The Best Underwater Scooters for 2020

Underwater scooters or DPVs are a great device for many diving activities. They can be a fantastic way to get around and are a sure way to have fun in the water.

They are known by various names. Diver Propulsion Vehicles, Sea Scooters, Underwater Scooters are all different names for the same technology. Let’s first be clear about what this technology is: an underwater scooter is a device that will gently propel you through the water, making your dive a little easier (or more exciting). It can really enhance the experience of your underwater diving or snorkelling.

Underwater scooters are not just professional divers. Anyone from professional divers to novice snorkelers can benefit from using a sea scooter. These are ideal devices to take on your next seaside trip or vacation with your family. These devices are simple to use, compact, and generally lightweight. So, young children can also use it effortlessly.

If you’re ready to purchase your first underwater scooter, we have compiled this list of the best underwater scooters in 2020 to complete your diving collection. This list has something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for our best recommendation, or want to get a powerful scooter by spending extra money or have a tight budget but still want to enjoy snorkelling, you will find what you’re looking for here!

If you want to learn more about underwater scooters, we have also included a buying guide that explains how you should choose the best underwater scooter for yourself. The FAQ section will cover all your queries comprehensively as well. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the best underwater scooters in 2020.

The Best Underwater Scooters Reviewed

Editor’s Pick	Product
Our Top Pick	Yamaha RDS 300 Underwater Scooter
Alternative Top Pick	Yamaha 275L Sea Scooter Dive Propulsion Underwater Vehicle
Best High-End Pick	Yamaha 500Li Underwater Scooter
Alternative High-End Pick	Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 U/W Scooter
Best Budget Option	Yamaha Explorer Underwater Scooter
Best Underwater Scooter for Kids	Yamaha Seal Underwater Scooter

Our Top Pick: Yamaha RDS 300 Underwater Scooter

Yamaha RDS 300 comes with a sealed Lead Acid battery. So, you will have to properly maintain the battery in order to keep your sea scooter in perfect condition. Make sure to properly read the manufacturer’s user manual and our tips on how to take care of your Yama RDS 300 Underwater Scooter.

This sea scooter has a battery run-time of 90 minutes or 1.5 hours. This will make sure that you can enjoy to your heart’s content in a single charge. Yamaha RDS 300 weighs 18 lbs or 8.2 kgs. So, it won’t be very hard to transport it either, and you can easily take it in and out of the water.

Yamaha RDS 300 also features a two-level rotational speed control system, which will make controlling this underwater scooter easier and more efficient. It will give you more control over where your sea scooter goes. This underwater scooter also comes with several safety features that will make sure you can enjoy your adventure while being totally safe.

What We Like:

• Good Battery Life | Yamaha RDS can last you for 90 minutes. This is not only more than enough for novice divers or families who just want to have fun, but it can be sufficient even for seasonal or proficient divers who want to go deeper into the water.
• Goes up to 100 feet | Another feature that makes Yamaha RDS 300 the best underwater scooter is that it has a maximum depth of 100 feet. This is, again, sufficient even for those who are serious about underwater diving. 100 feet underneath the sea surface will give you magnificent glimpses of life underwater.
• Safety Features | It has an auto shut-off feature, which means that it will shut off automatically as soon as you let go of the throttle. So, if you accidentally lose your grip over your sea scooter, you won’t have to worry about it going on without you. It will stop right there so you can retrieve it easily. It also has thermal switch function and water leakage sensors which further enhance the security of Yamaha RDS 300.

Alternative Top Pick: Yamaha 275L Sea Scooter Dive Propulsion Underwater Vehicle

Coming to its performance, the Yamaha 275L is powered by a rechargeable 12V sealed lead acid battery. It takes about 6 hours to charge up fully and performs for about 2 hours. This means you can take this scooter into the water and enjoy longer diving sessions as well. It features a top speed of 3.3 mph or 5.3 km/h. You can take this as much as 130 feet below the sea surface.

Taking a look at other features, it has a 3-speed rotational speed control so you can control your scooter easily under the water. It also comes with an LED battery indicator. This is extremely helpful when you’re deep in the sea. You can take a glance at the battery life remaining and see how much you have before your scooter shuts off.

Many underwater scooters handle the buoyancy automatically. However, Yamaha 275L features an external adjustable buoyancy system. Lastly, Yamaha 275L comes with a warranty of 6 months against manufacturing defects.

What We Like:

• Great Battery Life | 120 minutes is more than enough battery run-time for anyone looking to explore underwater life. The battery life of Yamaha 275L makes it suitable for both newbie scuba divers/snorkelers and seasoned recreational enthusiasts.
• Maximum Depth | Even 30 feet deep into the water will give you mesmerizing scenes. Now imagine going 130 feet into the depths of the sea. You’re sure to enjoy your scuba sessions with the maximum depth and battery life that Yamaha 275L features.
• FAA approved| Yamaha 275L is FAA approved, which means that you can take this sea scooter with you when you travel by plane. So, you can take this scooter with you on your next vacation to the seaside and enjoy breathtaking scuba adventures.

