One of the nice things about being the webmaster of your own site is you can see where the traffic is coming from and try to get a word in edgewise...
My name is Ben Mazin - I am the designer of Jetboots. I think a little defense of our product is in order.
What makes you think Jetboots are a bad/dangerous product? I am confident that I can answer any questions or concerns you might have.
Jetboots are certainly new and unique, but every single diver, including a lot of the So Cal DIR crowd, Divetek in Kona, and some military divers have had their socks knocked off when they saw Jetboots in action. I'll agree that they are not perfect for every situation, notably caves and wreck penetrations, where people are better off using a system they are familiar with. For general purpose propulsion, especially when you need your hands (say, for photography), nothing can do what Jetboots do. Other advantages:
* Lightweight (22 lbs vs. 50+ for conventional scooters) with the same power & longevity as a standard scooter due to NiMH batteries. We are also currently working on a Li-Ion battery that will weight the same amount but last ~70-80 minutes at full speed.
* Fits in an airline carry on - how many of you scooter owners take your scooter on vacation with you? I do.
*Excellent cold water performance due to NiMH batteries (can be up to 3x better in the cold than lead acid)
* In case of problems the battery pack can be disconnected or ditched underwater - this elimates some of the most dangerous failure modes of a standard scooter
* No prop wash on your body, nothing blocking your forward view
* Extremely manueverable, fully variable speed control
* Cables are thin and can be strapped down to the body presenting a very low risk of entanglement. I've gone through some pretty thick kelp with them with no problem.
* Jetboots are all hard annodized aircraft aluminum, carbon fiber, etc. - they are extremely robust
* They are an unbelievably fun to use
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Ben Mazin
President, MST
http://www.jetboots.com/