Advice on Scooter/DPVs ??

[Mr T.]

I only know of Bob Cooper on here that uses a scooter, but these are open questions to all.

* If I was looking to purchase a decent Scooter/DPV, what make/brand should I:

A) Be looking out for as solid, reliable and low maintenance?
B) Avoid like the plague?

* What price should I expect to be paying (how long's a piece of string?) for a decent one, both new and 2nd-hand?

* What questions have I not yet asked that I should be asking?? E.g. is there a course you do or is it a case of climb-aboard and rock-n-roll? (Should have kept me mouth shut - PADI will be manufacturing a new 'Speciality' after reading this!)

* Assuming we can agree on a price/make etc. Where in the UK can I get one from?

Thanks in advance.

[MATTBIN]

Looking at Pina's website Bren - obviously you MUST purchase a Gavin from the man himself. Oh and I think Padi do a DPV course if I'm not mistaken. The Gavin's are available and prices are quoted - probably ex-works USA though. Or how about that Russian thing Hobby found.
Matt

[CotoChris]

Aren't sccoters those weird moped / motorbike look alike which you sit in and drive it around underwater? I remember seeing something like this on some dive mag (must be american).  The tank sits on the back and there is a large plastic bubble for your head. Surely you don't want one of those!
Padi does have a DPV course. I remember a club offering this course but only had one old DPV which looked like a converted lectric fan.
If in doubt get off Gavin! :lol:

[Phil Ennis]

Bren,
Tell me when you are going to be at Capers next and I will get Adam to show you his............. scooter that is.

And yes PADI do a course........... special price for  'FOUR TANKS TIERNEY'

(Edited by Phil Ennis at 7:58 pm on Feb. 17, 2003)

[Mr T.]

Cheers Phil,

We'll be there next Saturday, so I'll gladly take you up on that. Do you think Adam will let me have a play? Tell him I'll buy him a new one if I bend it - Scooter that is ;)

Cheers,
4TanxTierney.

[Bob Cooper]

Bren

I've become a bit of a scooter nerd lately ;)

After looking carefully at what's available, there is only one choice as far as I'm concerned ;)  There is the Farralon, Mako, Tekna, Aquazepp and I think Scubapro do one too.  There is the Silent Submersion, which is now being imported by Kevin Gurr (Delta P Technology).  Do a web search for more information on these.  As I said you only have one choice really, the Gavin.

The cost of a "wreck" Gavin (short body 18AH HDPE) is &#363400 without batteries.  A decent charger and a pair of batteries is about £200 here in UK.  Shipping to UK for me was &#36350.  There is duty and VAT payable on the total too (ask me about that when I see you).  Sorry about the mix up of &#36 and £ but I'm doing this from memory.  They do come up for sale 2nd hand in UK occasionally.  I know of two sold last year for about £1500.

Phil Short at Phoenix Engineering does an IANTD DPV course.  You might be able to take a course from him and use one of the SS scooters (which are similar to the Gavin).  There are probably others in UK who will do the course.  In my opinion, you don't really need to do a scooter course for open water diving.  Scootering in a cave is a different matter!

Apart from Delta P/Phoenix, I don't think you can buy a "proper" scooter here in UK.

For info, the Gavin is depth rated to 400ft, has a 1 hour burn time, is maintenance free and virtually unbreakable.  Oh, and it is a LOT of fun...and FAST.  There is very little to go wrong, but if you do break something, George will fix it, usually at no cost.  www.gavinscooters.com has all the information you need, including a users manual and some very good photographs showing how it all fits together.

If you have any more questions, drop George an e-mail, he really is a pussy cat, and helped me a great deal with all my nerdy questions last year.  Alternatively, if I can help, just drop me a line.

If you are serious, lets get together at Capernwray some time and you can have a go on mine.  I promise you'll be hooked!!

Good luck

Bob

[peter k]

Puffin divers in Oban has some for sale. I can't remember what kind they were but they were in the region of £1000 I think. Give them a bell and ask.

Peter

[Bob Cooper]

I think the one Puffin sells is the Scubapro "Sea Glider". About £800. Not really a serious option.

[Lawrence Debono]

You folks are right - your choices are =
> Scubapro
> Maco
> Tekna
> Zep
> Falon
> Gavin

You forgot that Custom Divers Makes one too. It ""looks"" similar to the Farlon. Farlons have been around quite a bit and they seem to be good. Gavins have been used by a number of cave divers because they are small and ""better"" than others of similar size.

There is also the Torpedo and the Seadoo as well. I have been wanting to build one for a long time. I know I could do it with electric trawling motors but I don't have the time.

I suggest before you commit to any thing get some thing that can pull you around without too much effort and that can run for at least a solid hour. In reality that is not easy.

Let me know what you find out because I am interested too.

Good luck

Lawrence  

[Mr T.]

Hey Bob,

Looks like we're gonna be at the Cape on Saturday - you gonna be around? If not, let's hook-up a date to RV and and go scooterin'! And thanks again for the offer, much appreciated.