overhated by enthusiasts imo
Agree
They’re fine with me. A ride like Yukon or Sheikra should be considered a top 3 ride at most parks, except maybe if ur park is huge and has some world class stuff. Having said that, it really is the drop thats what you go for. The only parts I really enjoy on Yukon are the drop and the zero g roll. Sheikra is arguably more enjoyable
Yeah now with alpenfury Yukon will be kicked out of top3 but still an amazing dive
06:45 - No loose articles for a reason!
I live dive coasters though! You're too spoilt in the US! 😂
Ha I saw that when I was editing and was like oops lol
I wanna see the giga dive coaster come to Kings Island to take Vortex old spot
Yes!
0:20 ahem
Alton Towers is awesome and Oblivion is the OG. That said, it takes longer to walk the path to the loading area that the ride. It is a crazy long walk. Still, it is the OG and its fun. I personally love dives and I am spoiled withe Yukon Striker being at my home park.
They are designed to have good drops and they have good drops so what is wrong. Similar with Intamin accelerators, they are designed to have powerful launches and they do. They mostly have short layouts but they are all about the launch
Comparing the Yukon loop to Copperhead loop? Personally for me, I find the Yukon loop to be intense and you’re pinned to your seat, whereas the Copperhead loop you eject out and feel like you’re gonna fall out.
That SheiKra ad looks like it was made with Windows Movie Maker
Prob was
@@JakeCoasters $13.5M investment, and they promoted it like a 12 year old's RUclips channel from 2009 :p
It truly was a simpler time back then 😂
Imagine a 180° drop on one, or even 360°… No wait that would cause red outs. But it could be on a flying coaster.
For me it depends on which Dive Coaster I'm on. I've been to BG Williamsburg several times and I can't get enough of Griffon. It's one of my absolute favorites at the park, and In fact I like it better than Pantheon it's just so much fun. But Valravn at Cedar Point for some reason does absolutely NOTHING for me. I enjoy Sheikra as well and I TRIED to ride Doctor Diabolical at Six Flags Fiesta Texas recently but it was closed all day. Overall, I enjoy dive coasters I think.
It amazes me that Oblivion is still the only coaster in the world that enters a tunnel vertically, as that drop is the only dive machine that feels special. It's a massive shame that there isn't an underground speed hill and immelman emerging from the ground. Still, it's the most thrilling element on any coaster in the UK imo
Oblivion: The Black Hole kind of does this as well as Baron1898
@@JakeCoasters Baron is the closest but you can see the pullout before the hole, and Italian Oblivion is more of a tunnel than a hole, you've levelled out a lot before it. The thrill of the vertical plunge is having no idea how deep it goes, and that fear is realised as only 60 of the 180ft drop on Oblivion is above ground.
I'm just surprised no one in the 26 years of excessive dives since, has done a proper hole followed by a full layout
I think dive coasters are awesome. Even as someone who isnt scared of coasters it is just exciting to sit on the fron row and look down. This is especially cool on oblivion as you can look into the pit below but when goinng up the ligt hill and towards the drop it is alwayts nicve to take in the views of the park.
Same here
They need to be one row and have multiple hangs and run more trains by being longer.
I love sheirka too this day
Same same
after watching several coaster channels review these dive coaster I feel like the general consensus is that the smaller dive machines are higher rated by the enthusiasts. they especially seem to think Emperor is superior. you are probably correct that dive coasters are misunderstood. perhaps because some of the channels put more value on air time rather than hang time? it comes down to what you like. some riders like airtime and laterals. some like hang time. when you get older you prefer a smoother ride rather than a bumpy one. some people can't take the high thrills and prefer a tamer coaster
Dives can be really great. I definitely prefer Griffon over Apollo’s Chariot. Not saying dives are usually better than hypers but just goes to show when done right dives can be top tier
There's nothing quite like Oblivion's drop, dropping vertically into that tunnel takes your breath away. Other dive coasters start to level out by the time it reaches it's head chopper moment at the bottom, but Oblivion is face first into the floor.
Okay woah this video w headphones is like binaural audio
Yeah, I mix it to be played in a livingroom with surround sound because one of my friends has a home theater set up lol.
I never rode sheikra till it went floorless
They're great usually. One of the "worst" ones I've ridden is Valravn just cause it's still designed for float, but has vests. Looks like B&M wants vests so the newer ones seem to be a slight bit more forceful to compensate.. so if I get to ride a newer one, I'd expect them to be just as fun (but different) as Griffon and Sheikra.
I'm not saying Valravn is a bad coaster. Don't misunderstand this. It's a good ride, but just the worst of the few I've done
Not a fan of the vests tbh
I feel like most of them miss the point of the original which was to plummet into a pitch black hole, it adds way more intensity than just a dive.
