Underwater Jet Ski vs. Seascooter vs. SEABOB Comparison

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Underwater jet skis are becoming quite popular, as are Seascooters and other types of underwater watercraft. What’s not to like?  They’re small, easy to transport and very affordable.

While they are not at all like regular personal watercrafts, these toys definitely have an important role to play on the water!

They have an electric engine that provides 1-2 hours of power, can go up to 14 mph on the surface as well as under the water! How much fun is that?

We at JetDrift have compiled information on the leading underwater watercrafts so you can compare them with Yamaha Seascooters and SEABOBs. We also have a very unique and inexpensive alternative to tell you all about!

Underwater PWCs & Seascooters Have Many Fun Uses

Unlike standard personal watercrafts, you can use your underwater jet ski in a large pool, in a lake and in the ocean. Because these devices are so small, they can be used very differently than a regular PWC.

All you do is get behind the unit, grab the handles and start the engine. It will pull you around on the surface as well as under the water. Once you get used it, you’ll feel just like another fish swimming along in the water.

They are a huge help if you want to go snorkeling or diving because you’re able to explore a lot further underwater without exhausting yourself.

One huge benefit is that because these units are so small, they take up very little space and are much easier to store on a boat.

You can have so much fun with an underwater PWC, plus they really don’t cost much to own because they have an electric engine. However, there are some drawbacks that we definitely should mention.

One major con is that some are quite expensive, but they are still a whole lot cheaper to buy than a regular personal watercraft!

Another problem is that these units have a very short battery life. The most you can get is just 1 or 2 hours of power before the battery would need to be recharged. However, this does depend on which model you have and how you’re using it.

Okay, let’s now check out the leading models currently available on the market!

SEABOB – The Fastest Underwater PWC

The SEABOB combines the features of a standard jet ski with those of an underwater scooter and seems like something we may have seen in a James Bond film. This toy is the epitome of innovation with every detail demonstrating the utmost in quality. Just grab the two handles and experience the incredible sensations as you ride on top of and under the water. Manufactured by German company CAYAGO AG, they spent years developing this futuristic toy before finally achieving near perfection.

The SEABOB is a high-performance underwater device powered by an electric mechanism that puts out 2.5-4.5 kw, depending on which of 3 models you have. This engine powers speeds of up to 22 km/hr. You start the engine with a trigger and shift gears with two buttons on either side.

When the SEABOB has a fully charged battery, you get 1-hour of use at full speed, which you can monitor on a large colored TFT display screen in the cockpit, along with the battery time remaining, water temperature and depth. Depending on the model, the SEABOB weighs from 29 kg to 35 kg, which is really not too heavy for an adult to carry. You can choose among 3 colors (red, yellow and white) and if you want a more personalized unit, it’s available at a little higher cost.

The latest version, the SEABOB FR SR/Camera model, has 2 fully integrated HD cameras, which lets the owner film all their rides. The TFT displays has a camera in selfie mode and another camera is installed in the bow so you can film everything out in front. This allows you to immediately share your water adventures on social media.

At the moment CAYAGO AG offers 3 different SEABOB models, as follows:

SEABOB F5

This is the company’s entry level SEABOB and the least expensive model at about $9,000.

It is equipped with a 3.3 HP engine that will power speeds of up to 9.3 mph. and take you down to 131 ft. below water. The F5 weighs about 64 lbs. and comes in several different colors.

Steering the SEABOB is easy, all you have to do is shift your body weight. The F5 will take you wherever you want to go for up to an hour, preferably in the ocean where it works best.

SEABOB F5 S

The SEABOB F5 S goes a little faster than the F5, with speeds of up to 12.4 mph and it is a little more expensive, with a price tag of about $13,000. The F5 can be taken down to depths of at least 130 ft., which means you can use it for scuba diving.

It has a 5.3 HP engine with 6 power levels, which allows you to choose how fast you want to go. It too has a 1-hour battery life.

SEABOB F5 SR

The F5 SR is the highest-end SEABOB model in the fleet and the fastest underwater jet ski currently available on the market. It can reach a top speed of 13.7 mph and comes with a 6 HP electric engine, offering 7 different speeds for you to choose from.

You can take it 120 ft. below water and use the 2-camera system to film your experience to share on social media via WiFi. The FS SR will give you about 70 minutes of fun in the water.

This is by far the most expensive underwater PWC on the market with the price tag around $17,000.

Seascooters

Sea scooters are designed differently than SEABOBS and perform differently as well. Seascooters are also commonly referred to as water scooters or aqua scooters.

Seascooters are equipped with an electric engine that powers the propeller. To keep everyone safe, the propellers are encased in a plastic enclosure. These water toys are much lighter than a SEABOB, offer a lower level of performance and a top speed.

