We’ve already talked about why you should dive with a Diver Propulsion Vehicle (DPV). It saves your air, eliminates the physical exertion of kicking against currents, and most importantly, it is the most fun you can have in a wetsuit. But once you have your hands on the trigger of an underwater scooter, the next big question is: Where do we go?
San Carlos is uniquely suited for DPV diving. Unlike small, isolated coral bommies, our underwater topography features massive, sprawling artificial reefs, endless rocky coastlines, and huge island drop-offs. A DPV unlocks the true scale of the Sea of Cortez.
If you are ready to log some serious mileage, here is your insider’s guide to the ultimate DPV dive routes in San Carlos.
Route 1: The SAAS Artificial Reef “Grand Tour”
Skill Level: Advanced / SSI Scooter Specialty required.
The Mission: See multiple wrecks on a single tank.
This is the crown jewel of San Carlos scooter diving. The SAAS (Sistema Arrecifal Artificial Sonorense) is a world-class underwater park featuring four distinct naval vessels: the 70-meter Santos, the 180-foot Suchiate, the El Tanin, and the De La Fuente. On a normal dive, you pick one wreck, swim its length, and surface. With a DPV, the entire park becomes a connected playground.
The Route: You can drop in on the bow of the mighty Santos at around 50 feet. Instead of a slow finning tour, you hit the throttle and cruise down the starboard hull, admiring the massive superstructure. As you reach the stern, instead of turning back, you follow the pre-planned navigation heading straight out into the blue. Within moments, the ghostly silhouette of the Suchiate materializes out of the gloom. You swoop over its decks, checking the cargo holds, before banking toward the De La Fuente.
Because you aren’t exerting physical effort, your air consumption plummets. You can easily tour three of these massive ships in a single 50-minute dive, getting a bird’s-eye view of how the different vessels are being colonized by marine life.
Route 2: The Isla San Pedro Nalasco “Wall Run”
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced.
The Mission: Pelagic encounters and vertical exploration.
Isla San Pedro Nalasco is a towering submerged mountain. Most divers only see a tiny fraction of its circumference during a standard dive. A scooter changes the math entirely.
The Route: We drop you on the southern or eastern faces of the island, where the walls plunge vertically into the abyss. You set your DPV to a comfortable cruising speed and glide parallel to the drop-off. This “wall run” allows you to cover massive stretches of the island’s perimeter.
Why is this amazing? Because pelagic life—like cruising Mobula rays, passing tuna, and even solitary hammerheads—patrols these deep drop-offs. By covering five times the distance of a normal diver, you exponentially increase your chances of crossing paths with something massive in the blue. And as you round the points of the island, you’ll often pick up an escort: the resident California Sea Lions are endlessly fascinated by scooters and will happily race you along the wall.
Route 3: The San Antonio Point “Coastal Cruise”
Skill Level: Beginner DPV / Perfect for practice.
The Mission: Scenic, long-range reef exploration.
Not every DPV dive has to be a deep-water adrenaline rush. For a beautiful, relaxing, and incredibly long dive, the coastal reefs stretching from San Antonio Point are perfect.
The Route: This route is all about enjoying the complex volcanic topography of the shoreline at a relatively shallow depth (30 to 45 feet). You can zip over the tops of the boulder formations, dive down into the sandy channels, and glide effortlessly past massive schools of Cortez Rainbow Wrasse. Because the dive is shallow and you are doing zero kicking, a single tank can last an incredibly long time.
This is the perfect route for looking for octopus and moray eels. You can cruise a section of reef, spot a promising crevice, let off the throttle, hover to investigate, and then zip away to the next rocky outcropping.
The Fleet: Ride the Best
You can’t do an epic route with subpar gear. At Dive San Carlos, we maintain a fleet of professional-grade, high-performance underwater scooters. When you dive with us, you have access to:
- Dive Xtras BlackTip Tech: Lightweight, incredibly fast, and perfect for maneuverability around the wrecks.
- SUEX VR Quantum: An absolute workhorse with incredible range, favored by technical and cave divers worldwide for its reliability and power.
- Logic Dive Gear 3.1: A fantastic, user-friendly unit that delivers smooth, consistent propulsion.
The best part? You can rent these top-tier DPV machines starting at just $75 per day.
Get Certified and Get Going
If you have never flown an underwater scooter before, you can’t just grab one and go. Operating a DPV requires specific knowledge of trigger safety, battery management, buoyancy compensation (so you don’t accidentally zoom to the surface!), and buddy awareness.
Before you tackle the SAAS Grand Tour, sign up for the SSI Scooter/DPV Diving Specialty with our expert instructors. We will teach you how to handle these powerful machines safely so you can focus entirely on the thrill of the ride.
Ready to cover some serious ground? Contact Dive San Carlos today to book your SSI Scooter Specialty or reserve a SUEX or BlackTip for your next charter!