Divernet has an interesting comparison of 7 DPVs. Actually, they compare 6 DPV and something called Jetboots, which are Jetson’s-like strap-on boots that propel the wearer through the water, leaving his or her hands free. The reviewers don’t conclude that one DPV is “the best,” although they do attribute superlatives to the machines (e.g., “fastest,” “cheapest,” “heaviest,” “most fun”). I don’t think this would be my last resource to check prior to dropping a few thousand bucks on a DPV, but if you’re in the market, giving the review a few minutes might help you to understand better what qualities you’re looking for in a DPV.
Some DPVs we’ve mentioned previously:
1. I was given the heads up about this issue by some friends as DPVs (scooters) are a debating point.
This is actually the only DPV review I've ever seen that doesn't get into name calling, it's about as objective as it gets in this area.
I own a Gavin. I've used an Xscooter, as the creator of it is a friend of mine and a number of my friends have them. I've also played around with a SS but I have yet to actually do an entire dive on one. They all have their pluses and minuses and it come down to your needs.
For technical diving on deep reefs, wrecks or caves I would get a Gavin or an SS, they are basically the same thing. These guys are proven, are simple to operate and maintain and are stable and solid underwater. You can fix them with parts from Radio Shack and the batteries are standard lead acid motorcycle batteries. However, they are heavy, the short body versions are ~70 lbs or 32 kilos, which is fine for boat or cave diving but not beach diving.
For beach diving I would get an X-scooter, it's light weight makes it ideal for getting through the surf and This scooter is fun to zip around with but I don't like the Nimh batteries as the battery costs $500 each, is available from only one company and Nimh are finicky to get fully charged.
I've seen the Zuex and it's over engineered, my friend was using one for a while and when it came time to purchase, he bought something else.
For now, i am keeping my Gavin.
Posted at 1:25PM on Aug 2nd 2005 by Bill Reals