GUE DPV 1

Learn to Dive with a DPV

GUE DPV 1 introduces certified divers to the safe use of diver propulsion vehicles in open-water environments. A scooter can dramatically expand the range of a dive, reduce effort, and make it easier to cover distance while carrying extra equipment, but it also adds speed, task loading, and new failure scenarios. The official GUE page frames the course around the skills and knowledge needed to use a DPV responsibly rather than simply riding one for fun.

The course is meant for experienced divers who already have a stable foundation. GUE requires applicants to be at least 16, fit for diving, able to swim, and certified through GUE Open Water Diver, GUE Performance Diver, or GUE Basic Fundamentals. The official prerequisites also call for at least 75 non-training dives after autonomous scuba certification, with additional drysuit experience requirements if a drysuit is used during training.

Course outcomes include DPV dive planning, team procedures, navigation, environmental awareness, stress management, standard and emergency procedures, basic maintenance, troubleshooting, and understanding the hazards of scooter diving. GUE describes the class as normally three days, with at least five dives and 24 hours of instruction. For divers training in High Springs, Florida, DPV 1 can open a more efficient way to explore while keeping GUE team discipline at the center of the dive.