How deep can you dive with an underwater scooter

Could we now imagine an emergency medical rescue chain without an ambulance or helicopter? The same question could arise regarding the use of the underwater scooter or DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) in the safety of deep-sea apnea competitions.

While there is no doubt about the interest, the practice that might seem simple at first glance raises a number of questions. Here are the personal answers that I can offer with my experience as a deep security diver with different types of scooters and on various occasions including the 2011 and 2012 AIDA World Apnea Championships, the 5th Mediterranean Cup in Crete, or more recently during the filming of Julie Gauthier’s short film Narcose.

DPVs offer a new aquatic experience for young and old alike. Their maneuverability and speed ensure a pleasant time, alone or with your family. You can go to a depth of 30 to 40 meters. The DPV thanks to its lithium battery with an hour of battery life will allow you to snorkel. In addition, aquatic thrusters have absolute safety when used. Discover the seabed from a different perspective with the aid of a DPV.  

How deep can one dive with an underwater scooter?

The distance a diver can go with the DPV depends on many factors as well as the purpose of the dive.  These factors include but not limited to the following:

1. The diving capacity of a particular model. Most DPVs for adults can dive up to 50 meters deep. 
2. The suit of the diver. If the diver is not wearing any oxygen, it is not possible to five deeper because of limited air. Rescue divers who use DPVs always wear oxygen and push the machine to the limits.

Basic models for pool use can go up to 10 meters.

Take your own machine alone or in pairs at a depth of 3-4 meters safely and enjoy a unique experience in the world.

You don’t have to be an experienced and certified diver, or even know how to swim to enjoy diving with a thruster as long as you love to do the adventure!  You will have an incredible view of the reef and other creatures on the seafloor.

The scooter is very easy to handle, with a simple steering wheel, two accelerator pedals to advance and a simple button to control the depth. Just press the button to instantly drop or rise to the surface.

A DPV is a machine whose function can be playful and/or practical. Its engine is enclosed in a waterproof case that drives the propeller to generate propulsion. Users hold it like a flashlight or cling to handlebar handlebars and allow themselves to be towed.

The most basic aquatic thrusters, such as the Seadoo Aquaranger, allow you to travel on the surface or underwater, in a depth of 0 to 10 meters. Children aged 8 and over can also enjoy the pleasure of a fun ride thanks to some of the basic models (speed of 3.2 km/h, maximum depth 5 m). Finally, note that the range of these machines can be up to 1 hour and a half, at 4km/h.

Divers used to take water walks several meters deep. They can discover the world of silence in a different and original way, thanks to these machines. Taking pictures or making videos becomes extremely simple and fluid; a major asset for seabed enthusiasts. Note that some models can go down more than 40 meters below the surface. Equipped with multiple speeds and extremely reliable li-ion batteries, DPVs like the Seadoo GTI can reach 7 km/h at top speed.

Diving with an underwater scooter is also a safety guarantee as it can help to lift strong currents and/or rest in case of fatigue.

For safety reasons, always wear an approved and standardized individual flotation device during your outing to sea. Always inspect the swimming area to make sure it is free of hazards or obstacles such as boats and swimmers before using the aquatic thruster

Be careful to compensate your ears regularly during your descents, risk of perforation of the eardrum. Do not use bottle diving unless supervised by a monitor.

Want to buy an underwater scooter? Here are the features to look

Maximum depth – Whether you are a beginner or an experienced diver, you want to be able to reach a maximum depth at any given time. It’s not out of the question to be on the lookout for scooters that can help you do it. Nevertheless, as a beginner, you may need to start with an aquatic thruster that doesn’t go that far underwater, until you’ve taken off. Overall, the plot of the dive is the depth at which you can go, and as such a scooter with maximum depth would be quite appropriate.

Battery – The battery of any device gives it the ability to run longer, in terms of diving, this means that you can spend much more time underwater. Everyone probably has different preferences regarding the time they spend below and as such, battery life should be scrutinized to suit this.

Power – With machines like this, power is everything, things work differently underwater, there is much more resistance. As such, you need a scooter that has the power to give an adequate thrust that can propel you forward at a good speed. Otherwise, the fun and intrigue are a little lost.

Weight – For these devices weight is everything, you don’t want something that flows because of its weight. If the scooter is too heavy, it goes against the objective and actively works against buoyancy. Another drawback is that, if your battery reaches a certain weight, you will not be allowed to fly with it and, as such, your scooter is rendered immobile.

Floatability – Even if you’re going to be underwater with these devices, you still have to float and that’s where buoyancy comes in. An underwater scooter can have positive, neutral, or negative buoyancy. When a scooter is positively floating, it floats to the surface, buys this kind of scooter for children and beginners. Neutral floats do not sink or rise to the surface on their own, while negative floats sink only slightly. In case you are a deep-sea diver, then those who have a negative buoyancy are intended for you.