SCOOTER DO'S & DON'T'S

[curtschu]

Do the new types have the same pitch control like the tekna's? I agree there is no reason for an exp. caver to run into stuff. Turn the speed down I think the slowest setting is still going to be fast than most people can swim. When we started using scooters there was not even a cert.
You got a Mentor ( hey that sounds familiar) and you went to Little River and rode back to the far side of the Florida Room and dropped the scooter.

[Genesis]

Yeah, right side of the first "T", what I call "The Mud Tunnel."

I've noted more fin and mask prints there though than scooter trenches. LOTS of those from people swimming and unable to keep themselves sorted. Its kinda odd that it would happen there since there's plenty of room - with the exception of a couple of spots its pretty much wide open.

The OTHER side (left) is much tighter riding BUT IMHO is prettier - and far more unforgiving of bad technique in that you might hurt yourself instead of trenching it.....

IMHO (as someone who rides but does NOT have a card) you really ought to play with the scooter in open water first. Its not that hard to figure out how to ride one productively but you want to get to where you can operate a foot or so off the bottom without stirring it up or crashing, and it does take a bit to get the leash set just right, the weighting on the scooter right, and your trim sorted while riding. Also, it'd be a real good idea to practice "palming" the pitch dial without losing control BEFORE you need to know how to do it "in earnest" due to a stuck relay!

[Dan Thoms]

Hopefully it's not one of those "Exploding scooters like they used in that movie "The Cave".

I don't remember who wrote it but here's a Limerick that posted on this Forum quite awhile ago and I thought that it was worth me remembering and repeating.

There once was a Cave diver named Sissel......
Who's Scooter was fast as a Missile........
And as he bounced down the walls......
He protected his Balls......
But the rest of him was worn down to Gristle.

O.K. Maybe not but I thought it was Funny.

its still funny

[Cindy]

I still want a SkillsScanner for my next birthday! I can use something that maps in real time and scares off the monsters! Cindy LOL

[robohips]

Did you buy your own scooter? What kind. Get some ride time in advance if possible. Enjoy. It is a blast. Robohips

[lonestarfl]

I am taking a DPV course in a couple of weeks. Can you guys give me some pointers so I don't look like a dumbass? I have never owned, nor used one before, and I am trying to learn as much as I can before my class so it goes more smoothly.
Thanks!

I read through all the post...didn't see too many constructive pointers listed so I'll try my hand at it.

First make sure your scooter is nearly nuetral/slightly negative in the water and that with the right length cord attached that you have good control of the scooter. If you start to lose control get off the trigger and readjust.

Second, as a newbee, every so often while scootering, let off the triger to check your bouyancy. Until you get a feel for it, bouyancy is hard to judge under power...so to check yourself get off the trigger

Third, never forget that you have a thrust tale 10-15' behind you. If you can't control it in a section of the cave for whatever reason get off the trigger. As a matter of fact if in doubt about much of anything during a cave dive...get off the trigger.

Finally, and most important. NEVER scooter faster than the visability and your experience in the system allows. It is very easy to miss jumps or get out of sight of the line if you go too fast.
If things seem to be happening too fast they are........and......get off the trigger

Well I hope you get the idea and good luck with your class.
Lee

[John L.]

Thanks for the good advice Lee. I plan I going slow and easy, and playing with it alot in the run to get the feel of it. I purchased a used Tekna that has been reworked including new batteries. I think that will be a good one to start with. Anyone who has ever dove with me knows that I go slow and carefully, and enjoy the view. I will do the same with this new toy. When I first started cavediving, then later sidemounting, I always do progressive penetrations. Especially a system I have never been in. I do not want to damage the caves, or other divers any more than they already are.

[tanto]

Second, as a newbee, every so often while scootering, let off the triger to check your bouyancy.

Veeery precious suggestion.
My first scooter dive was in Eagle's Nest, with a ride-on-top borrowed model. I didn't realize that I was unknowingly using the scooter to correct my buoyancy, so when I released the trigger I quickly fell in the mud!
I was severely negatively buoyant and hadn't realized it.
In general, but especially if you are changing depth, release the trigger and check your buoyancy, every 20 seconds or so. If you have to equalize, you should also check your buoyancy.
But of course this would be something immediately and regularly addressed by your instructor, I guess.

[OneBrightGator]

First make sure your scooter is nearly neutral/slightly negative in the water

Why slightly negative?

[Genesis]

I don't like mine slightly negative.

The common "higher end" scooters (e.g. SS, etc) all use a compression O-ring seal so they change buoyancy VERY slightly underwater from at the surface. With those you want to weight so they're very slightly positive at the surface.

If its weighted right you should be able to drop off the trigger at depth and the scooter should just hang there, perfectly balanced both longitudinally and buoyancy-wise. If it tends to want to stick either end up or either floats or sinks, it can be a problem under power because that's a "pseudo" buoyancy contribution that makes control tougher than it needs to be.

IMHO the Teknas don't balance out nearly as nicely as the SSs, Gavins, etc. I've got a couple of them here and while they certainly do the job they're more work to drive.....

Ideally you can drive a scooter with a couple of fingers (assuming you've locked on the trigger) when its set up right and you're not fighting it.

The advice to drop off the trigger to check buoyancy is sound - you can compensate for a LOT of buoyancy shift (especially negative) with the scooter without realizing it under power, BUT if you do so you're directing some of the prop wash downward, which can have bad effects on the vis behind you! This tends to lead to a "surprise" when you turn around and try to exit the way you came...... and of course when you drop off the trigger, you sink like a stone.....