1. Garbage....

This is bullsh1t:
Buoyancy, In normal use, the Torpedo DPV is slightly negative when underwater. This allows a diver to set the unit down on the bottom to make equipment adjustments, take pictures, etc. For the snorkeler who wants his/her unit to be more buoyant, floatation devices are available.

You want your scooter (DPV) to be neutral at depth, or maybe a little bouyant but not negative. You drop this thing off a boat and it's gone.

Here is a better page from Wikipedia, with content by your's truly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dpv

Posted at 4:18PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Bill Reals

2. Thanks for pointing that out, Bill. I thought that sounded strange when I read it, but as I said: I've never used a DPV, so I didn't know if negatively buoyant DPVs were de rigeur.

Maybe that's why Torpedos are so cheap: they figure you're going to have to buy a couple before you stop losing them.

Posted at 4:18PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Willy

3. Rubbish - most DPVs are slightly negative in normal use. As for the Torpedo it comes with a buoyancy control bag that can adjust the buoyancy from slightly negative to slightly postive - even adjusts the buoyancy under the water. Most Farallon DPVs & many others are also slightly negative. Have you ever tried diving a DPV thats postively buoyant?

Posted at 4:19PM on Jun 16th 2005 by steve

4. From UV Scooter User's Manual (http://www.silent-submersion.com/Instructions/users%20manual/): "It is important to be neutrally buoyant at all times, otherwise the scooter power is being wasted maintaining your position in the water column."

From Gavin Scooters (http://www.gavinscooters.com/faq.htm#Balance): "It is great to have the scooter neutral, but keep in mind that the compression of the o-rings changes the buoyancy by about .7 pounds, so make the scooter that much positive at the surface, or neutral at the surface."

Posted at 4:19PM on Jun 16th 2005 by Willy