DPV (driver propulsion vehicle) or scooter
Our DPV night is the first of our try dive nights for club members. A step away from training and an attempt to introduce a few alternative ideas to club members.
The intention is to try and run a series of different taster events on a two monthly basis with activities such as twin sets, rebreathers, cave diving, photography and DPV’s.
The best place to start is with BSAC HQ and their resources as often we may have a club member who has the equipment, but not enough experience or enough of the kit to run an experience night. After a chat with Geoff Bacon (BSAC’s Diving Support Advisor) and thinking about Covid issues, with such things as rebreather use, we decided on a DPV try dive (diver propulsion vehicle, basically an underwater scooter). Geoff has two of the smaller versions for training purposes.
One email later and 14 people were signed up with a couple of reserves. To make sure we had enough space we did no in pool training that night and kept it to DPVs only.
Geoff introduced himself and the equipment and briefed the club members on the basic use of a DPV. Fairly simple, press both buttons to go, release to stop, don’t stick your fingers through the grill (he explained it all in better detail!) and then I gave a safety briefing.
Everyone jumped in the shallow end of the pool and took it in turns to have a go.
Many of the members just tried out the scooters with snorkel gear but a few used scuba gear for their try dive.
It had to happen the last 10 minutes was used up by a couple of scooter races sadly curtailed when the batteries began to die.
Finally, we retired to The John Alker (our clubs base) to do what all divers take part in, post dive drinks and a chat.
