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Snorkeling is a beloved underwater sport for many people all over the world, and underwater scooters can make adventures even more exciting.
The sights and sounds of a different, sometimes colorful ecosystem in the underwater world can be appreciated by all ages — from younger divers first learning how to begin their explorations to older divers who love being able to stay active, thanks to the weightlessness of being suspended in water.
When it comes to diving, snorkeling or even just underwater swimming, everyone has a limit to how much they can do and how long their endurance can last. That’s why underwater scooters have become increasingly popular in recent times. The devices make water activities easier physically, and, thus, more accessible to a wider range of people with varying capabilities.
Comparison Table
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FAQ | Underwater Scooters
If you’ve never used one, or even if you have and are now thinking about buying your own, you probably have questions about underwater scooters. Here, we will answer a few of the frequently asked questions we get from consumers:
1. What Are Underwater Scooters?
Underwater scooters are personal devices handheld by people as they snorkel or swim underwater. The scooters have electrical engines that drive propellers and thrust their users through the water, allowing them to cover a great distance underwater with little physical exertion.
2. What Does an Underwater Scooter Do?
An underwater scooter allows for its user to spend a longer time underwater, travel more quickly to cover a greater distance and to explore a wider range of area — all without the person having to exert a great amount of energy to do so.
3. How Do Underwater Scooters Work?
Underwater scooters are like miniature, individual boats, of sorts. They are electrically powered and use propellers for thrust, to push the people holding them quickly to wherever they steer under the water’s surface.
4. Where Can You Buy Them?
You can typically find the devices in-person at water sports resellers or, more conveniently, online at Amazon.com LeisurePro Diver Emporium.
5. Who Is the Underwater Scooter For?
Anyone from professional divers to amateur snorkelers can benefit from using an underwater scooter. The devices make diving easier for anyone at any depth.
How We Reviewed
We compiled a list of many scooter brands and then reviewed them based on their features, their pros and cons, their prices, their availability for purchase, their warranties and other important considerations. We then factored in the recommendations and advice of professionals in the business and of consumers who had experience using the devices.
Finally, we studied our findings and came up with this shortlist of the best 8 underwater scooters we could recommend as a good value for your money. At the end, we’ll reveal to you our favorite among the best of the best!
Overall Price Range of Underwater Scooters
The price range for underwater scooters varies widely. At the low-end of the spectrum are kid-friendly models that cost about $$$ and are suitable for use in a swimming pool. On the higher end of the spectrum, up to almost $$$, are brands with numerous features that aim to satisfy the needs of serious water sports enthusiasts.
What We Reviewed
- YAMAHA RDS-300 Seascooter with Camera Mount
- TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 Underwater Scooter
- YAMAHA Seal Seascooters
- Torpedo 3500 Dive Propulsion Vehicle
- Dive-Xtras Piranha P1 Travel Package
- YAMAHA Seascooters 220Li 350Li and 500Li Underwater Scooter
- Pegasus Thruster Full Package
- Dive-Xtras Cuda 400 Scooter
[amazon link=”B077XYG3BT” title=”YAMAHA RDS-300 Seascooter with Camera Mount”/]
[amazon box=”B077XYG3BT”]
Features
The Yamaha RDS-300 Seascooter with a camera mount can accommodate depths as far down as 100 feet. It can reach speeds of up to 3 miles per hour, and can be used for about 1.5 hours when fully charged. It has heavy-duty hull protection and weighs about 18 pounds, which includes a mount for a GoPro camera. It is perfect for anyone who wants to capture images of the beauty they witness while swimming below the surface.
Pros
- GoPro mounting to accommodate a camera
- Good for a depth of up to 100 feet
- Relatively lightweight, so easy to handle and transport
Cons
- Fairly expensive compared to alternatives
- Lacks special features
- Explicitly designed for salt water, so it lacks buoyancy in fresh water
Price
Available on Amazon for around $$$.
Warranty
If you are looking to buy a Yamaha RDS-300 Seascooter, you can request a manufacturer’s warranty at the time of purchase.
