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Underwater Scooter Specialist

You can save time, use less energy, and cover more area at the dive site when using an underwater sea scooter or Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV).

This help guide explains how to complete the PADI® Diver Propulsion Vehicle course and dive with a DPV from the shore or boat to propel yourself underwater - 'James Bond' style.

Diver Propulsion Vehicle | Table of Contents

Important: You can credit Diver Propulsion Vehicle certification towards PADI Master Scuba Diver Rating. Check out our PADI® Specialty Courses List for further details on more than thirty other specialties (listed A to Z).

What is the Meaning of Specialty Diver?

In simple terms, a Specialty Diver is someone with enhanced scuba diving abilities beyond entry level certifications (e.g. Discover Programs, Scuba Diver, Open Water Diver).

Signing up for specialist scuba courses is the ideal path to take if you want to learn new techniques and experience different kinds of underwater exploration.

Furthermore, you will get the best opportunity to acquire superior knowledge and skills in the diving activities that interest you the most because a 'Specialty Instructor' will be supervising the training.

Scuba Diving with Underwater Scooters

Age, Depth, and Prerequisite Certification

There are minimum age requirements and maximum depth limits for all the specialties that require scuba training dives in open water.

As a result, before you can enrol in the PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) course you will need to be:

Number of Days: One (1)

Scuba Training Dives: Two (2)

Maximum Depth: Depends on age and certification level

Important: Even though scuba certifications do not expire, we recommend taking the PADI ReActivate® refresher course if you have been inactive from diving for a while (e.g. longer than six months).


Benefits of DPV Scuba Diving

Diver Propulsion Vehicles (underwater sea scooters) are particularly useful when you are exploring a large reef site or while diving around a large wreck.

Sea scooter diving generally gives you more time to tour the site, saves finning energy, and they really are a lot of fun.

How to Get the PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Specialty Certification in Thailand.The Diver Propulsion Vehicle Specialty course helps you learn how to use DPVs and other mechanical devices.

When you know how to execute an underwater DPV dive, you can tryout new skills on sunken shipwrecks and deep dives, such as:

Having the knowledge and unique skills to explore deep diving destinations is another reason for taking the PADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle course.

Do you want to see big fishes?

If so, you need to go diving in deeper water that attracts schooling vertebrates and pelagics, such as large sharks, groupers, and sea turtles.


Digital Learning Programs for Self-Study

In general, it is much easier for divers with a busy schedule to choose the online learning option to start scuba lessons.

Being able to complete the independent study portion of a multiple day course offers you some flexibility and convenience.

As long as you have a computer or a mobile device, you will be able to study the knowledge development portion at your own pace (online or offline).

PADI DPV Underwater Scooter eLearning: Up to Four (4) Hours

If you sign up for PADI eLearning® you can complete the self-study assignments online for around 4,500 THB.

Following that, you would need to contact the dive shop to perform the required scuba training dives with a PADI Instructor to finish the course.


Diver Propulsion Vehicle Course: What Skills Will You Learn?

You need to participate in the instructor-led knowledge development sessions by completing all knowledge reviews from the student manual.

Here's why...

You will learn how to enter and exit the water in a safe and effective manner while wearing scuba gear and in preparation of using an underwater scooter (often from a custom-built dive boat).

Besides that, you will also learn about:

  • Dive planning and depth management with underwater sea scooters
  • Buoyancy control with a Diver Propulsion Vehicle and etiquette when using a DPV
  • DPV water entries and exits, problems, and potential hazards
  • Scooter equipment maintenance, battery care, and transportation

Note: Did you successfully complete the DPV Dive from the Adventures in Diving Program? If so, a PADI Instructor may count it as being the first training dive of the certification requirements in this particular specialty course.



Dive Gear and Specialist Equipment

You need to be wearing standard scuba gear for the two (2) training dives conducted in open water. Other specialist equipment for DPV diving that you'll use, may also include:

Note: Using different underwater torches will be useful as the surroundings become darker and if you will be navigating your way through any dangerous structures (e.g. 10 best wreck dives in the world).