Personally, I dont really enjoy dive coasters because the main gimmick of the vertical drop and being held over it for a time dosent really scare me. Ive ridden valraven at cedar point and I remember being wholey disappointed (I was also stapled). Despite the height, the drop is still weak because of the lack of speed going into it.
Also, probably why I wasnt rly afraid of it was because I rode pretty much everything in the park before it.
Real hot take: B&M is mid as hell (riding a giga soon, so we'll see if I still agree in a few months)
I rode Valravn today, and it was only okay
From a business perspective though, they work
Definitely crowd pleasers
That ride is straight up boring. I’m biased towards any ride at CP too since it’s my home park, but like honestly the Gatekeeper is more thrilling than that snooze fest
I think it depends. If a Dive Coaster Just have the dive and 2 or 3 other elements, they are very short. No problem, if you have no waiting time. But If you have ...
On the other side: If it is a full fledged coaster with a great design, it is a great coaster none the less.
The wide train design is why it takes most inversions slowly People in the outer seats would have an awful experience if those twists happen with to much rotational
Speed.
Maybe that’d be a good thing. They are boring, short, and tame rides
Oblivion at Alton towers wasn't my first thrill ride, nor my first coaster but it sure gave me a feeling that no other coaster has given me since. That forceful momentum and beautifully smooth transition into a bank really does it for me, the fact that its so short means I can just bath in the feeling of that heavy drop feeling. No worries of other elements after to distract or take away from what seems so simple, but yet so effective.
I came to the conclusion of what exactly is a "dive coaster" and when does it become something else. Winged coasters are winged and the experience is being off to the side of the track, wild mouse are universally twisty and windy, and Dive coasters DIVE, adding additional elements is like adding fluff, jamming it into some where it doesnt fit. Sheikra Is cool for having 2 drops, but going into a hangtime loop really destroys that DIVE feeling, turning it into any other feeling you could get on any other ride, at that point its just a fat coaster, its like drops on hypercoasters, are they now dive coasters if their drop exceed 80 degrees? I think thats silly to conclude.
Therefore Oblivion will always (to me) be the best, original and first DIVE coaster (Despite not being exactly 90, as if that matters) and I think Americas over the top adding of height does nothing but exclude rides for thrill seekers that just would rather not be 200miles into the sky on an empty metal track.
Also dive coasters looping, or inverting just looks odd. Its like watching a fat man do a flip. (I would like to point out though that I dislike hangtime heavily, and any amount of hangtime makes me feel incredibly uncomfortable, Dive coasters are one of those coasters that are perfect without inversions and feels bastardised when designing literally all of them with large loops and/or hangtime elements)
Honestly, they’re definitely not bad but not one of my favs. I don’t like them as much as other coasters because the dive is the only thrill. I prefer longer ride durations and more thrills.
team misunderstood by enthusiast , but there is a point to be made why some think they are mid, the big 200+ feet dives especially the early ones drop down 200+ feet ,into a immelman and turn into midcourse/second drop thats not that great followed by a couple turns and small hills , maybe an inversion , but the pacing is gone and so are the forces/hangtime.
valravn was the first one to actually have a good post midcourse section but still not great , yukon striker is the first of the big dives that actually uses big elements after the first drop and immelman witch makes it one of the best.
the problem with dive's with a midcourse is that it takes all the force, pacing and excitement away , yukon striker does that right , keeping the pacing and excitement in the first section , its still not perfect though , the midcourse and drop with a helix into the station could have been another element instead of a boring weak section.
Yukon striker is how a 230+ feet dive coaster should be, however 25 mil in 2019 for dive coaster is a lot of money , i wouldnt be suprised if striker is the last of the 230+ feet dives.
However enthusiast have been shitting on the "mini" dives for years now , while atleast in my opinion (apart from yukon striker) are far better overall , they have far better pacing , better elements and forces (except for the first drop ofc) and cost a lot less money for the parks.
look at Valkyria or iron menace , 150ish feet drop no midcourse brake run and second drop, 3-4 inversions 2200-2500 feet of the track , packed with forces ,hang time and excitement.
unless a park is going al out and spending 30+mil to build one like yukon striker (pls don't way better options at that kind of money) stop caring about how tall the first drop is gonna be ,150ft and a great layout with 3-4 inversions and no midcourse is way more fun then a coaster with a big drop and shitty second sector
Valerie Raven at da point rocks
I really enjoy dive coasters, the only thing i dislike is the new vest restraints, Sheikra and Griffon are great, but valravn is just meh
Me too, away with vests lol
Why do coaster lovers think going slow and smooth through an element is the same as "bad"? If you think a coaster is just about high forces than you should be ashamed.
Great question