Yes, this is will be my main concern and question.
Shore diving with DPV and a dive flag, have you done it?
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Yes, this is will be my main concern and question.
njdiverjoe
Contributor
Might also want to think about a failed scooter vs a flooded scooter.
I don't know much about scooters so I don't understand the "failed vs. flooded" questions here
njdiverjoe
Contributor
I don't know much about scooters so I don't understand the "failed vs. flooded" questions here
Failed / "not working" / "loses power" isn't as huge a deal as long as you are comfortable towing the scooter back to shore.
If the scooter floods and fills with water it's going to become very negative, you can either ditch the scooter, or bring a lift bag and float the scooter and tow the whole thing back in. However, towing a scooter on a lift bag is going to very slow and tiresome, if there's any current at all I think you will have a tough time making progress.
In my opinion the hard torpedo float (sold by Mako) works best for towing. You won't be able to pull it underwater like some of the lobster-style buoys dive flags/floats. I also own their large yellow inflatable float if I need something with more floatation. Also mentioned, it's very important to have proper scope out on your line.
I honestly prefer not towing a float because they do add considerable drag but they are helpful in high traffic boat areas or for mapping. I mainly tow one so I can capture GPS coordinates and track lines of my dives so I can get an accurate sense of distances and times involved for planning purposes.
This is about 2.6 mile roundtrip to visit a wreck offshore. I'm using a GPS logger (Navonics App) on a phone inside waterproof case that is securely attached to the dive float. It outputs a .gpx file giving me distance, speed and accurate times.
I honestly prefer not towing a float because they do add considerable drag but they are helpful in high traffic boat areas or for mapping. I mainly tow one so I can capture GPS coordinates and track lines of my dives so I can get an accurate sense of distances and times involved for planning purposes.
This is about 2.6 mile roundtrip to visit a wreck offshore. I'm using a GPS logger (Navonics App) on a phone inside waterproof case that is securely attached to the dive float. It outputs a .gpx file giving me distance, speed and accurate times.
AfterDark
Contributor
When it floods is when you want to tie it to your float and let it carry the load. I had flooding in one and that's what was working for me. It was a half mile swim/tow back fortunately a boater responded to my call for help and brought me back most of the way.
You either have a buddy with an equally powerful scooter or a backup scooter. Dive buddies with their own scooter should plan on having enough battery to get both of them home at the farthest point.
johndiver999
Contributor
I’ve dove with a scooter a good bit, but never from the shore for long distances. The chance of flooding is pretty low, but a dead scooter that is terribly heavy is a significant problem. Carrying two scooters is not going to be practical for many people.
Also, planning to have enough gas preserved to swim in on the bottom (at the end of the dive) dragging a flooded scooter by kicking is not going to be practical.
Even swimming a dead scooter is going to be dreadfully slow and chances are you are going to have to do most of that swim on the surface, using a snorkel.
So I think I would plan to either clip the scooter to the float and try to swim it in, or possibly let the scooter sink to the bottom, mark the location with the float and line and plan on swimming in with no float. Boat traffic, currents etc. might make that impractical.
I think if you are going to dive solo, on a scooter and go way offshore, you need to figure out how you can get home if and when it dies and also be financially and emotionally prepared to ditch the thing and potentially lose it to the sea.
Taking two scooters, having 6 times the normal amount of gas etc. might not be practical or even reasonable. I think I might feel safer paddling a kayak out and then jumping in and towing the kayak as a float, rather than depend so much on a scooter to get me home. Then again, if you got a really reliable and powerful scooter, it sounds like quite an adventure!
Also, planning to have enough gas preserved to swim in on the bottom (at the end of the dive) dragging a flooded scooter by kicking is not going to be practical.
Even swimming a dead scooter is going to be dreadfully slow and chances are you are going to have to do most of that swim on the surface, using a snorkel.
So I think I would plan to either clip the scooter to the float and try to swim it in, or possibly let the scooter sink to the bottom, mark the location with the float and line and plan on swimming in with no float. Boat traffic, currents etc. might make that impractical.
I think if you are going to dive solo, on a scooter and go way offshore, you need to figure out how you can get home if and when it dies and also be financially and emotionally prepared to ditch the thing and potentially lose it to the sea.
Taking two scooters, having 6 times the normal amount of gas etc. might not be practical or even reasonable. I think I might feel safer paddling a kayak out and then jumping in and towing the kayak as a float, rather than depend so much on a scooter to get me home. Then again, if you got a really reliable and powerful scooter, it sounds like quite an adventure!
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