What We Like:

• Bit Heavy | Yamaha 275L has great features that make it a perfect underwater scooter for both professional and recreational purposes. However, you should note that this scooter weighs 32 lbs or 14.5 kg. This may not be a big deal for adults, but if you’re looking for a sea scooter for younger children, then you will need to consider this aspect of it.

Best High-End Pick: Yamaha 500Li Underwater Scooter

Yamaha 500Li has features that are sure to give you amazing underwater experience every time. It features a battery run-time up to 90 minutes with normal use. Also, it can take you 130 feet or 40 meters deep into the water. It boasts a top speed of 4.3 mph or 7 km/h. All of these things will make sure you that you have a long, exciting underwater session that involves witnessing wonderful aquatic scenes.

It has a replaceable Lithium Ion battery, and it weighs only 21 lbs or 9.5 kg with battery. So, you will never have any problems with the portability of Yamaha 500Li. It also boasts a 3-level rotational speed control that gives you more control over your direction of movement and lets you enjoy your ride on your own pace.

This underwater scooter has an automatic buoyancy adjustment system which works flawlessly in saltwater. So, you will never lose it. It also has an LED battery indicator that will tell you the amount of power left in your scooter so you can plan your session ahead accordingly. Yamaha 500Li features a superior flood prevention system. Its waterproof design will make sure its components are always protected.

Overall, this underwater scooter provides great value for money, and all serious divers should certainly consider Yamaha 500Li. It’s designed for both recreational and professional divers as its features offer greater thrill as well as safety. Lastly, it comes with a warranty of 6 months.

What We Like:

• 90-minute Battery Life | You can enjoy your adventures fully with a battery life of up to 90 minutes with normal use. Along with this, Yamaha 500Li also has an LED battery indicator, so you always know the level of charge in your sea scooter.
• 130ft Maximum Depth | Yamaha 500Li features a maximum depth of 130 feet which is deep enough for any recreational diver to observe the sceneries of the underwater world.
• 4.3 MPH Speed | Yamaha 500Li boasts a speed that will give you the ultimate underwater experience. It not only has a top speed of 4.3 mph, but it also has a 3-level speed control so you can explore the aquatic life at your pace.

Alternative High-End Pick: Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 U/W Scooter

This underwater scooter can go as deep as 230 feet or 70 meters, which is great for people who want to explore the aquatic life for research or other professional purposes. The battery run-time of this sea scooter is 100 minutes. So, you can explore as much as you want without having to worry too much about battery life. It comes with a sealed lead acid battery.

Another amazing feature of the Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 is that it can propel more than one person at the same time! It features saddle wings that allow it to propel up to 3 people at the same time without any noticeable loss in performance.

It features a 3-speed prop and a top speed of 2.6 miles per hour. So, unlike many underwater scooters, you can adjust the propeller of this scooter as well. You will have 3 options to choose from to match your speed and direction requirements.

What We Like:

• Goes up to 230 feet | Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 has an outstanding range. It’s advertised to dive as much as 230 feet deep in the waters. Also, it has been tested up to 300 feet deep in the water. This is clearly one of the best depth ratings among all underwater scooters listed in this article.
• More Control | This underwater scooter features a three-speed prop. You can adjust the propeller according to your choice. This allows for greater control over movement, direction, and speed of the underwater scooter.

Best Budget Option: Yamaha Explorer Underwater Scooter

It has a depth range of 30 feet or 10 meters. So, it will make an ideal snorkelling partner for you. You can ride with a top speed of 2.5 mph or 4 km/h, which is good enough for you to enjoy your underwater adventures. It can run up to 60 minutes with normal use and has a sealed lead acid battery.

This underwater scooter has positive buoyancy. What this means that it’s designed to be mainly used in saltwater and will have less buoyancy in freshwater (lakes, pools, etc.). It may also sink in freshwater.

Another great feature of this affordable sea scooter is that it’s very lightweight. It weighs only 11.5 lbs or 5.2 kgs including battery. It also features an extremely compact design, which makes it very easy to take it anywhere you want. Yamaha Explorer is completely waterproof. It also comes with a camera mount.

What We Like:

• Camera Mount | Yamaha Explorer comes with a camera mount so you can record your session under the waters and then flaunt your videos on social media.
• Compact Design | Yamaha Explorer has a compact design and is very lightweight. It scores full marks in ease of transportation. You can take this with you on your family trips or vacations and double the entertainment.

Best Underwater Scooter for Kids: Yamaha Seal Underwater Scooter

This underwater scooter can run for up to 90 minutes. We recommend that you buy a replacement battery for Yamaha Seal. This is so that your young divers can keep the adventure going for hours even if the battery runs out.

This underwater scooter also, much like Yamaha Explorer, has positive buoyancy. It means that this scooter is designed to be used in saltwater. You can, of course, use it in fresh water as well, but it will have less buoyancy in freshwater (lakes, pools etc.), and may sink in the freshwater.

Talking about its speed, it features a top speed of 2 mph or 3.2 km/h. This is neither too fast for you to worry about your kids nor too slow for them to get bored. It also has a GoPro camera mount so young children can record their sessions.

