Updated October 4, 2024
For a general introduction and guidelines for dive scooters, click on my earlier post here:
Best Underwater Scooters Review
To help you research this question, some of the best dive scooters/diver propulsion vehicles (DPVs) have been selected as an introduction to the range available. To begin there are descriptions, key features, pros & cons, and photos, followed by a comparison table.
Please use the comments section at the bottom if you have any questions or concerns. I’d love to know your thoughts.
- Tusa SAV-7 EVO2
- Yamaha 500Li
- Yamaha 350Li
- Yamaha 220Li
- Yamaha Seal Seascooter with Camera Mount
- Sea Doo SDI15003 RS3
- Sea Doo Dolphin
- Yamaha 275L
- Yamaha RDS 300
- Yamaha RDS 250
- Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2
The Tusa Sav 7 Evo2 is a high-performance model with some improved features from the earlier version.
It includes a lithium-ion battery, charger, hands-free saddle, and 10% more torque than the earlier SAV-7 EVO model.
Continuous cruise time in the open water of 70 – 110 minutes is attainable.
The average cruising range in open water is 2.25 – 4.5 miles.
There is a progressive acceleration system using a trigger with the use of a saddle and a 3-speed pitch propeller.
It is well-suited for underwater photography, videography, and spearfishing.
- Best For: photography, recreational, technical
- Depth: 230 feet
- Run Time: 110 minutes
- Buoyancy: -8 oz
- Weight: 45 pounds
- Maximum Speed: 2.8 mph
Pros: can pull 3 divers at a time, 3-speed propeller, supports hands-free riding
Cons: expensive, heavy
The Next 3 scooters are part of a series of 3: Yamaha 500Li, 350Li, and 220 Li. The features are similar with some differences in gradation.
Yamaha 500Li
This is the top of the line in the series with 500 watts of power from its Lithium-Ion battery providing more bottom time using less energy.
It has 3-level rotational speed control, a battery level indicator, and a superior flood prevention system, and is hydro-dynamically designed with double trigger control.
- Best For: recreational
- Depth: 130 feet /40 meters
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Buoyancy: automatic buoyancy adjustment system
- Weight: 21 pounds/9.5 kilograms
- Maximum Speed: 4.35 mph
Pros: many features, lightweight, fast
Cons: let me know what you think
This is a full-featured model like the 500Li, with a Lithium-Ion battery with 350 watts of power, upgradable to 500 watts.
It has the same 3-level rotational speed control, battery level indicator, and superior flood prevention system.
- Best For: recreational
- Depth: 130 feet /40 meters
- Run Time: 75 minutes
- Buoyancy: automatic buoyancy adjustment system
- Weight: 19 pounds/8.6 kilograms
- Maximum Speed: 3.7 mph
Pros: full-featured, lightweight
Cons: let me know if you find any
This also is a full-featured model like the two above, with a Lithium-Ion battery of 220 watts upgradable to 350 or 500 watts.
It has 2-level rotational speed control, a battery level indicator, and a superior flood prevention system.
- Best For: recreational
- Depth: 100 feet /30 meters
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Buoyancy: automatic buoyancy adjustment system (optional ballast weights for customizations available)
- Weight: 19 pounds/8.6 kilograms
- Maximum Speed: 3.1 mph
Pros: full-featured, lightweight
Cons: tell me what you find
Yamaha Seal Seascooter with Camera Mount
The Yamaha Seal is a low-price scooter with a solid brand name and some nice features.
It has a sealed battery, waterproof construction, and is lightweight, and suitable for kids.
The Seal can descend to depths of 15 feet up at speeds of 2 mph for up to an hour and a half.
With the GoPro camera mounted, the weight is 12 pounds.
- Best For: children, snorkeling, and surface swimming
- Depth: 15 feet
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 2 mph
- Buoyancy: Positive
- Weight: 12 pounds
Pros: lightweight, great for kids
Cons: negatively buoyant in freshwater, not suitable for scuba or serious freediving
This Sea Doo scooter can reach speeds of 3.10 mph for up to 60 non-stop minutes on one charge of its Lit-ion detachable battery.
It travels to 160 feet in maximum depth and has a two-gear adjustable speed system.
The hull on this model creates neutral buoyancy and is appropriate for adults and kids.
- Best For: snorkeling, recreational diving
- Depth: 160 feet
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 3.1 mph
- Buoyancy: neutral
- Weight: 19 pounds
Pros: lightweight, two-gear system, medium price
Cons: let me know
The Sea Doo brand is well known for its underwater scooters for all uses.
This DPV, in particular, is ideal for children and adults from the age of 8 plus that is built with safety in mind.
It has features such as a floating chassis, automatic shutdown, large protective grills, and a built-in place to mount a GoPro camera to capture it all.
This scooter has a maximum speed of 2 miles per hour and is depth rated at 15.5 feet. This kind of use will allow about 1.5 hours of run time.
