| UNDERWATER SEA SCOOTERS | BATTERY LIFE/RUN TIME | MAX. SPEED | MAX. DEPTH | WEIGHT | PRICE | BUY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Seal | 90 minutes | 3.2 km/h (2 mph) | 4.5 m (15 ft) | 5.4 kg (11.5 lbs) | $295 | Buy |
| Yamaha Explorer | 60 minutes | 4 km/h (2.5 mph) | 10 m (30 ft) | 5.2 kg (11.5 lbs) | $345 | Buy |
| Yamaha RDS250 | 120 minutes | 4 km/h (2.5 mph) | 30 m (100 ft) | 8.2 kg (18 lbs) | $410 | Buy |
| Aquarobotman MagicJet | 100 minutes | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) | 50 m (164 ft) | 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) | $699 | Buy |
| Sublue WhiteShark Mix | 30 minutes | 5.4 km/h (3.3 mph) | 40 m (131 ft) | 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) | $699 | Buy |
| Geneinno Trident Seascooter | 45 minutes | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) | 50 m (164 ft) | 3.7 kg (8.1 lbs) | $799 | Buy |
| RoboSea SeaFlyer | 60 minutes | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) | 45 m (147 ft) | 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) | $899 | Buy |
| Yamaha 275L | 120 minutes | 5.4 km/h (3.3 mph) | 40 m (131 ft) | 14.5 kg (32 lbs) | $899 | Buy |
| Yamaha Seawing II | 40 minutes | 8 km/h (5 mph) | 30 m (100 ft) | 3.6 kg (8 lbs) | $995 | Buy |
| Hoverstar AquaJet Dive H2 | 100 minutes | 9 km/h (5.6 mph) | 20 m (66 ft) | 14 kg (31 lbs) | $1,599 | Buy |
| Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 | 100 minutes | 4.2 km/h (2.6 mph) | 70 m (230 ft) | 21.3 kg (47 lbs) | $1,995 | Buy |
| TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 | 110 minutes | 4.1 km/h (2.6 mph) | 70 m (230 ft) | 20 kg (45 lbs) | $3,799 | Buy |
Overview of the top sea scooters and DPVs
Here we take a closer look at each underwater scooter, providing you with important specs and other useful information.
Seal seascooter
| Battery life: | 90 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 3.2 km/h (2 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 5 m (15 ft) |
| Weight: | 5.4 kg (11.5 lbs) |
| Price: | $245 |
The Yamaha Seal Sea scooter is a great take-along for a family trip. It’s not the fastest underwater scooter, offering a speed of 2 miles per hour (3.2 km/h), but it’ll do the trick for children of 8 years and up. Adults can use it too, although you’ll be pushing the device to its limits.
The Seal even prevents your fingers from getting caught in the propellers thanks to a protective cover mesh. You still need to be careful if you or your kids have long hair though; make sure your hair is tied up!
This entry-level underwater scooter boasts a long battery life and is ideal for use in saltwater thanks to its positive buoyancy. It’s also compatible with fresh water and pool water, it’ll just sink a bit.
Explorer seascooter
| Battery life: | 60 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 4 km/h (2.5 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Weight: | 5.2 kg (11.5 lbs) |
| Price: | $345 |
The Yamaha Explorer sea scooter was designed for young recreational snorkelers and divers. It can be great for shallow dives or for chasing fish. The Explorer dive scooter is actually very similar to the Seal (mentioned above).
Its battery doesn’t last as long, but the Explorer can go a little faster (4 km per hour or speed of 2.5 miles per hour) and dive a bit deeper (10 meters or 30 feet) than the Seal can.
RDS 250
| Battery life: | 120 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 4 km/h (2.5 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Weight: | 8.2 kg (18 lbs) |
| Price: | $410 |
Yamaha’s RDS series of sea scooters are destined for recreational users above 16 years of age. This particular model, the RDS 250, is the middle child of the family, sitting right in between the RDS 300 and the RDS 200.
In comparison with the RDS 300 (90-minute run time and 5 km/h speed), the RDS 250 version offers a longer battery life but is slightly slower. The RDS 200, on the other hand, offers slower speed and lesser run time (60-minute run time and 3 km/h speed).
Hence, the RDS 250 is a good compromise between speed and battery duration. All three sea scooter models feature camera mounts and a removable buoyancy control chamber. They are ideal for use in salt water.
MagicJet
| Battery life: | 100 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 50 m (164 ft) |
| Weight: | 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) |
| Price: | $699 |
The MagicJet is one of the best underwater scooter options in terms of price-to-performance ratio. This scooter’s maximum speed is 6.5 km/h, but you can toggle to a slower speed of 4 km/h (about 2.5 mph) depending on what you’re looking for.
Its 7000-mAh Li-ion battery allows you to glide through water for up to 60 minutes at full speed, or 100 minutes if you’re using the slowest speed. The battery takes a while to charge, you’ll need to wait about 3 hours while it charges before you can go for a second spin. However, you may buy a spare battery and quickly plug it in thanks to Aquarobot’s easy battery-changing system.