What We Like:

• Camera Mount | Yamaha Seal, features a GoPro camera mount. This is a great feature that makes it ideal for family trips or vacations.
• Perfect for Kids | This underwater scooter with a compact, lightweight design is perfect for kids. It will keep the young divers in your family entertained for hours.

What to Look for in a Underwater Scooter?

In this comprehensive buying guide section, we will discuss the important factors you should consider, points you need to remember, and questions you should answer, which will help you pick the best underwater scooter for yourself.

Depth

When thinking about buying an underwater scooter, you should, first of all, consider what you will use it for. Will you be using it for scuba diving, snorkelling, or cave diving? This is because the purpose of your sea scooter will determine what depth range you should try to find. So, depending on the type of activity, the maximum depth of the scooter becomes crucial.

For example, our budget pick, the Yamaha Seal scooter, will allow you to go up to 15 feet deep in the water. So, if you’re a person who will only ever use it for shallow scuba diving or snorkelling, then it can be the perfect scooter for you. However, if you want something that will help you to dive deeper, then you will have to look for other models.

Unless you’re a professional diver, there won’t any need to go very deep into the waters. You will find that most scooters offer a maximum depth of 30 feet, and that is more than enough for a majority of people. You can easily catch the breathtaking glimpses of life underwater with these scooters.

However, there are more powerful underwater scooters available as well. These scooters, such as our top pick, the Yamaha RDS 300, can take you as much as 100 feet beneath the sea. Going this deep into the water is recommended for seasoned divers. 100 feet is pretty much all you could ever want from an underwater scooter. However, this is not the limit for the maximum depth of underwater scooters. There are scooters that can take you even deeper – up to 230 feet.

Buoyancy

Buoyancy refers to the upward force exerted by an underwater scooter to rise up to the sea surface if it’s left unattended in the water. This makes sure that you don’t lose your scooter in sea depths.

You do not want your scooter to sink like a stone when you drop it. At the same time, you also don’t want the device to be too buoyant as too much buoyancy will make it difficult to handle beneath the sea surface. So, as you can see, getting the buoyancy right in an underwater scooter isn’t as easy. To make things more complicated, you also have to consider whether you will use it in freshwater or saltwater.

Buoyancy becomes more and more crucial as you go deeper into the water. Most underwater scooters are designed to be used in salt water, as salt provides a different level of buoyancy than fresh water does. A scooter designed for freshwater use might not stay as buoyant in salt water, even though it may be used in both.

You will see that most underwater scooters handle buoyancy without having any additional controls. However, premium underwater scooters will let you change your buoyancy as you like, making it more comfortable for you.

Weight

The weight of your underwater scooter can be important if you’re planning on buying one for your children. If the scooter is too heavy, kids may not be able to easily take it in and out of the water. The weight doesn’t make too much difference as the buoyancy of scooter, and pressure of the water will make it easy to move underneath the water.

So, just keep in mind that you should look for a lighter model in case you’re looking to buy one that will be used by kids. For adults, though, the weight of the scooter isn’t as important.

Battery Life

The battery life of your sea scooter in one of the essential factors that you need to consider. It directly determines how much you will be able to explore on a single charge. Underwater scooters usually come with Lead-acid or Lithium-ion batteries.

The best way to determine how much battery life you want is to think of how and where you will use your sea scooter. If you will be diving far from the shore or you will be going deep, then we recommend that you buy an underwater scooter that comes with up to two hours of battery life.

However, if you will be doing simple snorkelling activity close to the shore, then you probably shouldn’t worry too much about the battery life. 45 to 60 minutes of battery life will be more than enough for you.

So, if you want long underwater adventures, you should look for a model with a two-hour battery life. On the other hand, if you’re just starting out, you can get a device with 45 to 60 minutes of battery life.

Speed

How do you want to enjoy your underwater expeditions? Do you want the ultimate underwater excitement? If so, then you might want to look for a premium underwater scooter. These top-of-the-range scooters normally feature top speeds of up to five miles per hour.

However, if you’re just starting out and want to have some underwater fun while being safe, then a simple underwater scooter with a speed of about two miles per hour will be enough for you.

Price

Price is an important factor with any purchase whatsoever. In the case of underwater scooters, even the budget ones aren’t cheap. So, it becomes important to carefully consider your requirements before you choose a model based solely on your budget. An increase in the price of underwater scooters doesn’t exactly mean an increase in quality. Rather, it means an increase in power, speed, depth range, and various other features.

High-performance sea scooters that have these advanced features and more capabilities will clearly attract a huge price range. Such expensive models are recommended for experienced or seasonal divers. These can easily cost you thousands of dollars.

Entry-level underwater scooters will provide less power, with low max speed and depth. These are suitable for newbies divers or snorkelers. They will cost you just a few hundred dollars. We recommend that you opt for a mid-range or budget sea scooter unless you’re serious about underwater diving.

Other Worthy Mentions

These are other popular underwater sea scooters that are interesting enough to be worth a look.