These sea scooters typically have a battery life of anywhere from 1-4 hrs., and they go at most 2-4 mph. Depending on the model, the weight can be anywhere from 5 to 20 lbs. Fortunately, they will not sink, which would normally happen with something weighing this much.

The leading sea scooters automatically control the buoyancy, so when they’re under water they have neutral buoyancy, but when they get to the surface, they’re buoyant again. Again, depending on the model they can go down anywhere from 10 ft. to 200 ft. below the surface.

Water scooters have many different uses and offer a totally different experience, whether you’re swimming or diving, than other water toys. Most have a fairly short battery life, so it makes sense to have an extra battery as a backup, especially since recharging takes a fairly long time.

A lot of divers attach their sea scooter to their wrist with a leash, so they can let go and be hands-free if necessary.

Seascooters are a fun addition to your collection of water toys, whether you want it for your kids to play with in your backyard pool, for snorkeling or for scuba diving.

Let’s take a look at the most popular models currently available!

Seascooters by Yamaha

Yamaha is a renowned brand in the motorsports industry, and they make a number of motorized watercrafts, including seascooters.

Their range of seascooters offers several different propulsion vehicles depending on the intended use. No matter whether you want a basic model for personal use or something more professional, Yamaha is sure to have exactly what you need. Their leading model is the Yamaha 500Li Seascooter, which has the longest battery life and the fastest speed of Yamaha’s Pro Series.

The 500Li is perfect if you want some added fun while swimming or snorkeling. You can also use if for diving to a depth of up to 130 ft. (40 m). This is a surprisingly lightweight underwater vehicle for being so powerful, with the ability to cruise up to 4.35 mph (7 km/hr.).

It’s equipped with a rechargeable battery (much like the smart batteries found in electric cars) that can last up to 1.5 hrs. It has D-ring attachment points plus a camera mount, making the Yamaha 500Li Seascooter the perfect choice for frolicking on the surface and underwater.

You can easily choose your cruising speed with a 3-speed gear shift. This sea scooter comes with a buoyancy system that automatically adjusts with self-filling ballasts as well as drain holes. This keeps the 500Li neutrally buoyant in the ocean. This model is also powerful enough for any type of diving.

Underwater Jet Skis by Kawasaki

Unfortunately, at the present time Kawasaki does not offer underwater Jet Skis or anything resembling a seascooter.

Kawasaki is a very reputable brand with a broad range of vehicles in their lineup, including ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and even jet skis. This is why there are so many fans anxiously waiting for Kawasaki to launch its first underwater Jet Ski!

Sea-Doo, another well-known jet ski brand, produced many different seascooter models years ago, but no longer for some reason.

SubWing – A Great Underwater PWC Alternative

Underwater PWCs as well as seascooters can really give you a thrill, but they do have their drawbacks. Some of the main objections are their high prices, short battery life and the fact that only one person can use them at a time.

If you are considering all your options, you might want to have a look at the non-motorized SubWing. These are underwater wings that offer a very similar experience as those other motorized devices. However, a SubWing must be towed behind a jet ski or boat.

You are being towed much like you would be when wakeboarding, but with a SubWing you are riding underwater!

You would be going at a fairly slow speed and the maneuvering is quite intuitive with the SubWing. So, it’s safe for people of all ages, including kids who know how to swim and are comfortable in the water. You need no training to enjoy a SubWing and very little physical effort.

All you do is hang on with both hands and tilt the wings to steer it in the direction you’re headed. To resurface or dive down, all you do is tilt both wings up or down accordingly. Furthermore, up to 4 people can be towed at once, so you can all enjoy this experience together!

On a SubWing you get just as much a thrill by safely going just 2-4 knots, so it can easily be towed by a small motor boat, which uses up a lot less gas than other tow sports. Therefore, it’s a lot less expensive and safer than wakeboarding or water skiing. It also a lot more fun than being pulled in a tube!

You don’t have to worry about short battery lives, breakdowns or other mechanical problems. You can just look forward to having a lot of fun with your friends. These are what makes SubWings such a great alternative to underwater jet skis!

Conclusion

Underwater jet skis as well as seascooters are quite versatile in all the ways they can be used and fairly inexpensive to maintain, which is why they became so popular. They are also small in size, so a lot easier to transport and store when not in use.

However, they can be quite expensive, and they do have a limited battery life. Even so, they are a lot of fun whether you use them in a pool or the ocean. Either one works well if you want a boost while scuba diving or snorkeling because you can go a lot further before getting tired.

If you’re looking for something more basic that’s less expensive, you should look into getting a SubWing. It offers a lot of fun without the mechanical complications of an underwater jet ski or a seascooter!

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