FAQ Section and Medical Questionnaire Form

What's the Deepest Diving Certification?

The term 'deep dives' has a different meaning in recreational scuba diving than it does in technical diving.

The deepest dive made for recreational purposes should not be below forty metres (130 feet). Whereas, a professional technical diver can go down to sixty (60) metres (200 feet).

Fun Fact: The deepest scuba dive ever made is 332.35 metres (1,090 feet) undertaken by Ahmed Gabr in September 2014 in Dahab, the Red Sea. Using open circuit scuba, it took only fifteen (15) minutes to make the descent, but the ascent took thirteen (13) hours and thirty five (35) minutes.

Can I Survive Below 40 Metres Underwater?

We refer to the US Navy decompression dive tables to answer this question. Divers can only stay at forty seven metres (160 feet) for around five minutes before they need to decompress during the ascent.

How Can I Blow Bubble Rings Underwater?

You may have seen divers make 'flying saucer' bubbles ascend from the abyss to the surface. So, what is a divers bubble ring? Our blog article explains the technique for blowing ring bubble circles underwater.

Can I Touch the Underwater Organisms?

Divers share a common responsibility to protect and conserve nature. As a result, interacting passively with aquatic animals helps to safeguard the habitats of delicate and sensitive sea life.

What Should I Not Do After Multilevel or Multi Day Dives?

After cleaning the gear, there are several kinds of activities that divers should avoid doing. They include:

  • Physical exercise
  • Flying in a plane, including traveling to altitude (e.g. mountain hiking).
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Having a full body massage, hot bath, or hot shower
  • Forgetting to log the dives

When Should You Do a Scuba Refresher?

Suppose you don't go diving for more than six months. There is a simple way to refresh the knowledge and skills that you already learned.

After a long period of inactivity, taking the PADI ReActivate® program will help you brush up on the safety procedures and scuba diving fundamentals.

Medical Requirements: Free Download

You must be in good physical and mental health and be medically fit for recreational scuba diving. You can review the Diver Medical Participant Questionnaire Online to check whether you need to be evaluated by a physician.

It is not appropriate to ask dive staff (e.g. divemasters, instructors) for medical advice or clearance to go diving. Instead, you can contact the Divers Alert Network (DAN) if you have questions about your medical fitness to dive.


Price for PADI DPV Underwater Scooter Certification in Thailand 11,500 THB*

We have qualified instructors and expert dive guides who can teach in several languages, including English, Thai, and Chinese.

The price includes (all):

Blue Check MarkBoat trips (with free soft drinks served on board)

Blue Check MarkProfessional tuition from a "Private Scuba" Instructor

Blue Check MarkFree rental of required diving equipment (including a dive computer)

Blue Check MarkPADI Diver Propulsion Vehicle Specialty Manual and Certification Card

Blue Check MarkHotel transfers within Pattaya City limits

Important: You will usually be making two (2) scuba training dives in the same day. The PADI flying after diving guidelines say you need to wait a minimum of eighteen (18) hours after the second dive before you go to altitude. Please send an email to our team if you need further information.


YouTube Video and Knowledge Base for DPV Divers

Most of the information and advice in this section focuses on deep scuba diving activities which we usually conduct from a boat in Thailand.

We also have a list of blog posts about snorkeling - with other popular watersport tourist attractions at the beach resort of Pattaya.

Scuba Diving Help Guides

Note: The short video presented by PADI highlights what to expect in the DPV Underwater Scooter course and how to see more and swim less while scuba diving.


What Comes after the Diver Propulsion Vehicle Specialty?

This popular certification links to almost all other scuba certifications, including Specialty Courses offered by PADI (the Professional Association of Diving Instructors).

So what comes next?

Even so, the PADI® DPV Underwater Scooter certification combines really well with several other specialty courses such as, AWARE Shark Conservation, Scuba Equipment Specialist, and Shipwreck Diver.

Note: All course prices for diving are subject to change and assume that all prerequisites have been met to start the training. Click here to contact the team at Private Scuba in Thailand to make a booking or send an enquiry.

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