The Best Water Scooters to Document Your Next Underwater Adventure

Finding Your Next Water Scooter: A Buyer's Guide

Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV), more commonly known as handheld sea or water scooters, have become very popular in recent years. Water scooters are often used by deep-sea scuba divers, but they can also be used when snorkeling or simply doing some leisurely underwater exploration.

These compact units feature one or two propellers and house a waterproof battery to drive the user forward while holding it. With a water scooter, you’ll be able to explore the ocean (or pool) smoothly and effortlessly. Here’s what to consider when shopping for a water scooter in 2024:

How Does a Water Scooter Work?

Before we get into the features your sea scooter should have, it’s important to have a basic idea of how these devices work. Water scooters usually have two handles — placing one hand on each handle, you hold the device straight out in front of you and the automated propeller pulls you along underwater with minimal effort on your part. Some water scooters have a mount on the front of them that makes it easy to capture sea life on camera and record your explorations.

Factors To Consider

Speed

The first thing many people ask about water scooters is, “How fast can it go?” To that, we have to say “Hold your seahorses!” — since you’re not using a water scooter to get from point A to point B, but rather for ease of movement, speed isn’t really the most important factor to consider. Most models run at around 2.5 to 4 mph, and if you’re buying a water scooter for a child, consider getting one with a slightly lower speed of around 2 to 2.5 mph.

If price isn’t too much of an issue, you can find more expensive water scooters that are a little faster, with speeds of around 5.5 to 7 mph. Water scooters with higher speeds are more suitable for experienced scuba divers.

Size

When it comes to the size of your water scooter, you ideally want to strike a balance between something lightweight and easy to steer underwater that also has a powerful enough motor to do an effective job. Larger water scooters tend to have more power, but they require slightly more effort to maneuver.

Battery life

The battery is one of the most important things to look at when choosing a water scooter. Some models only offer around 40 minutes of battery life before they need to be recharged, while top-of-the-line units can last up to two hours. We recommend going for a scooter that can offer you at least 30 to 60 minutes of use and picking up an extra battery that you can swap out if you feel like a single charge won’t be enough. Make sure you know what the battery life of a water scooter is, how long it takes to charge, and whether or not a charger is included with your purchase.

Depth

If you’re mainly using a water scooter for snorkeling in shallow waters then depth compatibility won’t be too important. If you’re scuba diving or happen to be an experienced diver, though, you’ll want something that can go deeper than 60 feet. Some water scooter models can reach depths between 100 to 130 feet, but be prepared to pay a little extra for increased depth.

Weight

Water scooters generally weigh less than 20 pounds, and although weight isn’t a huge problem since the scooter does all the work for you, it can be difficult to drag them back up to the surface if the battery dies. If the water scooter is for a child then opt for something lighter, but consider the effect that this may have on the device’s power and speed.

If a water scooter is on the heavier side, we suggest getting something with an LED battery status indicator so you can make sure to swim back up to the surface before the battery dies. If your water scooter is buoyant and designed for the type of water you’re using it in, then weight won’t be too important — more on this next.

Buoyancy

Manufacturers should clearly state whether their water scooter is designed for use in saltwater or fresh/lake water. Models that have positive buoyancy will float up to the surface in salt water if you let them go, but this also means that they’ll sink in freshwater conditions. If you don’t have enough battery to get back up to the surface in freshwater, you’ll need to carry the dead weight with you while swimming back to the surface.

Water scooters that have neutral or zero buoyancy will neither sink nor float (although most will generally float easily in salt water). If you get a scooter that floats well in freshwater, you can always add weights (ballasts) to weigh it down for use in salt water.

Camera mounts

If you’re planning to use your water scooter for photography or recording your underwater adventures, make sure that it has a mount that’s compatible with your underwater camera. You’ll generally be able to mount your camera on the front of the scooter, where it can then easily record everything in front of you without too much effort on your part.

Cleaning

If you use your water scooter in the ocean or anywhere else with salt water, you need to make sure to clean it after use according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Salt can cause some serious damage to the device, so always wash your water scooter thoroughly after saltwater use.

Related: Best Dive Watches