[amazon link=”B00QO2PLZW” title=”TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 Underwater Scooter”/]
[amazon box=”B00QO2PLZW”]
Features
The TUSA SAV-7 EVO-2 Underwater Scooter is designed to have precise changes in speed while it is in motion, allowing the user to have a smoother ride and easier control of the device in their hands. Its fully charged battery has a long life of up to 2 hours and there is a battery life gauge on the scooter when it is turned on that can let you know just how much time you have remaining on the battery’s charge.
Additionally, the user of the TUSA scooter can fine-tune the propeller in regard to angle and position, giving the rider more control while under water. This scooter comes with a hands-free riding saddle, that accommodates up to three riders at once.
Pros
- Suitable for use by up to 3 people simultaneousl
- Allows for control and a very precise ride
- Battery fully charged lasts up to 2 hours
Cons
- Weight is prohibitive to portability
- Expensive when compared to alternatives
Price
Available at Amazon for around $$$.
Warranty
This scooter is protected by a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase.
[amazon link=”B075FBWQJ1″ title=”YAMAHA Seascooters”/]
[amazon box=”B075FBWQJ1″]
Features
The YAMAHA Seal Seascooters bills itself as an underwater scooter for children and families. It features a brightly colored design, it is lightweight at 12 pounds and it is built to be durable. Most consumers of this product reported they used it for surface diving, and it runs about 1.5 hours on a charge.
Pros
- Lightweight, yet durable
- Easy to use
- Designed for kids and families
Cons
- Very much a surface-level product
- Not suitable for use by professionals or heavy divers
- Warranty is very short
Price
Available on Amazon for around $$$.
Warranty
Purchase of the YAMAHA Seal Seascooters comes with a 6-month warranty.
Torpedo 3500 Dive Propulsion Vehicle
Features
The Torpedo 3500 Dive Propulsion Vehicle is meant for recreational and cave divers, with extended time and increased mobility so users can consume air more carefully. The main safety feature is a magnetic reed switch, and it also comes with flotation devices that allow for a return to the surface as necessary. Its handles are designed to make the 50-pound device easier to carry. Consumers reported that its battery, even when fully charged, lasts only 45 minutes.
Pros
- Easy to maneuver
- Great for pros
- Very hydrodynamic
- Carrying handles
Cons
- Weight is prohibitive to portability
- Not suitable for regular users (designed for use by pros)
- Short battery life
Price
Available on Leisure Pro for around $$$.
Warranty
The Torpedo 3500 is guaranteed with a 1-year limited warranty.
Dive-Xtras Piranha P1 Travel Package
Features
The Dive-Xtras Piranha P1 Travel Package is a powerful, but lightweight (34.6 pounds), underwater scooter designed primarily for technical diving. As such, it features a series of customizable gears and speeds that make it similar to driving a car underwater. It also has the useful feature of logging power consumption so you can see how efficiently you are in your diving.
Grip sizes are adjustable, the battery lasts anywhere between 45-120 minutes, and purchase includes an additional battery specifically designed for travel.
Pros
- Great for technical diving
- User can monitor power consumption
- Variety of gears and grip sizes
- Excellent warranty
- More customizable gauges and features
Cons
- Potentially over-complicated
- Expensive compared to alternatives
- Designed only for technical diving, so not suitable for regular snorkeling use
Price
This product can be found on Dive-xtras for around $$$.
Warranty
Dive-Xtras backs its Piranha P1 model with a 3-year warranty.
[amazon link=”B07N8JR9HN” title=”YAMAHA Seascooters 220Li 350Li and 500Li Underwater Scooter”/]
[amazon box=”B07N8JR9HN”]
Features
The YAMAHA Seascooters 220Li 350Li and 500Li Underwater Scooter is a more adult-oriented version of this manufacturer’s typical product (mentioned earlier.) It is designed for water sports enthusiasts and divers who wish to improve their performances. It has a 1.5-hour battery life and weighs a light 18 pounds, with a focus on a depth of 130 feet and a 4.35 mph speed.
Pros
- Battery life among the best, lasting 1.5 hours
- Great for deeper dives
- Affordable price
Cons
- Potentially out-classed in certain fields
- Inferior warranty
Price
Available on Amazon for around $$$.
