Suex Goldfinder XK: 100 m/min, lithium batteries 5+ hours. Modifies the rule of thirds: calculate return on fins if propulsion fails. TDI DPV Cave certification. Propulsion failure and towing drills.
Cave and advanced technical divers debate very specific aspects: the real-world battery life of scooters versus manufacturer specifications, positioning and attachment to equipment in sidemount configuration, and how to manage the additional gas that propulsion allows to explore. Specific brands, the quality of low-cost Chinese products, and the technical details to evaluate before buying are all discussed.
Reference models such as the Suex Goldfinder XK reach speeds of up to 100 m/min with lithium batteries providing more than 5 hours of run time. Using a DPV in caves radically modifies the rule of thirds: the diver must calculate the reserve considering the return by fins if the scooter fails at maximum penetration, and must always carry a second backup scooter. TDI offers the specific DPV Cave certification, which includes scooter failure drills and towing procedures.