Guided DPV Scuba Diving Tour in Wailea, Maui

A scooter dive uses a battery-powered Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV) to help you cover more reef with less effort. It requires only Open Water certification — no prior scooter experience is needed according to the outfitter. Your guide will brief you on how to handle the scooter before the dive.

TripOutside recognizes that DPV diving introduces additional challenges beyond standard recreational scuba, including managing propulsion, speed, buoyancy, and navigation simultaneously. Previous DPV experience or specialized training is strongly recommended, particularly for divers unfamiliar with controlling a powered vehicle underwater.

We dive with Saddle EV-2 Evolution Diver Propulsion Vehicles. These battery-powered scooters extend your range and bottom time, taking you to areas that are unreachable on a standard kick dive.

The reef just off Polo Beach is known for colorful coral formations, turtle cleaning stations where green sea turtles stop to have small fish groom their shells, and a variety of endemic Hawaiian reef fish. Eels, octopus, and rays are common sightings, and manta rays occasionally pass through. From December through April, you may even hear humpback whales singing while you're underwater.

With the scooter doing the work, you'll use less energy and air, which can mean more bottom time and a much bigger stretch of reef explored on a single tank. It's a fun way to see more of Wailea's underwater terrain from shore.

Yes. All scuba gear is included with your booking, but you're welcome to bring your own equipment if you prefer to dive with it.

Flying directly after scuba diving is incredibly dangerous and could result in a life-threatening illness called the Bends/Decompression Sickness. The Divers Alert Network (DAN) guidelines for flying after diving include:

• A single no-decompression dive, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000 ft (305 m) interval of 18 hours suggested.
• Multiple dives per day or multiple days of diving, a minimum preflight surface or any driving to above 1000ft (305m) interval of 24 hours is suggested.
• Dives requiring decompression stops are recommended to have longer than 18 hours.

Please discuss with your dive guide ahead of time what is suggested!

Any activity that brings you above 1000 ft (305 m) can trigger the Bends/Decompression Sicknss. Please check your hike elevation to ensure that at no time you will be going up in elevation. If the hike does go to elevation, you must treat it like a preflight interval as listed above in the flying FAQ.

DPV diving introduces additional risks because you're moving through the water under motorized propulsion rather than relying entirely on finning. Poor control can lead to rapid depth changes, collisions with the reef, separation from your dive buddy, or increased difficulty managing an emergency.

Divers must be comfortable maintaining neutral buoyancy, monitoring their depth and air supply, and controlling their equipment while operating the DPV. Following your guide's instructions and staying within your training and experience limits is essential.

Yes. A DPV can carry a diver downward more quickly than intended if depth and buoyancy aren't carefully controlled. This can increase the risk of exceeding planned depth limits, increasing gas consumption, or approaching no-decompression limits unexpectedly.

The DPV does not control your depth or buoyancy for you. Divers must continuously monitor their depth, maintain proper buoyancy, and stay within the limits established during the dive briefing.

Yes. A DPV can increase the risk of accidental contact with coral, rocks, or other divers if it isn't operated carefully. Maui's coral reefs are fragile living ecosystems, and even a single collision can damage coral that has taken decades to grow.

Divers should maintain excellent buoyancy control, appropriate clearance from the reef, and a speed that allows them to respond safely. Never use the DPV to chase marine life, maneuver through tight spaces without appropriate training, or approach coral formations too closely.

Before operating a DPV, divers should be confident with neutral buoyancy, depth control, underwater navigation, gas management, and maintaining buddy awareness.

Because a DPV adds another task to manage underwater, divers should already be comfortable performing fundamental scuba skills without constant assistance. Your dive professional should provide instruction on the specific DPV and assess your ability to operate it safely.

All of our experiences check in at the Ocean Experience Center at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui Dr, Wailea, HI 96753. Our paddle, kayak, and scuba activities launch directly from Polo Beach, just steps from check-in. Surf lessons include a shuttle from the resort to the surf break in Kihei, so please always check in with us at the resort rather than meeting at the beach.

You can valet your vehicle at the Fairmont Kea Lani for a fee (we do not validate parking), or park for free at the public Polo Beach Park lot and walk to your right along the beachfront path to reach us.

No — our experiences are open to everyone. Fairmont Kea Lani guests do have a shorter cancellation window, which is noted in the Cancellation Policy on each listing.

Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled start time to check in, sign waivers, and get fitted for gear. Activities begin promptly so you get your full time on the water.

Our team includes PADI-certified dive professionals and experienced local watermen, and our guides and instructors are trained in CPR and first aid. We keep high training standards, run safety checks, and maintain careful instructor-to-guest ratios.

Time on the ocean can trigger motion sickness for some people. If you're prone to it, consider taking your preferred motion sickness medication about 30 minutes before your activity.

Common sunscreens contain chemicals that can harm coral reefs, as the particles are small enough to be absorbed by corals, causing toxicity and coral bleaching. Reef-friendly sunscreens are formulated without these harmful chemicals. Reef-SAFE sunscreens go a step further by using non-nano particles, which are too large for corals to ingest, helping to preserve marine ecosystems. Please avoid sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate, and parabens. Consider wearing sun-protective clothing, like long-sleeve rash guards, as an alternative to sunscreen. If you choose a mineral-based sunscreen, ensure it is labeled 'non-nano.'