The World's Best Underwater Scooter (DPV) Scuba Diving Spots

For divers who have long felt inadequate when confronted by the raw power, natural grace and blissful speed of the ocean’s best athletes (think dolphins, sharks and mantas), there’s no need to hang your fins in shame.

READ MORE: The Planet's 50 Best Dive Sites

Diver propulsion vehicles offer the potential for humans to explore farther and stay longer than humanly possible. Once reserved for serious applications by James Bond, Navy SEALs and top-of-the-pyramid technical divers, DPVs are now more accessible than ever thanks to the rise of low-cost recreational models that are simple to use and offer long battery life. While they may not hit top speeds that blow your ears back, they will allow you to cover far more reef real estate than possible via old-fashioned leg power. All you need is a little training — and a trip to one of these world-class DPV playgrounds.

LANZAROTE // Canary Islands

Born of violent volcanic eruptions off the coast of North Africa, Lanzarote is a DPV diver’s paradise of plunging walls, dramatic arches and thrilling swimthroughs. The easternmost of Spain’s Canary Islands is also a magnet for marine life thanks to a constant basting of rich open-ocean currents that lure exciting pelagics, from hammerhead sharks to eagle rays and mola mola. Add to the equation an impressive diversity of sites, including several wrecks and the Museo Atlántico underwater sculpture garden by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, and you have a potent draw for traveling divers, says Paul Slater of Lanzarote Dive Centre in Puerto del Carmen. “The waters are clear, with great visibility, and many dive sites are accessible from shore with plentiful entry and exit points,” Slater says. “DPVs are great for exploring, and Playa Chica is a prime launch spot for visiting top sites such as the Eye, the Harbor Wrecks, the Fariones and the Wall.”

Slater says most students “have a big smile on their face that lasts all day” after a scooter dive. “Completing loop-the-loops, decreasing gas consumption and not having to fin are the big benefits, along with going farther and seeing more,” he says. “Most first-time DPV divers can’t stop talking about it and can’t wait to do it again.” lanzarotedivecentre.com

SAN DIEGO // California

While some DPV dive destinations are remarkable for mysterious caves, racing currents and exciting creatures, San Diego is all about the kelp. The vertical gardens of giant greenery found offshore from the Southern California city can grow more than 100 feet tall, creating some of the most mind-bending scooter terrain in any ocean. Not to mention the curious and playful sea lions that commonly divebomb divers in these thick forests.

“Chasing your buddy through the kelp forest is first on the list of best DPV dives,” says PADI MSDT Ryan Mable of Ocean Enterprises. “But you will have just as much fun cruising the walls of La Jolla Canyon or taking a few laps around our 366-foot Yukon artificial reef. We also have the Islas de los Coronados and the Channel Islands, plus Long Beach’s oil platforms — all amazing DPV diving locales that are easily accessible with a short boat ride.”

READ MORE: The Best Islands for Divers to Live On

For Mable, however, DPVs aren’t just for fun. They can create access for divers who might not normally be able to revel in the underwater world. “We first started having DPVs in the shop because we proudly offer a certification exclusively for veterans, many of whom are navigating their post-service lives with serious disabilities,” he says. “DPVs have helped our student divers get around underwater when the usual method of finning isn’t feasible, such as a student with a leg amputation or someone paralyzed from the waist down. Obviously, we didn’t want to keep the fun contained to just the training side, so we now stock several DPVs in our rental room.” oceanenterprises.com

GRAND CAYMAN // Cayman Islands

With more than 365 documented dive sites on Grand Cayman, you might think that every stretch of the western Caribbean island’s famed wall has been explored.

With a DPV, divers can still find a virgin stretch with little more than a compass bearing and a solid dive plan. With vertical faces densely decorated by massive sponges, corals and other invertebrate life plunging thousands of feet below, the trip less taken is definitely worth the effort — and it’s always fun to explore a classic like the Kittiwake from a new perspective.

“There is endless reef all around Grand Cayman, so there’s always something beautiful to see no matter how far you ride,” says Jo Mikutowicz of Divetech. “Our specialty DPV dive, the West Bay Express, is everyone’s favorite: We leave from our dock at Lighthouse Point, pick a direction based on current, wind and waves, and just go. One of our dive boats follows along on the surface, and when divers run low on air, bottom time or battery, they just surface wherever they are and the boat picks them up.”

The dive is a favorite for Mikutowicz too. “There are a lot of overhangs and pinnacles to race around, under and through,” she says. “Not only is the topography cool, but you can typically see turtles, eagle rays and loads of fish and giant sponges all over the place. Dives can last about an hour and cover five sites. It’s amazing.” divetech.com

NASSAU // Bahamas

World famous for wall diving, the Bahamas is a destination where a DPV can take your underwater experience to exciting new places. With a wide variety of wrecks and other attractions in the region, including caverns and blue holes, it’s not uncommon to reach multiple dive sites on a single tank — an adventure typically impossible without machine assistance.

“DPVs give our divers the opportunity to cover large — and in some cases, unexplored — areas,” says Liz Parkinson of Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas. “We have created a program called Wall Flying, where all divers have their own DPV, and it is not uncommon to be able to cover several wrecks and long stretches of our walls on a single dive.”