What’s interesting with this dive scooter is its 2-in-1 mode. You can attach two MagicJets together in order to go faster.
WhiteShark Mix Underwater Scooter
| Battery life: | 30 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 5.4 km/h (3.3 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 40 m (131 ft) |
| Weight: | 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) |
| Price: | $699 |
The WhiteShark Mix features a unique design in comparison with other underwater scooters. It is equipped with two powerful thrusters that can propel you through the water at over 5 km/h. All you have to do is press the double triggers to get going. If you release one or both of the triggers, the device will stop.
One of this aqua scooter’s advantages is that it’s quite lightweight at only 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs). Some users have commented that it takes a bit of time to recharge the battery, so buying an extra one to swap in could come in handy. Sublue provides great customer service in case you encounter any malfunctions.
Trident Seascooter
| Battery life: | 45 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 50 m (164 ft) |
| Weight: | 3.7 kg (8.1 lbs) |
| Price: | $799 |
Two speeds are available with this underwater scooter: 3.6 km/h (2.2 mph) and 6.5 km/h (4 mph). You can use it with one or two hands while you glide through the water.
Its battery can last for about 45 minutes and takes around 2 hours to charge. If you’re still deep underwater when it runs out of battery you can just let hold of it and the scooter will float up to the surface. That way you don’t have to carry it while you swim upwards.
The Trident sea scooter looks like a mini underwater plane on which you can mount a waterproof camera or flashlight.
SeaFlyer
| Battery life: | 30 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 6.5 km/h (4 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 45 m (147 ft) |
| Weight: | 3.6 kg (7.9 lbs) |
| Price: | $899 |
This personal propulsion device is compatible with use in the ocean, lakes, and pools. It boasts an OLED dashboard that allows you to easily keep track of your speed, depth, temperature, and battery level.
Two different speeds are available, so you can choose to go at either 3.7 km/h (2.3 mph) or 6.5 km/h (4 mph). There’s also a sports camera mount if you want to attach your GoPro, for example.
The RoboSea SeaFlyer underwater scooter will automatically float to the surface if you let go of it.
275L
| Battery life: | 120 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 5.4 km/h (3.3 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 40 m (131 ft) |
| Weight: | 14.5 kg (32 lbs) |
| Price: | $899 |
This Yamaha sea scooter offers three different speeds that can be activated by one of the triggers on either side of the device. You can use it for up to two hours and swim through currents, all while keeping an eye on the battery thanks to a LED indicator.
The Yamaha 275L comes with four ballasts (weights) that you can add or remove depending on if you’re in fresh water or salt water. It also features pressure-valve technology, allowing the device to depressurize once you’re back up to the surface.
Other features include a safety lock and an automatic shutdown function when the diving scooter is on standby for a certain period of time.
Seawing II
| Battery life: | 40 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 8 km/h (5 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 30 m (100 ft) |
| Weight: | 3.6 kg (8 lbs) |
| Price: | $995 |
The Yamaha Seawing II is a powerful sea scooter. It features dual motors and is able to reach an impressive maximum speed of 8 km/h (5 mph). Its lithium-Ion battery allows a total underwater run time of 40 minutes for a recharge time of 3 hours.
The Seawing II is able to reach depths of 30 meters (100 ft) and is neutrally buoyant in saltwater to maintain depth effortlessly.
It features a speed control switch to change from low gear to high gear, an OLED screen that shows the current gear and the battery level as well as a mount on which a sports camera can be fixed.
AquaJet Dive H2
| Battery life: | 100 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 9 km/h (5.6 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Weight: | 14 kg (31 lbs) |
| Price: | $1,599 |
This underwater sea scooter boasts a great number of features, which can probably explain its high price tag. Dubbed a “bionic marine vehicle” by its manufacturer, the AquaJet H2 can tug you through the water at a speed of up to 9 km (5.6 mi) per hour. You can choose between three different speeds if you want to cruise more slowly. The AquaJet H2 can also dive at depths of around 65 feet.
The Hoverstar AquaJet H2’s manta ray design can be dismantled to make it easier to transport. You can store the different parts in the travel case that comes with this premium sea scooter.
If anything gets caught in the propeller, the device will automatically shut down to prevent damage. The AquaJet H2 also features various LED indicators to let you know if there are any mechanical failures, or simply for you to know approximately how much time you have left on the Li-Ion battery.
AV-2 Evolution 2
| Battery life: | 100 minutes |
| Max. speed: | 4.2 km/h (2.6 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Weight: | 21.3 kg (47 lbs) |
| Price: | $1,995 |
The AV-2 Evolution 2 from Apollo is an Underwater Propulsion Vehicle designed for professional underwater explorers. It is able to reach a depth of 70 m (230 ft) while offering a 100-minute battery life.
Its speed trigger allows switching between 3 different propeller speeds, with a top speed of 4.2 km/h (2.6 mph).
