DIVER PROPULSION VEHICLE

LEVEL 1

GUE’s Diver Propulsion Vehicle Level 1 also known as DPV1 aims to introduce divers to the skills and knowledge necessary to take full advantage of these machines.

DPVs or scooters, have historically been a tool for exploration, allowing to cover much more ground when exploring a cave, or the deep sections of the ocean in search of lost ancient wrecks. As technology advances, scooters have grown to be essential exploration tools, more reliable then ever, and boasting a range of features such as long lasting batteries with wi-fi connection to displays giving you readings of the battery state at any given moment. As DPVs become better exploration machines, another range has also become accessible to those not necessarily doing exploration but still fond of having some fun in the fast lane. DPVs have become lighter and more user friendly, enabling recreational divers to benefit from increased speed, manoeuvrability and lower gas consumption.

This course brings opens up more opportunities in terms of diving, in others words a gate to another  dimension in our diving as we can do dives that we would not normally be able to do. Have you ever considered what is between dive spot X and Y, well start in one and finish in the other, visit the areas no one else goes to, because it is to far away. Move slightly offshore and observe the pelagic life, sometimes we are rewarded with encounters such as tuna fish, dolphins or other mammals, that prefer to stay far away to the coastline. Or just enjoy that lazy dive where you don’t have to swim!!

Obviously DPVs can be of many uses and even in a normal recreational scenario, being able to move against currents without exerting yourself is already a privilege.

Using these mean machines requires some training. You will learn how to control the DPV, maneuver it properly, the awareness necessary as at higher speeds team protocols become even more essential, dive-planning,  environment, Valve drills and S-drills, stress management, navigation, DSMB use while carrying a scooter, conservation, standard and emergency procedures, DPV maintenance and trouble shooting and the potential hazards of diving with a DPV.

This class is a lot of fun, and it is also the perfect opportunity to revisit some skills that you have not practiced for a while. It usually takes  2.5 to 3 days includes five dives and a minimum 24 hours of instruction, encompassing classroom, land drills and in-water work.

Course Contents at GUE website