Warranty
This Yamaha scooter comes with only a 6-month warranty.
Pegasus Thruster Full Package
Features
The Pegasus Thruster Full Package is designed to be extremely lightweight and effective, weighing in at just 12 pounds and offering a 45-minute battery life. It runs at 2 mph and has a strong negative buoyancy.
The Pegasus system was designed by scuba divers for scuba divers, and is aimed at professionals who need to complete dives for professional reasons. It allows you to leave your hands free by attaching itself to the scuba cylinder, and it resists corrosion by using aircraft-grade aluminum.
Pros
- Very lightweight
- Designed for professional divers
- Hands-free feature included
- Good longevity
Cons
- Speed slower than other models
- Short battery life
- Expensive
- Design for pro divers is prohibitive to regular users
Price
This product can be found on Pegasus Thruster for around $$$.
Warranty
The Pegasus Thruster Full Package comes with a 1-year warranty.
[amazon link=”B00YIWV7HQ” title=”Cuda 400 Scooter”/]
[amazon box=”B00YIWV7HQ”]
Features
The Dive-Xtras Cuda 400 Scooter is fast and long, running at about 3 mph and lasting about 110 minutes on a battery charge. It also is one of the rare scooters that airlines allow on board. The 42-pound scooter features a whopping eight gears for various modes of underwater travel. You can adjust and tweak the speed and angle of the propeller blades, thanks to an easy-to-use switch that initially starts in third gear. It as a minimalistic design for less fuss, but still yields a powerful thrust. As a bonus, purchase of this scooter comes with a spare parts kit.
Pros
- Excellent warranty
- Spare parts kit included
- Strong thrust and minimalistic design make it easy and powerful to use
- Allowed on flights
Cons
- Weight is heavy; prohibitive to portability
- Does not offer enough specialized features for some divers
- Expensive
Price
Available on Amazon for around $$$.
Warranty
Dive-Xtras backs its Cuda 400 with a 3-year warranty.
The Verdict
With so many underwater scooter options out there, it may be difficult for you to choose which model is just right for you. You can rest assured that all eight scooters we’ve reviewed here provide a good value for the money. Still, to make the right selection for your individual circumstances, you need to consider the scooter’s price, how you plan to use it and reflect honestly on your level of expertise.
If you are a family looking to have fun in the water with your children on vacation, then our top recommendation is the Sea Doo JetPilot Dolphin Sea Scooter. It is designed to be simple and enjoyable for any rider using the scooter to play around in the water. Plus, it keeps riders safely close to the surface.For more experienced swimmers/snorkelers looking to have a more expansive version of fun, we recommend the Yamaha RDS-300, which features a GoPro camera mount for documenting your exploration. It also is lightweight, but strong enough to make it an enjoyable device to use.
And, for professional divers who need a device for their technical dives, we recommend investing in the Pegasus Thruster Full Package. Its long-lasting abilities, easy-to-carry weight, strong thrust and ability to be used in hands-free mode when the user needs to hold other tools make it ideal for anyone who needs to complete deep dives for repairs or explorations.
With so many underwater scooter options out there, it may be difficult for you to choose which model is just right for you. You can rest assured that all eight scooters we’ve reviewed here provide a good value for the money. Still, to make the right selection for your individual circumstances, you need to consider the scooter’s price, how you plan to use it and reflect honestly on your level of expertise.
If you are a family looking to have fun in the water with your children on vacation, then our top recommendation is the Sea Doo JetPilot Dolphin Sea Scooter. It is designed to be simple and enjoyable for any rider using the scooter to play around in the water. Plus, it keeps riders safely close to the surface.
For more experienced swimmers/snorkelers looking to have a more expansive version of fun, we recommend the Yamaha RDS-300, which features a GoPro camera mount for documenting your exploration. It also is lightweight, but strong enough to make it an enjoyable device to use.
And, for professional divers who need a device for their technical dives, we recommend investing in the Pegasus Thruster Full Package. Its long-lasting abilities, easy-to-carry weight, strong thrust and ability to be used in hands-free mode when the user needs to hold other tools make it ideal for anyone who needs to complete deep dives for repairs or explorations.