- Best For: snorkeling, kids, and families
- Depth: 15.5 feet
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 2 mph
- Buoyancy: positive
- Weight: 12 pounds
Pros: reliable, lightweight, maneuverable, good for children and snorkeling, durable
Cons: not suitable for scuba or serious freediving
This is a full-featured scooter, with a 12v sealed lead acid battery, 3-level rotational speed control, a battery level indicator, and a superior flood prevention system
- Best For: recreational
- Depth: 130 feet /40 meters
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- Buoyancy: automatic buoyancy adjustment system
- Weight: 32 pounds/14.5 kilograms
- Maximum Speed: 3.1 mph
Pros: designed for frequent diving, durable
Cons: a little heavy
The Yamaha brand is known for its powerful reliable outboards for boats and increasingly for sea scooters.
The RDS 300 is rated for depths of 100 feet.
It can reach 3 mph in salt water and has an impact-resistant, waterproof hull.
Known for reliability, it is equipped with auto shut-off, a thermal switch function, and a sensor for water leakage.
- Best For: snorkeling, recreational diving, photography
- Depth: 100 feet
- Run Time: 90 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 3 mph
- Buoyancy: adjustable
- Weight: 18 pounds
Pros: GoPro camera mount, durable, 2-level adjustable speed, auto-shutoff feature, reliable
Cons: More expensive than the Yamaha RDS250 without providing much more value
It moves at speeds up to 2.5 mph for a run time of 2 hours, and a maximum depth of 100 feet.
It also has a removable buoyancy-controlled chamber and uses a sealed lead-acid battery.
- Best For: snorkeling, recreational diving, photography
- Depth: 100 feet
- Run Time: 120 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 2.5 mph
- Buoyancy: adjustable
- Weight: 18 pounds
Pros: removable buoyancy chamber, lightweight, GoPro camera mount, great for full days of diving, great value
Cons: Might not be powerful enough for very heavy or multiple divers
It is capable of towing more than one diver for over an hour and a half on one charge.
- Best For: recreational, technical diving
- 3-speed prop
- Variable speed trigger
- Hands-free riding saddle
- Progressive acceleration system
- 3-pitch propeller system
- Saddle wings can carry two additional riders
- Depth: 230 feet (tested to 300 feet)
- Run Time: 70-110 minutes
- Maximum Speed: 2.6 mph
- Buoyancy: neutral
- Weight: pending
Pros: hands-free riding saddle, progressive acceleration system, speed propeller, saddle wings
Cons: expensive
Best Underwater Scooter Comparison Table
| Dive Scooter | Depth | Run Time | Weight | Speed | Price |
| Tusa SAV-7 EVO 2 | 230 feet | 110 minutes | 45 pounds | 2.8 mph | $$$$$ |
| Yamaha 500Li | 130 feet | 90 minutes | 21 pounds | 4.35 mph | $$$$ |
| Yamaha 350Li | 130 feet | 75 minutes | 19 pounds | 3.7 mph | $$$ |
| Yamaha 220Li | 100 feet | 60 minutes | 19 pounds | 3.1 mph | $$ |
| Yamaha Seal | 15 feet | 90 minutes | 12 pounds | 2 mph | $ |
| Sea Doo SDI15003 RS3 | 160 feet | 60 minutes | 19 pounds | 3.1 mph | $$$ |
| Sea Doo Dolphin | 15.5 feet | 90 minutes | 12 pounds | 2 mph | $ |
| Yamaha 275L | 130 feet | 120 minutes | 32 pounds | 3.1 mph | $$ |
| Yamaha RDS 300 | 100 feet | 90 minutes | 18 pounds | 3 mph | $$ |
| Yamaha RDS 250 | 100 feet | 120 minutes | 18 pounds | 2.5 mph | $$ |
| Apollo AV-2 Evolution 2 | 230 feet | 110 minutes | pending | 2.6 mph | $$$$$ |
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on underwater scooters interesting and useful. If you have any questions, comments, or your own personal experience, please feel free to share them in the comments section below. I’d love to know what you think. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
This is an underwater scooter paradise! I have never purchased one myself, but have a question regarding the weights I see listed. If an underwater scooter weighs more, is there the same pushback in terms of milage that you would see on a land vehicle? Underwater is universally the same regarding “traction”, but does weight affect the length of a charge?
Thanks a lot for your question. It does take more power to push a heavier scooter through the water, so those models are equipped with larger motors and batteries that hold more of a load to compensate. These bigger models are designed for deeper diving and to have the capacity to transport more equipment and divers.
What kind of diving would you like to do with a scooter? If you’re diving is more technical or commercial in nature, then a big powerful heavy one would be in order. You can see from the chart that at more recreational depths the smaller, lighter models can still attain similar speeds and run times.
If you have more questions or get some experience with underwater scooters, I would love to hear from you.
Joe