From: mayne@phi.cs.fsu.edu (William Mayne)
Subject: Re: DPV info wanted
Reply-To: mayne@cs.fsu.edu
Organization: Florida State University Computer Science Department
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 92 14:52:12 GMT

In article <6874@transfer.stratus.com> gd@blublaze.sw.stratus.com (Greg Dawe) writes:
>
>Who's got experience with Diver Propulsion Vehicles (DPV's) aka scooters?
>I'm going to purchase one this winter.  I'm particularly interested in:
>
>(1) a DPV rated to 250 to 300 fsw - or one that comes with, or can be
>    upgraded to work at those depths.
>(2) It's got to be from a reputable company who will still honor service.
>    (I've heard interesting things about the Tekna DPV, but where can
>     you find parts when it breaks?)

Teknas are officially rated for a max operational depth of 130 feet.
Rumor has it that they were originally rated for 160, but the rating
was changed because of the 130 foot limit for general purposes being
treated as a divine commandment. They can be modified to go much
deeper and I know people who use them in the 250-300+ foot range.
I've also heard of a few cases of unmodified Teknas being crushed.
I won't go much below 130 with mine until I get around to modifying
it.

There are places that still have parts and do service on Teknas.
Some also advertise service for Farallons. I don't have any addresses
handy but I could find them if you are seriously interested. Teknas
are very popular with cave divers who can't afford Zepps so there is
a good market for parts and service and people do fill that niche.
If you can find a Farallon they are even more sought after, by the
way. I wouldn't worry about availability of parts and service in the
foreseeable future.

>(3) Although I'd like to get a Zepp it's just too big to handle getting 
>    in and out of the water - not to mention seriously expensive.

Baby Zepps (sp?) are of a more manageable size and price, though still
expensive. I recently saw an average sized woman handling one by herself
out of the water at a dive site.

>(4) Buoyancy considerations when using a DPV - how do you handle it when
>    you're hanging?  Where/how do you "park" it if you want to stop, and
>    say visit the inside of a wreck?

I'm usually hanging in shallow water near a cave entrance (or inside the
cave) and I just set it on the bottom. When there is no shallow water
I normally have a line from the surface for hanging decompression bottles
and to park the DPV there. I assume when diving from a boat you could
just clip it to anchor line. They are a few pounds negative in the water
but you should still clip them to a line or something if you are going
to leave them unattended. And you do need to be careful where you set
them to avoid stirring up silt or damaging the environment.

>(5) How much colder to you get when using a DPV?

I sometimes notice that I'm a little colder, but this is not a serious
problem at least in 70 degree water.

>(6) Did you have to alter any gear placement to avoid having it get caught
>    in the props or torn from your body?  (Keep in mind I'm a wreck diver)

As a wreck diver I expect you already have danglies secured, like cave
divers do. When running the scooter is out in front and no special
precautions are necessary. Just be careful starting. All the people I've
seen using Teknas in caves have even removed the plastic prop guard screens,
since they tend to come out and get lost anyway.

Bill Mayne
Newsgroups: rec.scuba