The AV-2 Evolution 2 also features a speed adjustment function for smooth transitions between the different speeds and a LED battery indicator.
SAV-7 EVO-2
| Battery life: | 110 min |
| Max. speed: | 4.1 km/h (2.6 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Weight: | 20 kg (45 lbs) |
| Price: | $3,799 |
This diver propulsion vehicle by Japanese manufacturer TUSA is destined for professional divers. It comes with a patented “hands-free saddle”, which allows you to twist or turn at will.
The scooter can also pull up to three divers at a time when equipped with the “side wings” (tow bars) accessory. According to TUSA, the scooter’s speed and run time is barely affected by the additional weight from extra divers.
In addition to being able to choose between three different speeds, you can also modify the pitch or angle of the scooter. The TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 is also equipped with LED battery status indicators.
Mankeel W7
| Battery life: | 60 min |
| Max. speed: | 5.4 km/h (3.3 mph) |
| Max. depth: | 50 m (164ft) |
| Weight: | 4.7kg (10 lbs) |
| Price: | $499 |
Mankeel W7 adopts a new integrated design, light and small appearance, smooth surface that consistent with the surface of the water, make it move smoothly in the water, also convenient to carry, the diving depth is up to 50m, allowing you fully enjoy diverse underwater scenery. Free to cruise in the water world even if you are not a good swimmer.
The long battery life after each full charge is up to 60 minutes, and the fully waterproof IP68 removable battery design is also convenient for replacing the battery or recharging it.
Sea scooter vs underwater scooter vs Diver Propulsion Vehicle: what’s the difference?
There are a number of names for these devices.
Sea scooter, underwater scooter, and DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) are used interchangeably. The terms all represent the same thing: a compact, waterproof device that can pull divers through the water thanks to one or more propellers.
Some people also call these aqua scooters or underwater jetskis. They’re mainly used by scuba divers to quickly get around seascapes without expending too much energy, all while saving precious air for breathing. However, they’re also popular for recreational use. You can use a sea scooter for snorkeling or simple exploration.
There are also “literal” underwater scooters that you can actually ride, and the go by the name “Breathing Observation Submersible Scooter”.
If you want to try one, you’ll most likely have to go to a touristic waterside vacation spot and rent one with a guide (see YouTube video).
Underwater scooter buying guide: things to consider
Here is a list of elements you should consider when deciding which is the best sea scooter for you.
Maximum speed
If you’re looking to gift a scooter to a child, a low maximum speed will do the trick just fine. You can aim for 3 or 4 km/h (2 to 2.5 mph) which should satisfy their craving for adventure.
For an adult, you may want to go for something that’s a little faster. Most sea scooters for adults will go up to 4 to 6.5 km/h (2.5 mph to 4 mph). However, you can find scooters that go up to 9 km/h (5.6 mph) if you have the budget.
Maximum depth
This specification isn’t too important if you’re just going to use your sea scooter to snorkel through shallow waters. If you’re an experienced scuba diver, you’ll want to opt for a scooter that can go deeper than 20 meters (over 60 feet).
Buoyancy
If a sea scooter manufacturer states that their sea scooters have positive buoyancy, it means that the device will float up to the surface if you let it go in saltwater. However, that means that it’ll sink in freshwater or lake water.
In that case, you’ll need to make sure you have enough battery to get back up to the surface if you’re in freshwater. Otherwise, you will be carrying dead weight with you while you swim upwards.
Some aqua scooters have zero buoyancy (neutral buoyancy), meaning that they won’t sink or float. Of course, that’ll depend on if you’re using your underwater scooter in saltwater, where it’s easier to float, or in fresh or pool water.
You can get a scooter that floats well in freshwater, and add ballasts (weights) to it if you use it in saltwater to weigh it down.
In any case, you don’t need to be an expert on buoyancy to know which scooter to get. Manufacturers usually clearly state which type of water their scooters are designed for.
Using an underwater scooter in seas and oceans
If you use your underwater scooter in salt water, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions once you’re back on land. Salt can seriously harm your device if it’s not properly washed off!
Battery
Like you would for a regular electric scooter, make sure you pay attention to the sea scooter’s estimated maximum run time. Most devices offer at least an hour of battery life before they need recharging. The best underwater sea scooter options out there can provide you with up to two hours of run time.
If you choose an aqua scooter with lower run time, you might want to grab an extra battery with you.
Weight
Weight can be an important factor depending on who the scooter is for and where you’re going to use it. Most underwater scooters weigh under 10 kg (20 pounds), which can still be a bit heavy for kids if the scooter doesn’t float.
Keep in mind that in case you run out of battery while you’re deep underwater, you’re going to have to swim up to the surface with the weight of the scooter. You can keep an eye on the LED status indicator to avoid this if your scooter has one, but if your underwater scooter is buoyant, then it shouldn’t be a stress factor. Just make sure you know what kind of scooter you’re dealing with before you dive!