Flying along the wall is an adrenaline rush, but when a shark shows up, you’ll be in hyperdrive.

“As you fly over the reef or around a wreck you’ll see things — and animals — from a different angle,” Parkinson says. “It’s an exciting dimension to the diving world that everyone should explore.” stuartcove.com

PUERTO GALERA // Philippines

In the heart of the Coral Triangle, Puerto Galera has been rapidly developing a reputation as a world-class macro diving destination, but the sleepy Philippine hamlet also features seascapes of equal quality that are perfect for DPV adventures. And with a burgeoning technical diving scene developing to explore the plentiful deep reefs in the region, DPVs are becoming an integral part of the local scuba culture.

“We’ve got outstanding diving here in a narrow, often high-flow channel where DPVs really shine,” says Dave Ross of Tech Asia Divers Institute. “The strong current brings out all the big life, but it can also keep a swimming diver away from the action. With DPVs, we can go where we want to instead of where the water wants us to, which means very exciting dives to be had.”

Ross says DPVs are key tools “on deep or drift dives like canyons, and wall dives like Verde Island,” but the machines are also helping pioneering divers explore and discover new sites. “The impact on the deeper dives is immense, as time is limited at 250 feet and a swimming tech diver can hardly cover any ground, let alone work hard at depth and remain safe,” he says. “We also have a cave-exploration project with the lead divers making trips close to 3 miles, so the need for DPVs is obvious — but they also translate really well to recreational dives, making things possible that wouldn’t be otherwise.” asiadivers.com/technical-diving-philippines

RIVIERA MAYA // Mexico

Home to seemingly endless miles of mysterious subterranean cenote systems, Mexico’s Riviera Maya is one the world’s leading cave-diving destinations. The region, which stretches along the Yucatan Peninsula from Playa del Carmen south to Tulum, offers a wide variety of prime DPV diving for properly trained adventurers.

“Nohoch and Ox Bel Ha are probably the best cave systems to use a DPV,” says Alessandra Figari of Cave Training Mexico. “Considering the highly decorated and fragile systems we have in this area, only very experienced and well-trained cave divers are suggested to use a DPV in our caves.”

WATCH: Thrilling Video of the Sailfish Hunt off Isla Mujeres

For those with the advanced training, well-honed skills and guts to match, a vast network of mind-expanding overhead environments filled with delicate limestone stalagmites and stalactites and other ancient formations awaits. Adding the propulsive capability of a DPV will not only extend your range, but also increase your chances of pushing the boundaries of this system to reach undiscovered rooms. And for divers who fantasize about this kind of next-level scooter action, Figari has simple advice: “Train in an open-water area, and build your skills to master buoyancy and trim,” she says. “Using a DPV requires being able to maneuver it without damaging the surrounding environment.” cavetrainingmexico.com

MAUI // Hawaii

Hawaii’s Valley Isle boasts a bevy of world-class dive sites scattered along nearly 120 miles of shoreline, and many of the best reefs and wrecks are accessible from the beach. For intrepid divers with strong navigation skills and a fully charged DPV, the volcanic island, one of eight in the North Pacific archipelago, offers dramatic arches, caverns and other lava-formed structures — along with historical wrecks from World War II — all within a short cruise from the sand.

“Maui is a great place for DPV diving because we have so many spots that are usually only accessed by boat but can be done from shore with a scooter,” says Steve Edwards of Maui Dive Shop. “With a DPV you can reach some great wreck dives like the St. Anthony and the Carthaginian, as well as a few others from World War II, such as the Helldiver fighter plane, a landing craft and a tank that are usually only accessible by boat.”

Teaching divers the way of the thruster and guiding them to multiple sites on a single tank has given Edwards a deep appreciation for scooter diving.

“Most divers come out of the water with a big smile on their face, saying, ‘I felt like I was flying’ or ‘I can’t believe I’ve been using only my legs all this time,’” Edwards says. “DPV diving is pure fun, and it gives you an amazing sense of freedom.” mauidiveshop.com

SHARM EL SHEIKH // Egypt

Jacques Cousteau and his team pioneered the waters around the oncesleepy Egyptian fishermen’s refuge of Sharm El Sheikh on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula in the 1950s and ’60s. Today, the bustling resort city is a magnet for divers. Pristine reefs, plentiful sharks and historic wrecks remain major attractions. And DPVs are still a part of the action.

“Easy access to shore diving, where divers can return to the beach at any point, makes us an ideal location for DPV beginners, and progressively more challenging sites accessible from boats keep the adrenaline flowing for intermediate to expert riders,” says Elena Ravani of Red Sea Diving College. “From Naama Bay to the high-energy locations of Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island, we offer DPV diving across the full spectrum of Sharm’s dive sites.”

Ravani and her team guide guests on high-speed current dives through “huge shoals of anthias, bannerfish and hunting jacks,” but only with the proper training. “Using a DPV gives so many options, but it’s almost like learning to dive again,” she says. “The ability to effortlessly and gracefully cover huge distances is a great attraction, and it puts us out in front of the other divers, heading into current, opening up the possibility of seeing large pelagics that would otherwise be lost out in the blue, away from the normal dive routes.” redseacollege.com