Scuba Diving Courses

PADI Dive Propulsion Vehicle Specialty Course

Soaring through the water with a dive propulsion vehicle is like flying through space - you have to experience it to believe it!

Just imagine diving on a wreck 18 metres down, the water is warm and clear, a great day for diving. Although the wreck is too big to tour the entire length in a single dive when swimming, using a dive propulsion vehicle, you can cruise its length up the starboard and back along port, no problem at all. You even have time to stop periodically to check out the winch, peer inside the hold, take photos, and so on.

You can explore more of the wreck because you scooter faster than you can swim, but also your air lasts longer because you aren't working as hard. If there's a current running, your dive will be significantly longer than it would have been swimming.

Returning to the dive boat, you learn that another diver had dropped her prescription mask off the dive platform. Ouch! Not being able to see can take the fun out of a dive holiday. After a reasonable surface interval, you sand your buddy can use your DPVs in a search pattern over the bottom behind the dive boat. Not only do you find the mask, but you also have enough air and bottom time remaining to cruise over to the wreck again - that never would have happened without DPVs.

Your DPV programme will include 2 open water dives, which may be conducted in only 1 day. The first dive allows you to practice basic vehicle handling skills and the second dive prompts you to plan and execute a typical DPV dive.

During the programme, you'll cover the knowledge and techniques used when diving with an underwater propulsion vehicle. Topics covered in the PADI Dive Propulsion Vehicle Specialty Course include:

• The planning, organisation, problems, and hazards of diving with a DPV
• Equipment considerations including battery care, maintenance and precautions
• Proper procedures for:
  • Avoiding propeller entanglements
  • Vehicle failure
  • Descents and ascents
  • Runaway motor
  • Determining a turnaround point
• Techniques to avoid harming fragile aquatic life
• Techniques for entering and exiting the water with a DPV.

The DPV elective dive from the Adventures in Diving programme may be counted toward the certification requirements of this specialty.

Course Details

Number of Dives: 2

Duration: 1 day

Price: Courses price list

Location: This course is available at our PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand.

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